Literary LA September ’10

• At Skylight Books in Los Feliz:  Thurs 9/2 7:30, Mona Simpson and My Hollywood; Sun 9/12 5pm, readings from Strange Cargo, an anthology of work by writers in the PEN Emerging Voices Program–hosted by Janet Fitch; Sun 9/19 5pm, readings from Black Clock 12, featuring Tod Goldberg and others; Fri 9/24 7:30, James Ellroy with his latest, The Hilliker Curse:  My Pursuit of Women; Thurs 9/30 7:30, Tao Lin and Richard Yates
• Sun 9/12 7pm, the New Short Fiction Series presents ‘The Devil’s Moor and other stories’ by Stefan Kiesbye
• At West Hollywood’s Book Soup:  Tues 9/8 7pm, readings from LA’s newest litmag, Slake; Fri 9/10 7pm, Please Take Me Off the Guest List, photos and more from Yeah Yeah Yeah’s guitarist Nick Zinner; Sun 9/12 7pm, the latest from William Gibson, Zero History
• Thurs 9/16 8pm, the Central Library’s ALOUD Series presents Jonathan Franzen (recently featured on the cover of Time for his highly-touted new novel Freedom) in conversation with Meghan Daum (event at the Aratini/Japan America Theatre, 244 South San Pedro Street)

Literary LA October ’09

• At Skylight Books in Los Feliz: Mon 10/5 7:30 – Kathryn Ma and her Iowa Short Fiction-winning All That Work and Still No Boys; Wed 10/7, 7:30 – Francine Prose with a new book about Anne Frank; Tues 10/13, 7:30 – James Ellroy, Blood’s a Rover; Wed 10/14, 7:30 – popular UCLA Extension instructor Les Plesko with a new novel, Slow Lie Detector; Sat 10/17, 4pm – Skylight Salon: the well-read staff present favorite small-press titles, with wine & snacks; Tues 10/20, 7:30 – Dzanc, one of my favorite indie presses, with their 2008 ‘Best of the Web’ anthology

• Echo Park’s Stories Bookstore/Cafe has a number of regular events, including poetry on the 2nd and 4th Friday–sign up for their newsletter to get the whole scoop; this month’s events include Lydia Lunch, Tues 10/6, 8pm; they open early and serve good coffee and a range of breakfast & lunch items

• Book Soup in West Hollywood is packed this month: Sat 10/3, 2pm – Francesca Lia Block with Pretty Dead; and at 7:30, Sarah Schulman with her new futuristic novel, The Mere Future; Sat 10/10, 5pm – Dan Fante, 86’d; Mon 10/19, 7pm – Sarah Vowell, The Wordy Shipmates; Sun 10/20, 7pm – Robin D.G. Kelly with a new bio of Thelonius Monk

• Additionally, Book Soup is selling books at a number of big-time author appearances at various locations: Tues 10/6, 7:30pm – Nick Hornby at Skirball; Fri 10/9, 8pm – Margaret Atwood at Royce Hall (UCLA Live); Sun 10/18 5pm – E.L. Doctorow at Writers Bloc; Thurs 10/29, 8pm – Robert Crumb, Royce Hall, UCLA Live

• Tues 10/6, 8pm – Word Theatre presents stories by Dan Chaon, with the author himself reading from his new novel, Await Your Reply

• Fri 10/9, 8pm – the New Short Fiction Series presents the stories of Andrew Roe

• At The Hammer at UCLA this month: Tues 10/6 7pm – Michelle Huneven; Thurs 10/15 7pm – Jean Thompson

• At Vroman’s in Pasadena: Tues 10/6, 7pm – Dan Chaon with his new novel, Await Your Reply; Thurs 10/15, 6pm – Jane Smiley, The Georges and the Jewels; Tues 10/20, 7pm – A.S. Byatt, The Children’s Book