Thursday 5/1: Portland author Trevor Blake reads from his latest collection of essays, Confessions of a Failed Egoist (March 2014). Mother Foucault’s, 5 p.m., free.
Douglas Watson reads from his new book, A Moody Fellow Finds Love and Then Dies (April 2014). Powell’s Books on Hawthorne, 7:30 p.m., free.
Friday 5/2: Enjoy a book launch and poetry reading to celebrate Robert Duncan Gray’s new book, Ticklish Animal (May 2014). Guest poets Noland Bo Chahila, Robyn Bateman, and Brain Tibbetts will also read. Glyph, 6 p.m., free.
Join Annie Bloom’s Books as they serve wine and give away book prizes to celebrate First Friday in Multnomah Village. Stop by for a chance to win a signed copy of The Interestings (April 2013) by Meg Wolitzer or A Bad Case of the Stripes (June 2004) by David Shannon. Annie Bloom’s Books, 6 p.m., free.
Dee Williams reads from her graceful, inspired memoir, The Big Tiny (April 2014), about building a home from scratch and discovering a true sense of self—in just 84 square feet. Powell’s City of Books, 7:30 p.m., free.
Saturday 5/3: Celebrate Free Comic Book Day with dozens of artists, writers, and other creators, all available to answer questions about going into comic-making and sign your back issues. Things From Another World, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., free.
Portland writer Jason Beem shares a history of gambling addiction and recovery in his debut novel, Southbound (March 2014). Portland Meadows, 12 p.m., free.
Listen to small press writers Juliet Escoria, Riley Michael Parker, and Noland Bo Chaliha as they share some of their short work. Ampersand Gallery & Fine Books, 7:30 p.m., free.
Sunday 5/4: St. Johns Book Lover’s Connection is an annual event that invites local readers to meet each other, share recommendations, browse, and take advantage of a 20% book group bulk discount on books. Refreshments provided to promote the mingling of Portland’s literary citizens. St. Johns Booksellers, 12 – 4 p.m., free.
Oregon Writers of Color hosts a meeting to discuss their first anthology. Writers of color are encouraged to come forward if they are interested in editing or have work they would like to share. Behind the Museum Cafe, 1 p.m., free.
Each year, students throughout the watersheds of Oregon and beyond submit poems, essays, or artwork to be featured in the annual collection, Honoring Our Rivers. In celebration of the 14th year of publication, students from across the state will present their work alongside professional authors and artists. Powell’s City of Books, 4 p.m., free.
Three poets present new collections: Robert Lax’s Poems (1962-1997) (November 2013), a posthumous volume edited by John Beer; Rodney Koeneke with Etruria (April 2014); and Cedar Sigo with Language Arts (April 2014). Powell’s Books on Hawthorne, 4 p.m., free.
Join Radio X-Ray (91.1 FM), Portland’s new progressive music and culture station, as they welcome and record 40 poets. Each poet will share one to two poems, each less than a minute long. These poems are later to be broadcast as “bumpers” between programming. Glyph, 5 – 9 p.m., free.
Listen and share stories at the Revolution Empathique Storytelling Salon, complete with theatrical lighting, plush seating, and champagne. Milepost 5, 6:30 p.m., free.
Solar Throat, Portland’s new Afro-futurist, surrealist performance project, hosts a reading and performance night. Jamondria Harris, Olivia Olivia, Galadriel Rhodora, and Sidony O’neal will share their latest work. Habesha, 8 p.m., free.
Monday 5/5: Justin Go reads from his historical whirlwind, romance-fueled quest novel, The Steady Running of the Hour (April 2014). Annie Bloom’s Books, 7 p.m., free.
Literary History Night welcomes New York Times bestselling author Phillip Margolin, who will discuss and read from his new historical novel, Worthy Brown’s Daughter (January 2014), based on Homes v. Ford, the only Oregon case that dealt with slavery. Mission Theater, doors open at 6 p.m., reading at 7 p.m., free.
Sandra Tsing Loh reads from her hilarious and touching memoir on aging and womanhood, The Madwoman in The Volvo (May 2014). Powell’s City of Books, 7:30 p.m., free.
Tuesday 5/6: Portland State’s Middle East Studies Center welcomes Pelin Basci, Associate Professor of Turkish, as he leads a discussion on Orhan Pamuk’s Istanbul: Memories and the City (December 2006). This is part of the A Day in the Life book club series, which highlights contemporary Middle Eastern literature. Central Library, 6:15 p.m., free.
Willamette Writers welcomes local author, Jennifer Lauck. After 30 years of non-fiction writing, Jennifer takes on the novel and will share what she calls The Hierarchy of Story, a pyramid similar to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. The Old Church, doors open at 6:30 p.m., talk begins at 7 p.m., free.
Rita Golden Gelman reads from her books Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World (December 2007) and Female Nomad and Friends: Tales of BreakIng Free and Breaking Bread Around the World (June 2010). Broadway Books, 7 p.m., free.
The Hour That Stretches is a self-described “bizarrao” monthly-reading series hosted by Portland writer Edward Morris. Joining him this month will be writers David Agranoff, Sarah Polansky Mura, Adam Gonzobo, and Michael Allen, along with new readers Michael Green, Shepherdess Nightshde, and Nick Giampietro. Jade Lounge, 7 p.m., free.
Come hear a selection from the 22 stories, all by Oregonians, published in Liz Prato’s The Night, and the Rain, and the River (April 2014). Lato will be joined by contributors Joanna Rose, Margaret Malone, Scott Sparling, and Sage Cohen. Powell’s City of Books, 7:30 p.m., free.
Tin House celebrates its latest issue, Memory. Readings by Samiya Bashir, Justin Hocking, and Ginger Strand. Stay afterwards for a night of music. Holocene, 7 p.m., $5.
Wednesday 5/7: Literary Arts welcomes Roosevelt High School students as they read from work completed through the Writers in the Schools program. Cathedral Coffee, 5 p.m., free.
Charlaine Harris, famous for her Sookie Stackhouse series, reads from the first book of her next trilogy, Midnight Crossroad (May 2014). Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 7 p.m., free.
