Wednesday January 9top

Judith Barrington

The local award-winning poet and memoirist will read from her current collection, Horses and the Human Soul. Ledding Library, 10660 SE 21st Ave., Milwaukie., 786-7580. 7 pm. Free. Map

Thursday January 10top

Cover to Cover Open Mic Series

The upcoming installment will commemorate the one-year anniversary of this popular Vancouver, Wash., series. The event's coordinator, poet Christopher Luna, will read before opening up the floor to those who would like to share their work. , 1817 Main St., Vancouver., 360-514-0358. Reception at 6 pm; open mic at 7 pm. Free. Map

Garrett Epps

Epps, a well-respected voice in constitutional law, will read from his book Democracy Reborn, for which he received the 2007 Oregon Book Award in Nonfiction. Heathman Hotel, 1001 SW Broadway., 241-4100. 5 pm. Event held in the Heathman Library. Call 546-7883 for details. Free. Map

Joseph Bradshaw, Susan Denning, Dean Gorman and Rebecca Loudon

Northwest poets read from their contributions to the new sexy anthology, The Bedside Guide to the No Tell Motel: Second Floor. Press Club, 2621 SE Clinton St., 233-5656. 7 pm. Free. Map

Friday January 11top

Dirty Queer Open Mic

Come celebrate the one-year anniversary of this X-rated open mic. Keep in mind that the term "open mic" is used loosely: Past performers have included everything from poets to jugglers, and organizers encourage just about any form of expression you can do on a stage in five to 10 minutes. Come early for snacks and bring your own lawn chair, if you've got one. In Other Words, 8B NE Killingsworth St., 232-6003. Reception at 6 pm, reading at 7 pm. $1-$5 suggested donation. Map

Jill Conner Browne

Brown reads from the latest in her series of humorously insightful “Sweet Potato Queens” books. This one's titled The Sweet Potato Queens’ Guide to Raising Children for Fun and Profit. Come and hear what is, at the very least, a unique take on the subject of parenting. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free. Map

The Back Room Reading Series: The Wife, the Mistress and the Prostitute

This installment features the brain trust of PLAZM (founder Joshua Berger and editors Tiffany Lee Brown and Jon Raymond), Portland's notorious independent arts journal, for dinner and conversation. It's also a celebration of the bastard child of creative expression chapbook Back Room and PLAZM have joined forces to create. Musical guest Tara Jane ONeil will also perform. Podkrepa Hall, 2116 N Killingsworth St., . 6:30 pm. Call 705-9450 for info. $48, includes dinner and copy of chapbook. Map

Sunday January 13top

Lana Ayers and Deborah Woodward

Two animal-name-dropping Northwest poets read from their latest collections: Ayers’ Chicken Farmer I Still Love You and Woodward’s Plato’s Bad Horse. Powell's on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free. Map

Monday January 14top

Chuck Thompson

In his new book, Smile When You're Lying: Confessions of a Rogue Travel Writer, Portlander Thompson reveals that some travel destinations deemed unsafe or unappealing are actually quite pleasant and others with good reputations can be a Chevy Chase movie waiting to happen. His stories on Thai prostitutes are the stuff of excursion legend. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free. Map

Tuesday January 15top

Colson Whitehead

A National Book Critics Circle Award and Pulitzer Prize finalist, Whitehead writes novels credited with exploring profound themes such as racism and consumerism. His latest work, Apex Hides the Hurt, examines the identity of a small town when a software company attempts to rename it. Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway., 248-4335. 7:30 pm. $10-$26. Map

Eric Weiner

The seasoned travel veteran reads from his new collection, The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World. Again, Weiner offers insights on how not to let a Chevy Chase movie happen to you. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free. Map

Listen to the Children

The first volley in a series featuring participants of the “Writers in the Schools” program sponsored by Oregon Literary Arts, in which students in the public schools take part in writing seminars with professional writers. This event features writers from Cleveland High. Chaos Cafe & Parlor, 2620 SE Powell Blvd., 546-8112. 7 pm. Free. Map