Good Reads

THIS WEEK: AUG. 27 to SEPT. 2, 2010

Open Mic Poetry Reading. Anthology New and Used Books, 515 Center St., Scranton. Tonight at 7. 341-1443.

Biographies with a Bonus, a discussion of “Spoken from the Heart,” the memoir by former First Lady Laura Bush. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Arena Hub Plaza, Wilkes-Barre Township. Sunday at 4 p.m. 829-4210.

Writers Group. All writing styles and formats welcome. Age 18 and older. Dietrich Theater, 60 E. Tioga St., Tunkhannock. Thursday at 7 p.m. Free. Registration: 996-1500.

FUTURE

Children’s Book Writing Workshop, a day-long interactive workshop with two seminars and a writing critique session. Open to anyone interested in or currently writing a children’s or young-adult book. Included: award-winning authors Lindsay Barrett George and Maria V. Snyder. Sponsored by Pennwriters at the Bloomsburg Fire Hall, 911 Market St., Bloomsburg. Sept. 11, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. $40 includes lunch. Registration (by Sept. 4): 784-2112.

Book Signing, with Pastor Dale Anschuetz, author of “Never Turn Your Back on a Monkey,” a humorous look at what is really important in life. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Arena Hub Plaza, Wilkes-Barre Township. Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. 829-4210.

Book Signing, with local-history writer Margo L. Azzarelli (“Taylor,” “1877: Riot on Lackawanna Avenue”). Scranton Iron Furnaces, 159 Cedar Ave., Scranton. Sept. 12, 3 to 6 p.m. 963-4804.

Books & Bagels, a discussion of “The Good Earth” by Pearl S. Buck. Pittston Memorial Library, 47 Broad St., Pittston. Sept. 18 at 10 a.m. New members welcome. 654-9565.

Writing Workshop, a themed informal writing class wherein participants may share drafts of poems, short stories or nonfiction. Presented by the Campion Literary Society. Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center, King’s College, Wilkes-Barre. Sept. 21 at 3:30 p.m. Free. 208-5900, ext. 5487.

The Franklin Street Sleuths. The mystery-book club discusses “The Man in the Queue” by Josephine Tey. Osterhout Free Library, 71 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. Sept. 23 at 6:30 p.m. 821-1959.

Pages & Places Book Festival, the second annual event with 15 nationally and internationally recognized writers who explore history, policy, science, media and literature in panel discussions at various Scranton venues. Included: international bestselling author Christopher Hitchens and Scranton native Jay Parini along with Kelly Askin, Charles Ed Connor, Mathias Enard, Jonathan Gottschall, Tamera Gugelmeyer, Ed Kashi and many more. Oct. 2, 9 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. with a Book Expo on Courthouse Square from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Schedule available at pagesandplaces.org.

The Franklin Street Sleuths. The mystery-book club discusses “The Last Child” by John Hart. Osterhout Free Library, 71 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m. 821-1959.

The Franklin Street Sleuths. The mystery-book club discusses “Hide and Seek” by Ian Rankin. Osterhout Free Library, 71 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m. 821-1959.

The Franklin Street Sleuths. The mystery-book club discusses “Too Big to Miss” by Sue Ann Jaffarian. Osterhout Free Library, 71 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. Dec. 16 at 6:30 p.m. 821-1959.