Books calendar

Words & Ideas

TODAY

Susan Galleymore In advance of Mother’s Day, author Galleymore (“Long Time Passing: Mothers Speak About War and Terror”) will be joined by other local U.S. military moms, poets, musicians, activists and artists. American Friends Service Committee -- Los Angeles, 634 S. Spring St., main floor, L.A. 3 p.m. Free. (213) 489-1900.

Russell Howze The author of “Stencil Nation: Graffiti, Community, and Art” will present and sign his new book. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

MONDAY

100 Years Since Allensworth: Is California Living Up to the Legacy? The inaugural conference in the “Hidden Stories” series will feature keynote speaker Willie L. Brown, closing remarks by Ruth Coleman and three panels of academics, community organizers and public officials. Doheny Memorial Library -- USC, 3550 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. $60. (323) 466-3445.

Reza Aslan Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization and the End of the War on Terror” in conversation with Amy Wilentz. See www.aloudla.org for details. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Full; standby only. (213) 228-7025.

Brian Castro and David Francis The authors of “Shanghai Dancing” and “Stray Dog Winter,” respectively, will read and sign their new novels. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Verlyn Klinkenborg The author of “Making Hay,” “The Last Fine Time” and “Timothy: Or, Notes of an Abject Reptile” will read and discuss his work as part of the museum’s New American Writing series. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Malina Saval The author of “The Secret Lives of Boys: Inside the Raw, Emotional World of Male Teens” will present and sign her new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

TUESDAY

The Factory Readings Jaimes Palacio hosts an evening of performance poetry with Russ Kazmierczak and Jeanette Encinias, plus musical guest Nancy Sanchez. The Gypsy Den, 125 N. Broadway, Santa Ana. 8 p.m. Free. (714) 564-7630.

Christian Moerk The author of “Darling Jim” will read and sign his debut novel. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Gregory Orfalea The author of “Angeleno Days: An Arab American Writer on Family, Place and Politics” will present and sign his new book of essays. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Anne Waldman Aloud at Central Library presents a poetry performance, “Manatee/Humanity,” by the groundbreaking poet, educator and activist. See www.aloudla.org. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025.

David Wilson The founding director of the Museum of Jurassic Technology will give a talk as part of the Hammer Lectures series. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

WEDNESDAY

Brendan Constantine, Ching-In Chen, Eloise Klein Healy and Terry Wolverton Red Hen Press presents a reading with the local poets. Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock. 7 p.m. Free. (818) 831-0649.

Malina Saval The author of “The Secret Lives of Boys” will present and sign her new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Darryl StrawberryThe baseball legend will sign his new book, “Straw: Finding My Way.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 6 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

THURSDAY

Chris Abani The author of “Song for Night” and “The Virgin of Flames” will read and discuss his work and the thriving art scene of the African continent as part of the Fowler OutSpoken series. Fowler Museum at UCLA, Sunset Boulevard and Westwood Plaza, Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 825-8655.

Summer Brenner, Gary Phillips, Denise Hamilton and Larry Fondation The authors will read and discuss their Los Angeles noir fiction. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Lac Su The author of “I Love Yous Are for White People” will read and sign his new memoir. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

FRIDAY

Robert Arellano, Maggie Estep and Achy Obejas Authors Arellano (“Havana Lunar”), Estep (“Alice Fantastic”) and Obejas (“Ruins”) will read and sign their new novels. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Jon Ginoli The founding member of the band Pansy Division will sign his new book, “Deflowered: My Life in Pansy Division.” Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Laurie R. King The author of “The Language of Bees” will read and sign the latest installment in her Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Miss Mindy The author of the first-of-its-kind burlesque paper-doll book will present and sign “Miss Mindy’s Sassy Paper Doll Bonanza.” La Luz de Jesus Gallery, 4633 Hollywood Blvd., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (323) 666-7667.

The New Short Fiction Series The latest installment of the monthly spoken-word series will feature Sally Shore, Deborah Geffner, Matthew Thomas Lange and Michael Spellman for a dramatic reading of Patrick Tobin’s book “Cake.” Beverly Hills Public Library, 444 N. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills. 8 p.m. $10. (310) 288-2220.

SATURDAY

James Flanigan and Abe Lowenthal The authors of “Smile Southern California, You’re the Center of the Universe” and “Global California,” respectively, will present and sign their books. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Lauren Mackler The author of “Solemate” will present and sign her new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 2 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Robert L. Mills The former gag writer for Bob Hope and author of “The Laugh Makers” will present and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Hank Rosenfeld The screenwriter will present and sign his new book, “The Wicked Wit of the West: The Last Great Golden-Age Screenwriter Shares the Hilarity and Heartaches of Working with Groucho, Garland, Gleason, Burns, Berle, Benny & Many More.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Candy Spelling The author of “Stories From Candyland” will present and sign her new memoir. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 6 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.