This Week in Lit: Ramblings, Recordings and Riot Grrrl

Seattle has an eventful week ahead—with everything from mysteries, to music, to Riot grrrl memories on the horizon.

J.A. Jance at Bellevue Regional Library:
Coming from a family that always has had a weakness for mystery novels, J.A. Jance is a name that I remember scrawled across the front of books littering my grandmother’s coffee table. And with a long trail of successful novels in her wake, J.A. Jance latest novel, Betrayal of Trust featuring Seattle investigator J.P. Beaumont should keep all those die-hard fans satisfied. And at the reading you’ll finally get a chance to put a face to such a familiar name!

Tuesday, 7 p.m. // Bellevue Regional Library // Free

Daniel Orozco at Elliott Bay Book Co.:
With a debut collection of stories that has the literary world entranced, Daniel Orozco is a much anticipated visitor to Elliot Bay Book Co. Many of the stories from his book, Orientation and Other Stories, have been picked up by various magazines (Harper’s Magazine and McSweeney’s to name a few) and his writing has been recently described as “beautiful, rigorous, and smart”.

Wednesday, 7 p.m. // Elliott Bay Book Co. // Free

Tony Tost at Ravenna Third Place Books:
Few things are as fun (or quickly informative) as checking out the latest addition to the 33 1/3 series—and Tony Tost brings us the latest with 33 1/3: Johnny Cash’s American Recordings. Tost explores the world of the mythical Johnny Cash, and from the perspective of an enthusiastic fan uncovers exactly how Cash’s American Recordings brought his legend back to life. Always a topic deserving of animated discussion, Johnny Cash is worth a little time on a Thursday night.

Thursday, 7 p.m. // Ravenna Third Place Books // Free

Megan Kelso, Nikki McClure and Stella Marrs at the Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery:
I love when Riot grrrl comes up in conversation, and this Saturday Fantagraphics is hosting an event that already has me super fired up! Nikki McClure, Stella Marrs and Megan Kelso will be swinging by the shop to discuss the lasting legacy of the movement, along with the Kelso’s recently reissued book, Queen of the Black Black—which features work from her self-published zine, Girlhero. Other self-published comix and zines from the Riot grrrl era will also be on display, along with pieces by McClure and Marrs. A book signing and informal reception will follow. You can even take in the neighborhood “Art Attack” while in the area—sounds kind of like a kick ass evening.

Saturday, 6 p.m. // Fantagraphics // Free

Urban Craft Uprising Summer Show at Seattle Center Exhibition Hall:
It’s time for Seattle’s largest indie craft show! Over 100 vendors of everything craft, art and design-related will be gracing the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall with their artistic presence. This year you’ll also have the opportunity to attend hourly crafty book signings and demonstrations with a TON of crafty-folks who are into sharing their skills. Some of this year’s authors/demonstrators include Heidi Kenney of Every Day’s a Holiday: Year Round Crafting with Kids; Olympia artist Nikki McClure, author of the children’s picture book, To Market, To Market; Kate Lebo, baker and author of A Commonplace Book of Pie; Irene Akio, author of the bilingual, Japanese/English children’s book, T is for Tokyo; and Steve D’Amico, illustrator of the children’s picture book, Suki, the Very Loud Bunny. Urban Craft Uprising offers a free, creative, and lovely option for the Summer weekend—more information can be found at http://urbancraftuprising.com/author-signings/.

Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. // Seattle Center Exhibition Hall // Free admission