This Week in Lit: Bavarian Executioners, Book Drives and BBQ

This week’s line up is looking pretty promising—with everything from bloody executioners (which may kill your appetite) to advice on Seattle’s best grub (which will definitely bring it back). Regardless, enjoy your week in Seattle lit. events!

Oliver Pötzsch at Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park:
It’s not everyday that you get to meet a man from a long line of Bavarian executioners—but Oliver Pötzsch will be at Third Place Books…just in case you have any burning questions for the author with such a unique heritage. Pötzsch is the author of The Hangman’s Daughter, the historical novel focusing on a small Bavarian town and its struggle with witchcraft, accusations and loyalty.

Monday, 7 p.m. // Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park // Free

Keren Brown at University Book Store:
There’s exceptional food hiding in every nook and cranny of Seattle, and Keren Brown— creator of the Seattle food blog FranticFoodie.com—has gathered the best together in her latest book The Food Lovers’ Guide to Seattle: Best Local Specialties, Markets, Recipes, Restaurants & Events. So whether your poison is the sketchy taco truck in the dimmest corner of the lot, fresh produce from the neighborhood market, or simply the closest tap with the hoppiest beer…Brown’s got some angle on it. Learn some secrets from the lady herself—before the rest of us discover the hidden gems as well!

Tuesday, 7 p.m. // University of Washington Book Store // Free

Seattle7Writers Cookout and (new) Book Drive at Queen Anne Books:
Even though I may have gone a bit wild with the BBQ fare this past weekend, one can never have too many hotdogs! Which is why a little cookout action at Queen Anne Books sounds enticing—especially because it also includes a posse of Seattle writers. And the celebrating is all for a good cause—Queen Anne Books provides the food and drinks, and you can contribute a new book and/or money to Seattle7Writers (a nonprofit that fosters a love for writing and books in communities). There are also a bunch of those witty, Seattle writers to mingle with, from Garth Stein to Laurie Frankel, to Boyd Morrison.

Thursday, 5:30 p.m. // Queen Anne Books // Free

Donna Miscolta and Oliver de la Paz at Elliott Bay Book Co.:
You know we love supporting our local writers, and tonight Elliott Bay Book Co. will host fiction writer Donna Miscolta of Seattle, and poet (and Western Washington teacher) Oliver de la Paz from Bellingham. Miscolta is reading from her debut novel When the del la Cruz Family Danced—a story about immigration, family, and the struggles and triumphs of life. Oliver de la Paz is reading from Requiem for the Orchard, his third collection of poems—verse that covers everything from childhood to fatherhood…and all the crazy shit in between.

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

David Henry Hwang at Elliott Bay Book Co.:
Today really centers on conversation between the fascinating playwright, David Henry Hwang, and Washington State Arts Commission’s Mayumi Tsutakaya. Hwang is in our city for the Northwest premier of his play Yellow Face, performed by ReAct Theatre and the Pork Filled Players—the two groups that are also co-presenting this event. Known for his originality and humor, Hwang’s written a handful of plays and operas (with names like FOB and Chinglish)—using bits of his own experience coming from immigrant parents in LA. Even if you can’t make the talk, you do have the opportunity to catch Yellow Face from August 5th through September 3rd at Richard Hugo House.

Sunday, 2 p.m. // Elliott Bay Book Co. // Free