SPECIAL EVENTS

Library Book Sale, pocketbooks three for 50 cents, and other books and videos at reduced prices, sponsored by Friends of the Pearl City Library, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. today, Pearl City Public Library; free admission. 453-6566.

Aloha Shorts, weekly radio show with readings of short stories by local authors, 5 p.m. Mondays, on Hawaii Public Radio station KIPO 89.3 with host Cedric Yamanaka. www.hawaii publicradio.org/alohashorts.htm.

Talk Story Radio, weekly radio show, hosted by Jeff Gere, with island storytellers telling Hawaiian and Pacific Rim stories, 5:30 p.m. Mondays on Hawaii Public Radio station KIPO 89.3 FM, 7 p.m. Thursdays on KTUH 90.3 FM. www.talkstoryradio.com.

"For the Love of Bamboo Ridge Tales," readings of selected stories and poems from 27 years of publication, performed by Nyla Fujii-Babb, Eric Mita and Janice Terukina, pupu reception 7 p.m. Monday, performances 7:30 p.m., Manoa Valley Theatre; free to Bamboo Ridge Press members, donations welcomed from nonmembers. www.bambooridge.com. 626-1481.

"The Ethics of Writing Autobiography," lecture by Lynn Bloom on current issues in autobiography, 3-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, UH-Manoa's Kuykendall Hall 410; also, "Puni Nupepa: The Works of J.H. Kanepu'u, 19th-Century Hawaiian Newspaperman," a talk by Noenoe Silva, noon-1:15 p.m. Thursday, UH-Manoa's Henke Hall, Room 325; both are part of the Brown Bag Biography series and are free. 956-3774.

Rich Budnick presents a workshop on discovering Hawai'i's history and discusses his book "Hawaii's Forgotten History, 1900-1999," 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Kahuku Public Library; 293-8935. Also, Budnick presents a workshop on how to get published, 1-2 p.m. Saturday, and the history workshop 2-3 p.m., Kapolei Public Library, 693-7050; all workshops are free.

Poetry Slam Workshop for Teens, ongoing Youth Speaks Hawai'i workshops in written and spoken word for students ages 13-19, working with members of the HawaiiSlam team, 4-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, The ARTS at Marks Garage; free. 387-9664.

Robert Sullivan and Richard Hamasaki read from their collections of poetry, 7 p.m. Wednesday, UH-Manoa's Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics auditorium; free, presented by Pacific Writers' Connection. 956-3085.

Adult Literacy Program Orientation, learn how to train and volunteer to tutor adults to become literate, 7-9 p.m. Thursday, 'Aiea Public Library; free, sponsored by Hawaii Literacy. Registration: 537-6706.

BOOK SIGNINGS

Terri Farley signs her "Phantom Stallion" series of books, noon Saturday, Borders, Waikele (676-6699).

Peter Forman, author of "Wings of Paradise," signs his book, 2 p.m. Saturday, Borders Express, Windward Mall, Kane'ohe. 235-8044.

READING GROUPS

Bestseller Reading Group, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699.

Contemporary Fiction Reading Group, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall. 737-3323.

Romance Readers Anonymous, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699.

Romantic Borders Reading Group, 7 p.m. Thursday, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

FOR WRITERS

Honolulu Chapter of the National Writers Association, monthly meeting with a manuscript critique, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Kapuna I, 1015 N. School St. 845-9585.

2006 Lorin Tarr Gill Writing Competition, poetry, fiction and non-fiction sought for cash prizes by the Honolulu Branch of the National League of American Pen Women; $5 fee per entry, limited to one entry per genre per person. Guidelines and application at www .nlapwhonolulu.org. Deadline is Friday.

Writing Your First Screenplay, seven-session class by Bob Green on developing a concept into a storyline and then a screenplay, 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays, March 11-April 29 (no class April 15), UH-Manoa, Krauss 011; $200. Register for course L08263: 956-8400.

Maui Arts & Cultural Center seeks quotes to be included on new outdoor benches on the theme "What do art and culture mean to you?" Quotes may be your own or from persons or sources that have inspired you. Submit up to three original or cited statements, 60 words or less, with your contact information and the author's name and, if known, their age, address, phone and e-mail to kristina@mauiarts.org or call (808) 242-2787. Deadline is April 1.

VSA arts seeks original one-act plays from students in grades 6-12 for the 22nd annual Playwright Discovery Award. Two winning scripts, which express how disability affects a person's life, will be selected for performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and the authors will receive up to $1,500 and a trip to Washington, D.C., to see their play performed. Guidelines and application: www.vsarts.org, (800) 933-8721. Submission deadline is April 14.

FOR KEIKI

Toddler Storytime, for ages 2-3, 10 a.m. Mondays, Kapolei Public Library. 693-7050.

Tiny Tales for Tiny Tots, stories, fingerplays, songs and a craft to take home, for keiki 4 and younger, 9-9:45 a.m. and 10:30-11:15 a.m. Tuesdays, Kalihi-Palama Public Library. 832-3466.

Keiki Storytime, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and 11 a.m. Saturdays, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699.

Preschool Craft & Storytime, 11 a.m. Tuesdays, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall (737-3323) and Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center (949-7307).

Storytime, for ages 3-5, 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Wahiawa Public Library. 622-6345.

Keiki Storytime, 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Preschool Storytime, for ages 3-4 years, 10 a.m. Thursdays, Kapolei Public Library. 693-7050.

Saturday Storytime, 10 a.m. Saturdays, Kapolei Public Library. 693-7050.

Saturday Morning Storytime, 11 a.m. Saturdays, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center; this Saturday, come dressed as your favorite princess or hero. 949-7307.

Send announcements, with contact name and phone number, to Lit Beat, Island Life, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com, with "Lit Beat" in the subject line; or fax 525-8055.