SPECIAL EVENTS

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

Talk Story Radio, weekly radio show, hosted by Jeff Gere, 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.

Fall Common Book Project, community reading and discussion of Thomas Friedman's "The World is Flat," and Barbara Ehrenreich's "Nickel and Dimed." Windward residents are encouraged to read the books and attend the public lectures, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Windward Community College's Hale Akoakoa, room 101; free. This week, "In Defense of Free Trade and Globalization," a talk by Paul Brewbaker, senior vice president and chief economist, Bank of Hawai'i.

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. Wednesdays, The ARTS at Marks Garage; free. 387-9664.

Babies Reading! Ask the Expert!, Dr. Bob Titzer will conduct a free early-learning workshop, 11 a.m. Thursday, Kahala Mall, near the theatres; free. www.yourbabycanread.com.

Hawai'i Pacific Review Special Sale Day, only on this special sale day, just in time for the holidays, readers will be able to purchase the recently released HPR Volume 20 for the reduced price of $7.50, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, upper Fort Street Mall.

Youth Speaks Hawai'i Poetry Slam, open mic for poets ages 13-19, 3:30-5 p.m. Saturday, The ARTS at Marks Garage; slam sign up at 3 p.m.; free, 387-9664.

The Holiday Book Drive, invites customers to purchase books for donation, Barnes and Noble will distribute the donated books to children through nonprofit organizations, Nov. 1-Jan. 1, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center. 944-3135.

Jim May, Emmy Award-winning storyteller will be a featured performer for Children's Book Week 2006 presented by the Hawai'i State Public Library System. Contact your local library for date and time. www.librarieshawaii.org.

BOOK SIGNINGS

Caren Loebel-Fried signs "Hawaiian Legends of Dreams" and "Hawaiian Legends of the Guardian Spirits," 11 a.m.-3 p.m. today, Volcano Art Center, Volcano, Hawai'i. (808) 967-7565.

Ellie Crowe signs "See Under the Sea," "Duke's Olympic Feet," and "The Boy Who Tricked the Ghosts," 12-1 p.m. today, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699.

Lynne Wikoff signs "Tutu Knows Best" and "A Butterfly Tale," 12-1 p.m. today, Borders, Pearlridge Mall. 487-1818.

Joseph Stanton signs "A Field Guide to the Wildlife of Suburban O'ahu," 1-2 p.m. today, Native Books/Na Mea Hawai'i at Ward Warehouse. 596-8885.

Lance Tominaga signs "Catch the Dream: The Story of Hawai'i Winter Baseball," 1 p.m. today, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Ellie Crowe signs "See Under the Sea," "Duke's Olympic Feet" and "The Boy Who Tricked the Ghosts," 2-3 p.m. today, Borders, Pearlridge Mall. 487-1818.

Greg Kaufman signs "Discovering Humpback Whales of Hawai'i:125 Fun Facts About Humpbacks," 2-3 p.m. today, Borders Express, Lahaina Cannery Mall. (808) 667-6172.

Dean Okimoto signs "The Hawai'i Farmers Market Cookbook," 2-3 p.m. today, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Gaye Chan signs "WAIKIKI: A History of Forgetting and Remembering," 2 p.m. today, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall. 737-3323.

Gaye Chan signs "The Hawaiian Goodbye Book," 11 a.m. Tuesday, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall. 737-3323.

Tammy Yee signs "The Hawaiian Goodbye Book," "Baby Honu Saves the Day," and "Baby Honu's Incredible Journey," 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Tuesday, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall. 737-3323.

Edna Cabcabin Moran signs "The Sleeping Giant, a tale from Kauai," 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Native Books/Na Mea Hawai'i at Ward Warehouse. 596-8885.

Ken Okimoto signs "Exploring the Hamakua Coast," 12 p.m. Saturday, Basically Books. (808) 961-0144.

Edna Cabcabin Moran signs "The Sleeping Giant, a tale from Kauai," 12 p.m. Saturday, Borders at Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Belinda Leigh signs "See Under the Sea," 12-1 p.m. Saturday, Borders, Maui Marketplace. (808) 877-6160.

Michael Gallagher signs "The Maui Chef Seafood Cookbook," and "Gourmet Cuisine-Island Style," 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Borders Express Kaahumanu on Maui. (808) 871-6112.

FOR WRITERS

Honolulu Chapter of the National Writers Association, monthly meeting with manuscript critique, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center; bring at least eight copies of your work, six page in length or less. 845-9585.

12th Honolulu Writers Conference, manuscript critiques, workshops for fiction, nonfiction, children's writing and on cookbook writing (led by The Advertiser's Food Editor, Wanda Adams), self-publishing, book proposals and more, 8:15 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday Jefferson Hall, East-West Center; $60. Registration and complete schedule: 395-1161, alohapress@att.net.

Honolulu Filipino Chamber of Commerce seeks essays from students in grades K-12 on the theme "The Sakada Legacy: Footprints of the Future." Three winners will receive gifts and prize money and be published in the chamber's publication. Complete details and entry form at www.filipinojaycees.com/centennialcontest. Deadline is Nov. 24.

Hawai'i Pacific University seeks entries for the James M. Vaughan Poetry Awards with a $500 cash prize and publication in the Hawai'i Pacific Review. Send three unpublished poems, no longer than 100 lines each, with a short personal biography and your name, address, phone and e-mail address to: James M. Vaughan Award for Poetry, 1060 Bishop St., Suite 7, Honolulu, HI 96813. Additional information: 544-1108. Postmark deadline is Dec. 15.

2006 Kumu Kahua Theatre/UHM Theatre Department Playwriting Contest, prizes in three categories: plays set in Hawai'i or reflect the Hawaiian experience by residents or nonresidents, plays set in or dealing with Pacific Island, Pacific Rim or Pacific/Asian American experience by residents or nonresidents, and plays on any topic written by Hawai'i residents. Complete information: 536-4222, www.kumukahua.org. Entry deadline is Jan. 2.

READING GROUPS

Coffee Talk Book Group, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Barnes & Noble, Kahala. 737-3323.

Literature Readers Group, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Borders Ward Centre. 591-8995.

FOR KEIKI

Toddler Storytime, stories, sing-alongs and crafts for ages 2-3, 10 a.m. Mondays, Kapolei Public Library. 693-7050.

Preschool Storytime, sing-alongs, craft activities and stories, 10 a.m. Mondays, Kea'au Public & School Library, Big Island. (808) 982-4281.

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

Pre-School Storytime, and activities program, for ages 3 to 5, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Waipahu Public Library. 675-0358.

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).

Read Me a Story, books read by volunteer storytellers, 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Keiki Reading Room in Gallery 31 (lower level of Banyan Court); for 12 and under and their parents; free for children, included with admission price of $7 for parents. 532-8700.

Preschool Storytime, stories and playtime for children 2 1/2 and older, 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Pearl City Public Library. 453-6566.

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

Pre-School Storytime, stories read aloud, sing-along songs and a simple craft, 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Liliha Public Library. 587-7577.

Storytimes, stories, sing-alongs and crafts for preschool children, 10 a.m. Thursdays and Saturdays, Kapolei Public Library. 693-7050.

Saturday Storytime, 11 a.m. Saturdays, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall. 737-3323

Saturday Morning Storytime, 11 a.m. Saturdays, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center. 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.