FOR WRITERS

• 11TH HONOLULU WRITERS CONFERENCE, with best-selling author of "legal thrillers," Perry O'Shaughnessy, A Warner Books editor and three literary agents, plus information about children's books and self-publishing, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday, East-West Center, Jefferson Hall; $89 registration, students $60. 395-1161.

• HAWAI'I PACIFIC UNIVERSITY POETRY CONTEST: send three poems of fewer than 100 lines containing your name, address, phone number and/or e-mail and a five-line biography to the James M. Vaughan Award for Poetry, 1060 Bishop St., Suite 402, Honolulu, HI 96813; open only to Hawai'i residents; deadline Dec. 1; $500 prize, poem publication. 544-1107.

• MANUSCRIPT CRITIQUE by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Hawaii Chapter; six typed, double-spaced pages with, one inch margins, one page plot summary for novels; author's name, address, phone and e-mail on title page, name and page number on all pages; $30 reading fee, checks payable to SCBWI-Hawaii, enclose self-addressed, stamped envelope, send to SCBWI Manuscript Review c/o N. Mower, Children's Literature Hawaii, English Department, University of Hawai'i at Manoa; deadline Oct. 31. 554-4744.

• 2001 PLAYWRITING CONTEST sponsored by Kumu Kahua Theatre and the University of Hawaii at Manoa; resident and non-resident playwrights eligible for cash prizes; deadline Jan. 2, 2002; call to receive contest rules. 536-4222.

SIGNINGS/READINGS

• PHOEBE BEACH and ARNOLD BITNER, co-authors of "Hawaii Tropical Rum Drinks & Cuizine by Don the Beachcomber," 12:30-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Bestsellers; noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Borders, Ward Centre; 4-5 p.m., Borders, Waikele.

• SAM CHOY, author of "Sam Choy Woks the Wok" and "Kids," 1:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Waldenbooks-Pearlridge.

• WILLIAM H. DORRANCE, author of "Sugar Islands," 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Waldenbooks-Windward Mall.

• GLEN GRANT, author of "Hawaii Looking Back," 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sam's Club, 1000 Kamehameha Highway.

• JEAN WATANABE HEE, author of "Hawaii's Best Local Desserts," 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 4, Sam's Club, 1000 Kamehameha Highway, Pearl City.

• CHRIS MCKINNEY, author of "The Tatoo" and "Queen of Tears," noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Waldenbooks-Kahala; 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Waldenbooks-Ala Moana.

• Poakalani and JOHN SERRAO, co-authors of "Poakalani Quilt," 12:30-1:30 p.m. Friday, Bestsellers.

READERS GROUPS

• HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE READING GROUP meets 7:15 p.m. every Monday, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall.

• LITERATURE READERS GROUP meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Borders, Ward Centre.

• ROMANTIC BORDERS READERS GROUP meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Borders, Ward Centre.

• HAWAII FILM FANS meets 3 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at Borders, Ward Centre.

FOR KEIKI

• BARNES & NOBLE CRAFT AND STORYTIME, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, 2:30 p.m. Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays, top level, Kahala Mall; free. 737-3323.

• KEIKI STORYTIME, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and 11 a.m. Saturdays, Borders, Waikele; free.