Lit Beat

SPECIAL EVENTS

"NOVEL POETS," Sara Backer and Eric Paul Shaffer talk about writing poetry and fiction, 7 p.m. Friday, Borders Books & Music, Kahului, Maui; free. (808) 877-6160.

SIGNINGS

Elaine Masters and illustrator Jeff Pagay of the "Footloose the Mongoose" children's stories, 4-5 p.m. today, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699.

Roberta Wong, author of "Hawaiian Lei in Crochet," autographs her book and demonstrates her technique, 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Ben Franklin in Mapunapuna, 833-3800; also 2-4 p.m. at Ben Franklin in Pearl City, 455-1909.

Ann Kondo Corum, author of Hawaii's Spam cookbooks, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Friday at the diamond head lawn of the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel and 1-2 p.m. Saturday at the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, part of the Waikiki Spam Jam.

Sandi Takayama, author of "The Musubi Man," 11 a.m.-noon Saturday at the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, part of the Waikiki Spam Jam.

FOR WRITERS

"Cinematic Storytelling," a workshop for screenwriters taught by Billy Mernit, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Yukiyoshi Room, Krauss 012, UH-Manoa; $85. Registration: 956-8400.

"writing the romantic comedy," two-day workshop led by Billy Mernit, teaches how to develop a working outline for a comedy film, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Yukiyoshi Room, Krauss 012, UH-Manoa; $150. Registration and requirements: 956-8400.