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.

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.

Book Day at Queen Emma, sale of books at discounted prices, author signings and refreshments, 3-6 p.m. Friday, Emmalani Hale at Queen Emma Summer Palace, free admission. 923-0113.

BOOK SIGNINGS

Tammy Yee signs "The Hawaiian Goodbye Book" and her series of Baby Honu books, noon-1 p.m. today, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699.

Lance Tominaga and the HWB mascots sign "Catch the Dream: The Story of Hawai'i Winter Baseball," 1-2 p.m. today, Borders, Pearlridge. 487-1818. Also, 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699. (First 100 books sold at either book signing comes with a ticket for any HWB regular season game.)

Laurie Ide signs "Okazu at the Zoo," 11 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall. 737-3323.

Ilima Loomis signs "Rough Riders: Hawai'i's Paniolo and Their Stories," 3-6 p.m. Friday, Queen Emma's Summer Palace. 595-3603.

Ellie Crowe and Belinda Leigh sign "See Under the Sea," noon Saturday, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

MacKinnon Simpson signs "A Century of Aloha," noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center. 949-7307.

Don Robinson signs "G is for Gecko," noon Saturday, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall. 737-3323.

Lynne Wikoff signs "Tutu Knows Best" and "A Butterfly Tale," noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Waikele. 676-6699. Also, 2 p.m. Saturday, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Dean Okimoto signs "The Hawai'i Farmers Market Cookbook," noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Borders, Pearlridge. 487-1818.

Paul Wood and Ron Dahlquist sign "Orchid Isles: the Story of Orchids in Hawai'i," and other books on Hawaiian flora, noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Borders Express, Queen Ka'ahumanu Shopping Center, Kahului, Maui. (808) 871-6112.

Joseph Stanton signs his poetry book "A Field Guide to the Wildlife of Suburban O'ahu," 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall. 737-3323.

FOR WRITERS

O'ahu Arts Center seeks entries in fiction, nonfiction and poetry for its third annual writing contest for cash awards. One entry per category, $10 per entry. Prospectus: www.oahuartscenter.org, 848-7632. Deadline is Friday.

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. Nov. 18, 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.

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 that reflect the Hawaiian experience by residents or non-residents, plays set in or dealing with Pacific islands, Pacific Rim or Pacific/Asian American experience by residents or non-residents, and plays on any topic written by Hawai'i residents. Complete information: 536-4222, www.kumukahua.org. Entry deadline is Jan. 2.

READING GROUPS

Culinary Arts Discussion Group, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center. 949-7307.

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.

Manga Book Group, 7 p.m. Thursday, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall. 737-3323.

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.

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.