SPECIAL

THE HONOLULU CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL WRITERS ASSOCIATION meets, with author Wendy Miyake ("The Bodhisattva Club") speaking on creative travel writing; 7 p.m.; April 1; Borders, Ward Centre; free; 845-9585.

HAWAIISLAM GRAND SLAM FINALS, slam poets face off for a spot on the HawaiiSlam team, which will compete in the National Poetry Slam in Wisconsin; 8:30 p.m.; April 3; Hawaiian Hut, Ala Moana Hotel grounds; $15; 387-9664.

"WHERE WILL WE DWELL? WRITING DESCRIPTION AND SETTING" workshop for all writing levels, led by author Louise Wisechild; 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; April 5; Old Japanese Schoolhouse, Volcano Village, Big Island; $55 (financial aid available); registration: 808-967-8222, www.volcanoartcenter.org.

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY OF HAWAI'I BOOK AND MEDIA SALE, with books, music, VHS cassettes and DVDs; 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; April 5; Bill's Bookmobile, 690 Pohukaina St.; 536-4174.

Book Clubs & Literature Festival, dozens of interactive sessions on a variety of topics, including authors and their works, performance poetry, storytelling, fantasy writing and pidgin short stories, and featuring Mainland authors Graham Salisbury, Jim Lynch and Cynthia Kadohata, plus numerous local writers; 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; April 12; University of Hawai'i-Manoa, Campus Center Ballroom; free, $5 pre-order lunch with registration before April 4; 239-9726, http://hctewebsite.googlepages.com.

Youth Speaks Hawai'i, slam poetry workshops, hosted by Kealoha, TravisT, Melvin, Darron and Lyz; 4-5:30 p.m. Wednesdays; The ARTS at Marks Garage; free; 387-9664.

"Talk Story Radio," weekly radio show, hosted by Jeff Gere; 5:30 p.m. Mondays; broadcast on KTUH 90.3 FM, 7 p.m. Thursdays; www.talkstoryradio.com.

BOOK SIGNING

SHEILA SARHANGI will sign "Honolulu Then and Now," 2 p.m. April 5 at Barnes & Noble, Kahala; 737-3323.

FOR WRITERS

LORIN TARR GILL WRITING COMPETITION, open to all writers, who can submit one manuscript in each category — fiction, nonfiction and poetry; postmark deadline March 31; mail to competition chair Nancy Alpert Mower, 1536 Kamole St., Honolulu, HI 96821; complete rules: www.nlapwhonolulu.org.

Aloha Performing Arts Company seeks new, unpublished scripts of any length and subject for its annual Original Play Festival, Aug. 13-17 at the Aloha Theatre, Kainaliu, Big Island; postmark by May 23; submission details and more information: 808-322-9924, www.apachawaii.org.

FOR KEIKI

Toddler time storytime, stories read aloud, sing-alongs and rhymes, for babies to toddlers up to age 3; 10-10:30 a.m. Mondays; state library; free; 586-3510.

Keiki storytime, stories read aloud, sing-alongs, finger plays and a simple craft, for ages 3 and older; 10-10:45 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays; Kapolei Public Library; free; 693-7050.

Toddler storytime, books, finger plays, matching games and songs, for ages 2-3; 10 a.m. Tuesdays; McCully-Mo'ili'ili Public Library; free; 973-1099.

Preschool storytime, stories read aloud, sing-alongs and playtime activities; 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays; Waipahu Public Library; free; 675-0358.

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

Preschool craft & storytime; 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays; Barnes & Noble, Kahala; free; 737-3323.

Preschool craft & storytime; 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays; Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana; free; 949-7307.

Read Me a Story, books read by volunteer storytellers for 12 and younger and their parents; 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; Honolulu Academy of Arts; free for children, included with $7 admission for parents; 532-8700.

Keiki storytime, stories, songs, sing-alongs and other activities; 1010:30 a.m. Wednesdays; Kahuku Public & School Library; free; 293-8935.

Keiki storytime; 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays; Borders, Ward Centre; free; 591-8995.

Keiki storytime, stories read aloud, finger plays and occasional crafts for ages 2-5; 11 a.m. Wednesdays; Kailua Public Library; free; 266-9911.

Preschool storytime, stories read aloud, sing-alongs, finger plays and a simple craft, for ages 3-5; 4 p.m. Wednesdays; Waikiki-Kapahulu Public Library; free; 733-8488.

Children's storytime; 3 p.m.; third Thursday of the month through May; Kalihi-Palama Public Library; free; 832-3466.

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