FRANK DAVIS. Sam's Club, 181 Northshore Blvd., Slidell, (985) 641-1401 ' The author signs his cookbooks and The Fisherman's Tackle Box Bible . 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

MAD POETS EXPRESS REVIVAL PROJECT. Dragon's Den, above Cafe Siam, 435 Esplanade Ave., 949-1750 ' Open mic for writers, readers, musicians and performers. Mad Poets Express also seeks local performers, directors and writers needed for one-act, scene and sketch pieces for the new performance group Nobodies Doing Nothing. Contact Jimmy at FreeMediaGroup@cox.net or attend the Mad Poets Project the first Tuesday of every month. Free admission. 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

JAZZ & POETRY NIGHT. Sweet Lorraine's, 1931 St. Claude Ave., 945-9654 ' Jazz and poetry night every Tuesday. 9:30 p.m. Wednesday 8 ERICA SPINDLER. Beaucoup Books, 3915 Magazine St., 895-2663 ' The author signs Killer Takes All . 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

GARDEN DISTRICT BOOK GROUP. Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St., 895-2266 ' The book group discusses The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat. New members welcome. 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

COLLEEN FITZPATRICK. East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, 838-1100 ' The author gives a talk called 'Use Forensic Science to Solve Your Genealogical Mysteries' and signs Forensic Genealogy . Free admission. 7 p.m.

CHAMELEONS POETRY NIGHT. Chameleons Day Spa Cafe & Coffee, 811 S. Clark St. 486-0929 ' Open-mic poetry night hosted by Kenneth Plaisance. 8 p.m.

LIP LOC POETRY LOUNGE. TwiRoPa, 1544 Tchoupitoulas St., 587-3777; www.twiropa.com ' Open mic for the spoken word. Tickets $6. 8 p.m. to midnight.

POETRY FORUM WORKSHOP. 257 Bonnabel Blvd., Metairie, 835-8472 or 467-9034 ' The New Orleans Poetry Forum hosts a weekly workshop every Wednesday. 8 p.m.

TAO POETRY OPEN MIC. Neutral Ground Coffee House, 5110 Danneel St., 891-3381; www.neutralground.org ' Open mic poetry reading every Wednesday. 9 p.m.

Thursday 9

LERONE BENNETT JR. Afro-American Book Stop, New Orleans Centre, 1400 Poydras St., 588-1474; www.theafroamericanbookstop.com ' The author signs Forced Into Glory: Abraham Lincoln's White Dream . 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

BEAUCOUP BOOK CLUB. Beaucoup Books, 3951 Magazine St., 895-2663; www.beaucoupbooks.com ' The book club discusses Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America by John Barry. New members welcome. 6 p.m.

17 POETS OPEN MIC. Gold Mine Saloon, 701 Dauphine St., 586-0745; www.goldminesaloon.com ' Weekly series with featured poets Gina Ferrara and Chris Champagne. Open mic to follow. Poets, storytellers, dancers, musicians, puppeteers and more are invited to share their art. Hosted by Dave Brinks. Free admission. 8 p.m.

Friday 10

ELLIS L. MARSALIS III. Octavia Books, 513 Octavia St., 899-7323; www.octaviabooks.com ' The author and photographer, also known as T.P. Luce, gives a multimedia presentation on his book Tha Bloc: Words, Photographs and Baltimore City in Black, White and Gray . Signing to follow. 7 p.m.

Saturday 11

SCI-FI BOOK CLUB. Octavia Books, 513 Octavia St., 899-7323; www.octaviabooks.com ' The Sci-Fi Book Club discusses Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow. 10:30 a.m.

FRANK DAVIS. Sam's Club, 1527 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey, 361-3966 ' The author signs his cookbooks and The Fisherman's Tackle Box Bible . 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

ERICA SPINDLER. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3414 Hwy. 190, Suite 10, Mandeville, (985) 626-8884 ' The author signs Killer Takes All . 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

GASPAR J. 'BUDDY' STALL. Sam's Club, 1527 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey, 361-3966 ' The author signs Buddy Stall's New Orleans and Buddy Stall's Louisiana Potpourri . 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday 12

ERICA SPINDLER. B. Dalton Books, 2009 North Shore Square, Slidell, (985) 641-0501 ' The author signs Killer Takes All . 2 p.m.

MAPLE LEAF READINGS. Maple Leaf Bar, 8316 Oak St., 866-9359 ' Maple Leaf Bar hosts the Everett Maddox Memorial Poetry and Prose Reading Series every Sunday featuring readings by local writers. 3 p.m.