Readings/Book Signings

• BEVERLY SWERLING The author signs and reads from her new book, "City of Glory," the sequel to her book "City of Dreams," set during the War of 1812, Thu, Jan. 18, 7pm, FREE, Borders Books & Music, 1001 Baltimore Pike, Springfield, 610-543-8588.
• BILL EHRHARDT AND MICHAEL BROWN The two poets read from their work, Tue, Jan. 23, 7pm, FREE, Robin's Bookstore, 108 S. 13th St., 215-735-9600.
• CALVIN TRILLIN The satirist, New Yorker food writer and novelist reads from his book, "About Alice," in which he writes about his wife and culinary co-conspirator, who died of cancer in 2001, Tue, Jan. 23, 8pm, $6-$12, Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Branch, 19th & Vine sts., 215-686-5322.
• A CELEBRATION OF HART CRANE The Poetry Society of America and Temple-Penn Poetics co-sponsor this program honoring the early-20th-century modernist poet and the recent release of his "Collected Poems & Selected Letters" from the Library of America. Penn prof Charles Berstein moderates and Alice Quinn (poetry editor at The New Yorker) introduces. Also reading will be poets/scholars Susan Howe, Samuel R. Delany and Brian Reed, Wed, Jan. 24, 6pm, FREE, Kelly Writers House, 3805 Locust Walk, 215-573-WRIT.
• CHRISTOPHER PAUL CURTIS The best-selling author and winner of the Newbery Medal discusses his most recent novel, "Mr. Chickee's Messy Mission," the sequel to his "Mr. Chickee's Funny Money." Tue, Jan. 23, 7pm, FREE, Barnes & Noble, 210 Commerce Rd., Fairless Hills, 215-269-0442; and Wed, Jan. 24, 7pm, FREE, Borders, 80 E. Wynnewood Rd., Wynnewood, 610-642-0362.
• CONSTANCE QUARTERMAN BRIDGES The poet reads from her new collection, "Lions Don't Eat Us," which won the 2005 Cave Canem Poetry Prize for the best unpublished manuscript by an African-American poet, Tue, Jan. 23, 6pm, FREE, Kelly Writers House, 3805 Locust Walk, 215-573-WRIT.
• DAVID WOLMAN The Philadelphia author reads from and signs his latest book, "Dead Still," a thrilling tale that involves identity theft, fraud, sex and lots of scandal, Sat, Jan. 20, 2pm, FREE, Big Blue Marble Bookstore, 551 Carpenter Lane, 215-844-1870.
• DJUNA WOJTON The local New Age authority discusses her book, "Karmic Healing," a how-to spiritual makeover guide, Wed, Jan. 24, 7pm, FREE, Barnes & Noble, 1805 Walnut St., 215-686-1776.
• ELLIOTT LEVIN The jazz musician and poet reads from his work. Open readings follow. Donation requested, Thu, Jan. 18, 7pm, Voices & Visions, The Bourse, Lower Level, 4th & Ranstead sts., 215-625-4740.
• GLENN FRANK The author signs and reads from his debut novel, "Abe Gilman's Ending," about love, loss and old age, Thu, Jan. 18, 7pm, FREE, Barnes & Noble, 1805 Walnut St., 215-686-1776.
• JAMES MCGREEVEY The former New Jersey governor discusses and signs his recent best-selling memoir, "The Confession." Columbia University prof David Eisenbach facilitates the interview. Mon, Jan. 22, 7pm, FREE, Bossone Auditorium, Drexel University, 32nd & Market sts., www.drexel.edu.
• JUDITH BERMAN The author signs and discusses her new book, "Bear Daughter," about a 12-year-old who wakes up as a human girl (instead of a bear), Tue, Jan. 23, 7:30pm, FREE, Barnes & Noble, 720 Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, 610-520-0355.
• KEN KALFUS The Philly author and National Book Award finalist reads from his new novel, "A Disorder Peculiar to the Country," a dark satire about love in the fearful post-9/11 world, Tue, Jan. 23, 7pm, FREE, Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St., 215-898-7595.
• LATI'A D. JOHNSON The Philadelphia author signs and reads from her debut novel, "Inside-Out, Vol. 1," about a married couple with one foot in the suburbs and one foot in the hood, Thu, Jan. 18, 5:30-6:30pm, FREE, Total Serenity Day and Hair Spa, 2018 Walnut St., Suite 1, 215-557-0678.
• LINDA LERNER AND MARON COHEN Lerner reads from her new collection of poetry, "Living in Dangerous Times"; Cohen reads from her new collection of poetry, "Crossing the Equal Sign," about the universal experience of math, Wed, Jan. 24, 7pm, FREE, Robin's Bookstore, 108 S. 13th St., 215-735-9600.
• NEAL POLLACK The satirist and journalist, whose previous works include "The Neal Pollack Anthology of American Literature" and rock-n-roll novel "Nevermind the Pollacks," presents his latest work, "Alternadad: The True Story of One Family's Struggle to Raise a Cool Kid in America," which focuses on the new generation of iPod-toting, coffee shop-hanging, punk rock-listening alternaparents, of which he is one, Thu, Jan. 18, 7pm, FREE, Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Branch, 19th & Vine sts., 215-686-5322.
• ON THE ROAD 50TH ANNIVERSARY To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of Jack Kerouac's Beat classic, local writers read it just the way he wrote it: in one really long burst, Thu, Jan. 25, 4-8pm, FREE, Kelly Writers House, 3805 Locust Walk, 215-573-WRIT.
• PAULINE CHEN The author reads from her new book, "Final Exam: A Surgeon's Reflections on Morality," which deals with death from the perspective of those charged with keeping it at bay, Thu, Jan. 18, 7pm, FREE, Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St., 215-898-7595.
• RICHARD A. CLARKE The veteran counterterrorism czar and best-selling author ("Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror," "The Scorpion's Gate") presents his latest book, "Breakpoint," which Publishers Weekly calls a "cutting-edge, nail-biter techno-thriller." Fri, Jan. 19, noon, FREE, Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Branch, 19th & Vine sts., 215-686-5322.
• RITA BARNARD The author reads from her new book, "Apartheid and Beyond: South African Writers and the Politics of Place," a collection of essays on South African literature, culture and politics, Mon, Jan. 22, 5pm, FREE, Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St., 215-898-7595.
• SALVATORE DARIGO AND JAMES DI FONZO Darigo reads from and signs his new play, "Rizzo, a One Man Play," which explores the life and career of the infamous Philadelphia mayor; Di Fonzo reads from his new collection of short stories, "7th Street Shorts." Thu, Jan. 25, 7pm, FREE, Robin's Bookstore, 108 S. 13th St., 215-735-9600.
• SHAYNA ISRAEL The Bryn Mawr student reads her recent poetry as part of the Poets & Prophets series. Open reading follows, Tue, Jan. 23, 7pm, $2, Harvest Books, 9 E. State St., Media, 610-566-3191.
• TONYA EVANS-WALLS The publishing and intellectual property lawyer and author discusses her new book, "Copyright Companion for Writers," which includes everything you scribes could wanna know about law, Tue, Jan. 23, 12:30pm, FREE, Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St., 215-898-7595.
• TRACY BROWN The author reads from and signs her new novel, "White Lines," which explores New York's ghettos of the '80s and '90s, Thu, Jan. 18, 7pm, FREE, Robin's Bookstore, 108 S. 13th St., 215-735-9600.
• WALTER MOSLEY The author of more than 25 acclaimed books, including the Easy Rawlings mystery series, reads from his new book, "Killing Johnny Fry: A Sexistential Novel." Thu, Jan. 25, 7pm, FREE, Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Branch, 19th & Vine sts., 215-686-5322.