Ever since that “Seinfeld” episode where Elaine rips off a Ziggy comic and manages to sell it to the New Yorker, mockery of that magazine's cartoons has become hipper than arm warmers in June. Yet the New Yorker's long history of providing a forum for some of the best comic artists in the business is indisputable. One of the stars of recent years has been Danny Shanahan, whose cartoons have graced the magazine, inside and out, for the last 15 years. He'll be in Bookworks (4022 Rio Grande NW, 344-8139) on Thursday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m. to give a drawing demo and sign copies of More Weird and Wonderful Words and The Future Dictionary of America.
Poet and musician Joy Harjo will be in Bookworks on Sunday, Aug. 22, at 3 p.m. for a release party for Native Joy for Real, Harjo's latest fusion CD. She'll also sign her recent poetry collection, How We Became Human.
Bestselling mystery writer J.A. Jance comes to Bound To Be Read (6300 San Mateo NE, 828-3500) on Monday, Aug. 2, at 7 p.m. to hawk her new novel, Day of the Dead. Set in the Southwest, the book tells the story of a retired sheriff who investigates a decades-old murder with bizarre implications. Critics have said this hard-boiled suspense novel contains the kind of graphic power that's typically the sole domain of male authors.
That sums up some of the more interesting August book events. For a complete roster of events, call your favorite local bookstore.
Local bookstores that want their September events considered for inclusion in this column should contact me by phone at 346-0660 ext. 251 or by e-mail at steve@alibi.com.
