DAVID HAWARD BAIN, author of three previous books of nonfiction, will read from and sign his new book, "Empire Express: Building the First Transcontinental Railroad," Tuesday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m., The King's English Bookshop, 1511 S. 1500 East. For more information, call 484-9100.GIBBS SMITH, author and book publisher, will present a free brown bag lecture about Joe Hill, the labor radical convicted in the 1914 murder of a Salt Lake City store owner. He'll be at the White Memorial Chapel, south of the Utah Capitol, 150 E. 300 North, Thursday, Nov. 18, noon. For more information, call 533-3545.
LYNNETTE BAUGHMAN, author of "A Spy Within," will sign copies of her book on Sunday, Nov. 21, 1-3 p.m., at the downtown Borders Books, 50 S. Main. For more information, call 355-6899.
YUSEF KOMUNYAKAA will be the featured poet in the Anne Newman Sutton Weeks Poetry Series, Thursday, Nov. 18, 8 p.m., at Westminster College's Jewett Center for the Performing Arts (1840 S. 1300 East). Komunyakaa, a professor at Princeton, has published nine books of poems, including "Neon Vernacular: New and Selected Poems, 1977-1989," which won both the 1994 Pulitzer Prize and the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. For more information, call 832-2376.
FRANCES GOMEZ, whose self-published book, "An Angel in the Making," received a publication offer from Simon and Schuster, and CAROLYN CAMPBELL, author of the nationally published book, "Together Again: True Stories of Birth Parents and Adopted Children Reunited," will present a writing workshop titled, "How to Promote Yourself and Publish Your Book," Saturday, Nov. 20, 10:15 a.m., Sandy Library, 10100 Petunia Way (1300 East). Pre-registration required. Call 943-6571 or 487-6721.
CHRIS HEIMERDINGER will sign copies of his "Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites" series Saturday, Nov. 20, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Sandy Deseret Book, 10673 S. State. For more information, call 572-6050.
ANN EDWARDS CANNON, author of "Granny Rose and the Family Christmas Tree," will sign copies of the book on Friday, Nov. 19, 6-9 p.m. at the Bountiful Deseret Book, 460 W. 500 South. For more information, call 292-0480.
THE BRIDGES THAT UNITE US/LOS PUENTES QUE NOS UNEN, a bilingual book discussion series in five parts, continues Monday, Nov. 22, 7 p.m., Day-Riverside Branch of the Salt Lake City Library, 1575 W. 1000 North. The novel discussed will be "The Line of the Sun/La Linea del Sol," by Judith Ortiz Cofer, a story of two Puerto Rican women. Registration for the series is required. Call 524-8287. Additional discussions will be held in January, February and March.
READING MARATHON KICK-OFF PARTY, Friday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m., at all branches of the Salt Lake City Library system. This year's marathon theme again features Arthur, the popular book character and star of the PBS animated series. Families are invited to bring pillows and blankets and spend two hours reading favorite books. Children may pick up entry forms at the library that night to officially enter the two-week Reading Marathon. Entry forms also available at Barnes & Noble Bookstores and Salt Lake County and Murray Public Libraries. For more information, call 524-8200.
NATIONAL CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK, NOV. 15-21, sponsored by The Children's Book Council. Visit local bookstores for promotion activities and the CBC Web site www.cbcbooks.org.
FREE POETRY CONTEST, open to Salt Lake residents, whether previously published or not. To enter, send one original poem, any subject and style to : The International Library of Poetry, Suite 19907, One Poetry Plaza, Owing Mills, MD 21117. The poem should be 20 lines or less, and the poet's name and address should appear on the top of the page. Entries must be postmarked or sent via the Internet by Jan. 15, 2000. You also may enter online at www.poetry.com.
MORMON AMERICANA AUCTION, Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 18-21, Expo Mart, 200 South and 200 West; Thursday, 2-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; featuring more than 50 top dealers and 500 lots of materials. Sponsored by Western National Historical Artifacts and Paper Money Show. Admission is $8.