Literary listings
NOV. 15
• Billy Collins and Kay Ryan read from and sign copies of their work, 6 p.m. in the Thorne Auditorium at Northwestern University School of Law, 375 E. Chicago. Tickets: $10 in advance; $15 at the door; free for students and teachers.
• Ru Freeman signs A Disobedient Girl, 4:30 p.m. at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark.
NOV. 16
• Essay Fiesta, a new free monthly reading series to benefit the Howard Brown Health Center, kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Book Cellar, 4736-38 N. Lincoln. The mission is to showcase novelists, poets, bloggers, journalists, playwrights and other artists. Events will take place every third Monday of the month.
NOV. 17
• Laura Caldwell (Red Hot series), Theresa Schwegel (Last Known Address) and Libby Fischer Hellmann (Doubleback) will sign copies of their latest books, 7 p.m. at the Book Stall at Chestnut Court, 811 Elm St., Winnetka.
• Mike Huckabee signs A Simple Christmas, 8:30 p.m. at Borders, 336 Route 59, Naperville.
• John Sibley discusses and signs BodySlick, 7 p.m. at the Aurora Public Library, 555 S. Eola Rd., Aurora.
• Joni Hirsch Blackman signs Downtown Naperville, 7 p.m. at Anderson’s Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville.
NOV. 18
• Susan Messer signs Grand River and Joy, 7:30 p.m. at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark.
• Jeff Corwin signs 100 Heartbeats, 7 p.m. at Borders, 1 N. LaGrange Rd., LaGrange.
• Jonathan Safran Foer discussses and signs Eating Animals, 6 p.m. in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium at the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State.
• Rick Kogan talks to author Mike Thomas about his book, The Second CIty Unscripted, 6 p.m. at Maxim’s, 24 E. Goethe. Tickets: $25. Information: www.maximschicago.org.
• Jim Kokoris signs The Pursuit of Other Interests, 7 p.m at The Book Stall at Chestnut Court, 811 Elm St., Winnetka.
NOV. 19
• Audrey Niffenegger will discuss Her Fearful Symmetry, in a conversation for “Writers on the Record With Victoria Lautman,” 6 p.m. in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium at the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State. The interview will be broadcast at noon Nov. 22 on WFMT-FM (98.7).
• Barbara Laken signs The Cooperating Witness, 7:30 p.m. at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark.
• Dan McNeill and Ed Sherman sign The Great Book of Chicago Sports Lists, 7 p.m. at Borders, 1500 16th St., Oak Brook.
• Ralph Covert signs A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas, 7 p.m. at Anderson’s Bookshop, 5112 Main St., Downers Grove.
• Frances Hwang will read her short story “The Old Gentleman,” from the book Even Deadlier, at a book launch party, 7 p.m. at the Book Cellar, 4736-38 N. Lincoln.
NOV. 20
• Nancy Poling signs Out of the Pumpkin Shell, 7:30 p.m. at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark.
• Mary Beth Sammons signs Living Life as a Thank You, 7 p.m. at Borders, 1500 16th St., Oak Brook.
• Kimberly Thompson signs Toulouse on the Loose, 6 p.m. at Anderson’s Bookshop, 5112 Main St., Downers Grove.
NOV. 21
• Mark Quinn signs The Chairman, 11 a.m. at Anderson’s Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville.
• Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser sign Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas, 2 p.m. at Anderson’s Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville.
• Sappho’s Salon, featuring novelist Anne Laughlin (Veritas), 7:30 p.m. at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark. Donation: $7-$10.
• Juliette Miranda signs Morning Neurosis, 1 p.m. at Read Between the Lynes, 129 Van Buren St., Woodstock.
NOV. 22
• Rabbis Larry Edwards and Benay Lappe present “Torah Queeries: Weekly Commentaries on the Hebrew Bible, 4:30 p.m. at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark
NOV. 24
• Al Gore signs Our Choice, noon at Borders, 150 N. State.
• James McManus signs Cowboys Full: The Story of Poker, 7 p.m. at Anderson’s Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville.
NOV. 30
• Anna Getty signs I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas, 7 p.m. at Anderson’s Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville.