"Write of Spring," an anthology published by the folks at Once Upon a Crime bookstore, will be published this spring by Nodin Press. The book is a collection of mystery stories by Brian Freeman, Ellen Hart, David Housewright and a whole slew of other local writers; it was compiled to mark the store's 25th anniversary.

Gary Shulze and Pat Frovarp, bookstore owners, won the Raven Award two years ago from the Mystery Writers of America. They promise that this book is not just their first, but also their last, venture into publishing.

The book will launch at the store's annual Write of Spring celebration, which runs from noon to 4 p.m. April 7 and brings in dozens of mystery writers in one-hour shifts. (The store is at 604 W. 26th St., Mpls.) All royalties will be donated to Memorial Blood Centers.

Also ...

• "Nameless Dame: Murder on the Russian River," by Bart Schneider, will be published this month by Soft Skull Press. Schneider, a longtime Twin Cities resident and founding editor of the Hungry Mind Review, will return to the Twin Cities for readings April 10 at Once Upon a Crime and April 12 at Micawber's in St. Paul. He lives in California.

• A biography of the founder of the Girl Scouts has been published by Viking Press. Stacy A. Cordery, author of "Juliette Gordon Low: The Remarkable Founder of the Girl Scouts," will speak at the Great Girl Gathering hosted by the Girl Scouts of the USA on March 11 at the Mall of America.

• "Stay Close to Mama," by Toni Buzzeo, illustrated by Minneapolis artist Mike Wohnoutka, has been published by Hyperion Children's Books. Wohnoutka will launch the book with a party at 10:30 a.m. March 17 at the Red Balloon, 891 Grand Av., St. Paul.

• The special St. Patrick's Day edition of the Carol Connolly Readings by Writers series will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the University Club in St. Paul, and it promises to be a very Irish experience, blending poetry and music. The lineup includes poet Michael Dennis Browne (whose grandmothers were born in Dublin and whose grandfather is from Donegal); Cass Dalglish, poet and fiction writer; musician John Devine (he's the sax man for the Loring Pasta Bar); poet Kevin FitzPatrick, founder and editor of Lake Street Review; poet and jazz musician Ted King; Ethna McKiernan, whose latest collection is "Sky Thick With Fireflies," and Thomas Dillon Redshaw, former editor of New Hibernian Review.