Dave Eggers, editor, author, dynamo, and, yes, heartthrob, with that curly hair and scruffy beard, is no stranger to the Twin Cities. He was here last year as a Pen Pals speaker, and his latest anthology of "non-required reading" (published October 2012) included a piece by Minneapolis writer Louise Erdrich.

(Is it ironic that Erdrich's piece was an excerpt from "The Round House," which just won the National Book Award, beating Eggers' own "A Hologram for the King"? Or just coincidence?)

Eggers will be in town in early March signing books at two bookstores--signings only, no reading or event.

Stll, his very presence, silent though it may be, is sure to draw crowds. He'll sign "A Hologram for the King" and most likely any of his other books, too ("Zeitoun" won the Dayton Literary Peace Prize; "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" first launched Eggers into fame in 2000) at 3:30 p.m. March 9 at Micawber's Bookstore, 2238 Carter Ave., St. Paul, and then again at 6:30 p.m. at Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Av. S., Minneapolis.

A books blogger in Portland, Ore., noted that at his recent reading in Portland, a fan brought him a pear, which he ate. Actually, she said it was a "perfect pear wrapped in gold foil."

What gifts will Minnesotans bring?