Ah, romance in the stacks. The James J. Hill Library, which has been finding all kinds of creative and unusual ways to bring people through its doors, is hosting a single-mingle evening this week -- with a literary theme, of course.

"Literary Speed Dating" -- where you discuss literature (or, probably, whatever you want) with prospective dates in two-minute conversations -- costs $10 and runs from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. Register online here: www.startribune.com/a1029.

What will be your icebreaker? "Wuthering Heights"? The love poems of Rod McKuen? "Romeo and Juliet"? Choose wisely! Your future could be at stake.

Also ...

• "Sudden Impact," a mystery by Clyde Braden, has been published by North Star Press.

• "My Mother Is Now Earth," a memoir by Mark Anthony Rolo, will be published in March by Borealis Books. The book tells of the last three years of the life of Rolo's mother, a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

• "Seasonings," a collection of poetry by Emilio DeGrazia, has been published by Nodin Press. DeGrazia is poet laureate of Winona, Minn. His novel "Seventeen Grams of Soul" won a Minnesota Book Award.

• Jeffrey B. Burton's new novel, "The Chessman," will be published in May by MacAdam/Cage. Burton's short stories, "Shadow Play," were published in 2005, and a previous mystery, "Sleuth Slayer," in 2008.

• "Repeat the Flesh in Numbers," a collection of poems by Kris Bigalk, will be published this month by New York Quarterly Books. Bigalk lives in Minnetonka and is director of the creative writing program at Normandale Community College. She'll launch the book at 7:30 p.m. March 10 at the Guthrie Theater. She'll also read at noon Feb. 24 at Normandale, 9700 France Av. S., Bloomington; 7 p.m. April 5 at Maeve's Cafe, 300 13th Av. NE., Mpls.; 7:30 p.m. April 17 at the University Club in St. Paul, and April 28 during the League of Minnesota Poets Convention.

• And remember: If you crave book news during the week, find us (and like us) on Facebook (www.facebook.com/startribune books) and check out our blog at www.startribune.com/a1028.