Get out your calendar. Cross off everything you have written down for April, and for May. Whatever you've got, I've got something better. When you see this lineup of book events, you're going to be busy a dozen times over. (And keep in mind, this is not everything.)
Mary Sharratt: The Minnesota native (now a resident of England) writes fictionalized accounts of the lives of notable, unheralded women. She will launch her new novel, "Ecstasy," about composer Alma Schindler, at 7 p.m. April 11 at Magers & Quinn, and appear again at 7 p.m. April 19 at Barnes & Noble Galleria.
Sloane Crosley: Comic essayist Crosley ("Look Alive Out There!") will be in conversation at Magers & Quinn with Man Booker Prize winner Marlon James at 7 p.m. April 12. This definitely wins the "weirdest pairing" award.
Louie Anderson: Minnesota's favorite comic (right?) will sign copies of "Hey, Mom: Stories for My Mother, But You Can Read Them Too" at the Mall of America at 2 p.m. April 14.
Sheila O'Connor: O'Connor, who teaches in the MFA program at Hamline, will launch her new book for middle-grade students, "Until Tomorrow, Mr. Marsworth," at Red Balloon in St. Paul at 3 p.m. April 15.
Åsne Seierstad: The Norwegian journalist might be best known for "The Bookseller of Kabul." Her new book is an account of two Muslim sisters, refugees in Norway, who become radicalized and slip off to Syria. The event, co-sponsored by Rain Taxi and Norway House, costs $5. It's at 7 p.m. April 16 at the American Swedish Institute.
Patricia Hampl: The venerable St. Paul writer launches her new memoir, "The Art of the Wasted Day," at 7 p.m. April 16 at Weyerhaeuser Chapel, Macalester College, sponsored by Common Good Books. She'll be at Club Book at 7 p.m. May 3 at the Scott County Library in Prior Lake.
Leslie Jamison: Jamison's new book, "The Recovering," is a collection of essays about dealing with addiction. She will be in conversation with novelist and essayist V.V. "Sugi" Ganeshananthan at 7 p.m. April 24 at Magers & Quinn.
