Literature
thurs. 17 .Rebecca Maslen - The Write Thing series will feature the fiction writer, 7 p.m. Thursday, April 17 at Medaille College's Huber Hall Library, 18 Agassiz Circle, Buffalo; free. 884-3411 x152, www.medaille.edu .

Joyce Kessel & Verneice Turner - New/reNEW series will feature these two writers, 7 p.m. Thursday, April 17 at Impact Artists' Gallery, Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St., Suite 545, Buffalo; free. 832-5400, www.justbuffalo.org .

Tyrone Williams & Gina Meyers - Just Buffalo Small Press Poetry series will present these two poets, 7 p.m. Thursday, April 17 at Rust Belt Books, 202 Allen St., Buffalo; free. 832-5400, www.justbuffalo.org .

Performance Reading at the Swan - Hilbert students, faculty and friends of the college will participate in the college's annual evening of performance readings., 7 p.m. Thursday, April 17, Hilbert College's William E. Swan Auditorium, 5200 South Park Ave., Hamburg; $. 926-8850 .Dr. Ruth Kelly - "The Zookeepers Wife" by Diane Ackerman, is a story based upon Jan and Antonina Zaninski, Polish Christian zookeepers horrified by Nazi racism, who managed to save more than 300 people. Dr. Kelly, associate professor of history and chair of the Department of Liberal Arts of D'Youville College, will be reviewing the book at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo; free.

.Mystery Lovers' Discussion Group - Featured topic on "47 Rules of Highly Effective Band Robbers," 7 p.m. Thursday, April 17 at Barnes & Noble, 4401 Transit Road, Clarence; free-registration recommended. 634-1011

.Sci-FiRound Table - A roundtable with Joe Halderman, Ann Bishop, Nancy Kress and Josepha Sherman starting at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 17 at Borders Book s and Music, 2051 Walden Ave., Cheektowaga; free. 685-2844

.Northside Writers Group - Meeting 7 p.m. Thursday, April 17 at Ascension Lutheran Church, 4640 Main St., Amherst; free. 626-4204

fri. 18 .Diane Ward - UB Poetics Plus will present this poet reading from her works, 7 p.m. Friday, April 18 at Rust Belt Books, 202 Allen St., Buffalo; free.

.Roger Lucas - The author of "Bodlt Castle" will hold a discussion and book signing at 2 p.m. Friday, April 18 at Borders Books & Music, 2051 Walden Ave., Cheektowaga; free. 685-2844

sat. 19 .Slammin' Words - Summer workshop led by Tysheka "Spoken" Long and sponsored by Just Buffalo Literary, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, April 19. Registration is required, call 852-4562 or 832-5400.

sun. 20 .Spoken Word Sundays - Spoken word and open mic hosted by poet Liz Mariani, 8 p.m. Sunday, April 20, Allen Street Hardware Cafe, 245 Allen St., Buffalo; free. 882-8843

tues. 22 .EM Tea Coffee Cup Open Mic Poetry Slam - 7-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, EM Tea Coffee Cup Cafe, 80 Oakgrove Ave., Buffalo; free. 884-1444

wed. 23 .Rooftop Series Reading - Multimedia presentation by Alan Bigelow, 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 23 at Buffalo State College's Butler Library, Room 210, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo.

.Museum Book Club - This month the book is "Digging to America" by Anne Tyler. Discussion to be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, Amherst Museum, 3755 Tonawanda Creek Road, Amherst; free. 689-1440 to register

.Elmwood Writers Group - 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, Starbucks, 933 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo; free. 882-5440

.Beat Night - An open forum for poets and writers, 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, Madame Mocha's, 1190 Lovejoy St., Buffalo; free. 894-8544