Lit Life |

October is always the high-water mark of the Seattle literary season. A willing listener could be out every night, listening to some of the world's finest authors. Here are some upcoming highlights:

• Alice Hoffman reads from her acclaimed new novel, "The Dovekeepers," based on a tragic incident in Jewish history, the siege of Masada. At 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park (thirdplacebooks.com).

• Jeffrey Eugenides reads from his new novel, "The Marriage Plot," about a love triangle among three Brown University graduates. At 7 p.m. Oct. 17, Seattle Public Library, downtown branch (spl.org).

• The great Indian writer Amitav Ghosh will be in town Oct. 17 and 18 to discuss the second volume in his historical trilogy of India before and during the Opium War, "River of Smoke." He'll appear at 1 p.m.Oct. 17 in the Walker Ames Room at Kane Hall on the University of Washington campus (www.iaww.org); also at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Kirkland Performance Center and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at Town Hall. Both appearances are sponsored by Seattle Arts & Lectures; $5-$30 (206-621-2230 or www.lectures.org).

• Daniel Yergin, author of the magisterial "The Prize," a history of the oil industry, is back with a follow-up, "The Quest," which brings the story into the present and future. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17, Town Hall; $5 (www.townhallseattle.org).

• David Guterson is back with a darkly hilarious new novel, "Ed King." He will read at several area locations; the book launch is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 18 at Eagle Harbor Book Co. (eagleharborbooks.com), and his first Seattle appearance is at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Elliott Bay Book Co.(elliottbaybook.com). Look for a review of "Ed King" Oct. 16 in The Seattle Times.

• Canadian novelist Michael Ondaatje, ("The English Patient") reads from his new novel, "The Cat's Table." 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Seattle Public Library, downtown branch (spl.org).

• Biographer Stacy Schiff, author of last year's "Cleopatra," appears at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at Benaroya Hall in Seattle. Seattle Arts & Lectures (lectures.org).

Write here, write now

This Saturday the irrepressible Seattle7Writers group presents its keynote autumn event at the Rainier Valley Cultural Center in Columbia City. Daytime (8 a.m.-5 p.m.): an all-day writer's workshop featuring Garth Stein, Jennie Shortridge, Erik Larson, Laurie Frankel, Robert Dugoni, Erica Bauermeister, Kevin O'Brien, Maria Dahvana Headley, Dave Boling, Randy Sue Coburn, William Dietrich, Kaya McLaren and more. Nighttime (7 p.m.): some of the same group, including Stein and Larson, acting up on stage. Music, a silent auction, prizes — all to fund the group's support of Writers in the Schools, Powerful Schools and Path With Art. Registration for the writer's workshop is $117. Admission to the evening event is pay-what-you-will, or one gently used book for the Seattle7WritersPocket LibraryProgram (seattle7writers.org).

Mary Ann Gwinn: 206-464-2357 or mgwinn@seattletimes.com.