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Literary Happenings: Author's Icelandic characters reveal selves slowly
STORY TOOLS 
More from BooksIcelandic author Arnaldur Indridason is one of the more intriguing writers I've discovered recently. His mystery novels are placed in Iceland as firmly as Donna Leon's excellent "Inspector Brunetti" series is set in Venice.
Most of Indridason's books, which include "Jar City" (2005), "Silence of the Grave" (2006) and "Voices" (2007), take place in the capital city of Reykjavik. His characters, particularly detective Erlendur Sveinsson and his troubled daughter, Eva Lind, are complex and reveal more of themselves in each book, inviting readers to speculate on past motivations and future actions. Along the way, Indridason explores such controversial issues as child prodigies, human organ harvesting and drug abuse.
Indridason won the Glass Key Award for Best Nordic Crime Novel for "Jar City" and "Silence of the Grave," and the CWA Gold Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel for "Silence of the Grave."
AUTHOR APPEARANCES
Richard Londgren 9:45 a.m. today. Thousand Oaks author will discuss and sign "Big Shy in the Big Sky." Signing is separate from worship services. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1 W. Avenida de Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks. 241-1051.
John Bishop 1 p.m. today. Will discuss and sign "Fresh." Borders, 2910 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley. 526-2800.
Rene Schutz 7 p.m. Friday. Will sign "Searching4MrRight.com." Borders, 241 W. Esplanade Drive, Oxnard. 988-6886.
Stephen J. Cannell 1 p.m. Saturday. Will sign "Three Shirt Deal." Mysteries to Die For, 2940 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 374-0084.
Rene Schutz 2 p.m. Saturday. Will sign "Searching4MrRight.com." Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 497-8159.
C.J. Box 3 p.m. Saturday. Will sign "Blue Heaven." Mysteries to Die For, 2940 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 374-0084.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Classics book club 7 p.m. Monday. Borders, 2910 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley. 526-2800.
Short story discussion group 7 p.m. Tuesday. Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 497-8159.
Poetry reading 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Artists' Union Gallery, 330 S. California St., Ventura. 320-3524.
Mystery book group 7 p.m. Wednesday. Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 497-8159.
Train of Thought 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Poetry reading at 856 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura. 642-1146.
Contemporary book group 7:30 p.m. Friday. Borders, 2910 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley. 526-2800.
LITERARY NOTES
Conejo Valley author Robert Weibezahl's short story "Judge and Jury" is included in the current issue of the e-zine "A Mouth Full of Bullets." Originally published in Futures Mysterious Anthology magazine in 2003, the story can be read at http://www.mouthfullofbullets.com (click on "Current Issue").
LIBRARY NEWS
Sibling stories 6:30 p.m. Monday. Wright Library, 57 Day Road, Ventura. 642-0337.
Shakespeare Reading Salon 7 p.m. Monday. Ojai Library, 111 E. Ojai Ave. 646-1639.
Stories and crafts 1 p.m. Wednesday. Westlake Village Library, 31220 Oak Crest Drive. 818-865-9230.
Crafts with Stephanie 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Wright Library, 57 Day Road, Ventura. 642-0337.
Writers' workshop 6 p.m. Thursday. Sponsored by Ojai Library. Twice-Sold Tales Bookstore, 122 E. Ojai Ave. 646-1639.
Paws for Reading 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Wright Library, 57 Day Road, Ventura. 642-0337.
STORY TIMES
Monday 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 446-2820.
10:30 a.m. (bilingual) and 5:30 p.m. (English) Prueter Library, 510 Park Ave., Port Hueneme. 486-5460.
7 p.m. (bilingual) Oxnard Library, 251 South A St. 385-7535.
Tuesday 10 a.m. Colonia Library, 1500 Camino del Sol, Oxnard. 385-8108.
10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Camarillo Library, 4101 Las Posas Road. 388-5222.
10:30 a.m. Oak View Library, 555 Mahoney Ave. 649-1523.
10:30 a.m. Prueter Library, 510 Park Ave., Port Hueneme. 486-5460.
10:30 a.m. Adventures for Kids, 3457 Telegraph Road, Ventura. 650-9688.
10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Oxnard Library, 251 South A St. 385-7535.
11 a.m. Borders, 241 W. Esplanade Drive, Oxnard. 988-6886.
11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Simi Valley Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. 526-1735.
Wednesday 10:30 a.m. Blanchard Library, 119 N. Eighth St., Santa Paula. 525-3615.
11 a.m. Borders, 2910 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley. 526-2800.
Thursday 10:30 a.m. Moorpark Library, 699 Moorpark Ave. 517-6370.
10:30 a.m. Oak Park Library, 899 N. Kanan Road. 818-889-2239.
7 p.m. South Oxnard Library, 4300 Saviers Road. 385-8129.
Friday 7 p.m. Borders, 2910 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley. 526-2800.
Saturday 10:30 a.m. Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 446-2820.
Noon. Oxnard Library, 251 South A St. 385-7535.
3 p.m. Adventures for Kids, 3457 Telegraph Road, Ventura. 650-9688.
7 p.m. Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 497-8159.
— We'd like to announce your news about literary events in Ventura County. Send items at least three weeks in advance to Jo Ellen Heil at P.O. Box 7083, Ventura, CA 93006; samheil@hotmail.com; or fax to 482-6167.
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