Grass Roots events

Ann Vileisis, author of "Kitchen Literacy: How We Lost Knowledge of Where Food Comes from and Why We Need to Get It Back," will speak at Grass Roots Books & Music, 227 S.W. Second St., at 7 p.m. Monday.

In "Kitchen Literacy," she discusses how a greater understanding of the origins of the food we eat can lead us to healthier and more sustainable choices.

At 7 p.m. Saturday, local authors Charles Goodrich, Eleanor Berry and Gary Lark will share their works.

Poetry at Interzone

Poetry at the Interzone Cafe is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The event features Native American Longhouse poets and OSU graduate poetry students, followed by an open mic.

All poets are welcome to share.

Coastal events

NEWPORT - Laura Whitcomb will speak on "Writing for Young Adults" at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Her book on writing, "Your First Novel," co-authored by literary agent Ann Rittenberg, was a Writers Digest Books featured selection for November 2006.

Willamette Writers monthly meetings are in the McEntee Room at the Newport Public Library, 35 N.W. Nye St. Admission is free.

For more information, see www.willamettewriters.com.

Also in Newport, author Lauren Kessler will be featured during the Nye Beach Writers' Series. Her book, "Stubborn Twig: Three Generations in the Life of A Japanese American Family" was chosen as the one book people all over the state will read for Oregon's first "Oregon Reads" celebration in 2009, part of the state's celebration of its 150th birthday.

Kessler is director of the graduate program in literary nonfiction in the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon.

The talk begins at 7 p.m. on the second floor of the Newport Visual Arts Center, 777 N.W. Beach Drive, in the Nye Beach area of Newport.

For more information, see www.writersontheedge.org.

Staff reports