An open mic and then four non-fictional-type book readings going on today.

At the University Book Store, Andrew Ward reads from his most recent work as an editor, a collection of hundreds of diaries, letters, and biographical accounts of the African-American Civil War experience, edited into a book called The Slave’s War. Simultaneously, speaking of African-American history, at Elliott Bay Book Company, Eric Etheridge reads from his book Breach of Peace: Portraits of the 1961 Mississippi Freedom Riders, which is about hundreds of people who went to Mississippi to fight segregation laws.

Up at Third Place Books, Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois read from their cookbook Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day. Hopefully, they’ll bring samples. This reading was canceled. Don’t go to Third Place asking for bread tonight. They will not give you bread. No bread! Sorry for the inconvenience—my hard-working intern, Tori Centanni, told me this was canceled some time ago, and I completely forgot to take it off the calendar. Then, being an incredibly gracious intern, she informed me that I could blame it on her. That, ladies and gentleman, is a real intern.

And at the Seattle Public Library, Mary Pols reads from Accidentally on Purpose, which is a book about how she had a one-night stand, got pregnant, and became a single mom. Pols is reading everywhere in the next week or so, so if you can’t make it out tonight, don’t feel bad.

The full readings calendar, including the next week or so, is on our books page.