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Whale Season is a literary murder mystery that delivers a hilarious, off-beat comic adventure about a south Florida community and the colorful characters who live there. Find out what happens when a Jesus wannabe creates a strange effect on the town and the people who live there. Award-winning author and former journalist Kelby is author of In the Company of Angels and Theater of the Stars. U of M Bookstore,Coffman Memorial Union, 300 Washington Ave. SE, Minneapolis. www.bookstore.umn.edu/genref/authors.html

Part memoir, part analysis, Smashed showcases Zailckas's exceptional writing as she examines the culture of drinking that dominated her adolescence and that of many other American girls. This work identifies one of the most perilous trends among young females coming of age and offers a unique window into the entire culture of teenage indulgence. Smashed is a valuable resource for parents, teachers, and mentors of teens, as well as anyone interested in how drinking has defined modern America’s coming-of-age story and experiences. U of M Bookstore, Coffman Memorial Union, 300 Washington Ave. SE, Minneapolis. www.bookstore.umn.edu/genref/authors.html

Best-selling, local author Robert Alexander (a.k.a. R.D. Zimmerman) tackles one of the most notorious, mysterious, and misunderstood figures of the 20th century in this historical novel set in Rasputin’s last days, as told by his eldest daughter Maria. Although Rasputin's Daughter is a work of fiction, Alexander based the book on his extensive knowledge of Russian history, his personal observations of Russian culture, and his access to the wealth of data on Rasputin from secret government files. U of M Bookstore, Coffman Memorial Union, 300 Washington Ave. SE, Minneapolis. www.bookstore.umn.edu/genref/authors.html

Charles Fishman, author, journalist and senior editor of Fast Company magazine, looked into the largest company in the history of the world, examined the impact Wal-Mart has on retailers, manufacturers, wages, jobs, the culture of shopping, the shape of our communities, and the environment. Through unprecedented, behind-the-scenes access to Wal-Mart headquarters and ex-executives, Fishman uncovers how Wal-Mart strong-arms even the most established brands.

Local author and University of Minnesota professor Vernon Ruttan examines what effects military and defense-related procurement have had on the development of new technology in many American industries, and what that means for the future growth of the economy in the United States. This book asserts that the development of general purpose technologies such as mass production, computers, commercial aircraft and the Internet would have occurred more slowly or not at all without military spending. U of M Bookstore, Coffman Memorial Union, 300 Washington Ave. SE, Minneapolis. www.bookstore.umn.edu/genref/authors.html

In his book Leonardo's Lost Robots, local author and robotics expert Mark Rosheim reinterprets Leonardo da Vinci’s mechanical design work, revealing details never recognized before by art historians or engineers. The book recovers Leonardo’s notes showing that apparently unconnected fragments scattered in his manuscripts are actually cohesive designs for functioning automata. U of M Bookstore, Coffman Memorial Union, 300 Washington Ave. SE, Minneapolis. www.bookstore.umn.edu/genref/authors.html

Part of The Big Read, which features Zora Neale Hurston's book, Their Eyes Were Watching God, with special literary events exploring the book. $5 admission, $3/loft members and students with ID. www.loft.org

This class assumes you already understand and are able to construct a standard, five-paragraph essay. Instead, it looks to develop your skills in critical thinking -- the basis for all good writing -- and to translate those skills into clear, logical, persuasive writing. Sliding scale fee, advanced registration recommended. Call 612/215-2587 to register. Open Book, 1011 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis. www.loft.org

Valentine's fun with the Loft and Minnesota Center for Book Arts for families with children ages 6 and up. Participants will surprise the special people in their lives with valentines they've made themselves! The first half of the workshop will focus on jokes, rhymes and heart-felt messages. After a snack, participants will design a unique pressure-print image, and use a press to create one-of-a-kind Valentine wishes. Everyone leaves with a set of lovely note cards. Preregister, $75, $65 for Loft and MCBA members. At Open Book, 1011 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis. 612/215-2587 www.loft.org, www.mnbookarts.org