Inada also will perform at the Blue Pepper on April 18 at 7 p.m. Inada, who has been inspired by jazz music in his writing, and often performs with a group of musician friends, will read from his work with a special musical guest accompanying him.

The following day, Inada will lead "Improvisations and Lively Noise: A Poetry Performance Workshop." This workshop will ask: what can jazz, improv, and life bring to the lines on the page, and the sounds of the poet's reading? Through activities, inspirations, and networking, participants will make their own poems and voices come to life. For further information, and to apply for a student scholarship, see http://building45.chemeketa.edu. Hosted by Chemeketa, this workshop takes place at the Blue Pepper Café on Saturday, April 19, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. ($30; lunch included).

Finally, to cap off the festival, the Chemeketa Slam on campus in the Auditorium (Building 6) will feature student and community readers, musicians, and slam poets from 7-9 p.m. on April 19. Local Slam Artist and Organizer Miguel-Loredo Reyes will host this vibrant showcase of the words and worlds of Chemeketa. For more information on the poetry slam, contact Miguel-Loredo Reyes at eljardinreyes@gmail.com.

Murder in Oregon: An evening with two Oregon mystery writers

Professor Emeritus Virginia Furtwangler (pseudonym Ann Copeland) will interview Oregon mystery writers Ashna Graves (aka Wendy Madar) and Ron Lovell. This event takes place on April 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. on the 3rd floor of Willamette University Center.

A fundraiser for Willamette University's Hatfield Library, tickets are $23 and can be ordered through Melissa Treichel before April 10. E-mail mtreiche@willamette.edu or call (503) 370-6018. Desserts from Bon Appetit will be available, as will a no-host bar. For more information, visit the Willamette University calendar listing at www.willamette.edu/cal/event.cgi/8019.

A hero's journey unraveled
Gwynne Spencer will present a workshop at Western Oregon University on Joseph Campbell's concept of the hero's journey. Spencer has taught this concept to children as young as 7, middle school students, and adults. The hero's journey is a mythical foundation for well-known tales such as George Lucas' Star Wars stories.

"This is the secret formula," Spencer claims, "that every storyteller knows." Lessons learned in the hero's journey workshop can be applied in many genres, including fiction, poetry, biography, and autobiography. To register, call (503) 838-8483. Workshop will be held April 13, from noon to 3 p.m.

Writer Shannon Riggs lives in Salem. Her picture book, "Not in Room 204," won the 2007 Oregon Book Award for Children's Literature. Visit Shannon on the web at www.shannonriggs.com.