The D.C. Public Library has launched D.C. by the Book, a database of fictional books set on the streets and in the neighborhoods of our city.

Self-portrait of Daniel Clowes, courtesy Drawn & Quarterly Written by DCist Contributor Allen Brooks The story of a hapless loner who, following the death of his father, forces a family on himself, Wilson at times feels like a Sunday comic strip from a completely screwed-up alternate universe. Author Daniel Clowes (Ghost World, Ice Haven) crafts the journey of this oft-times jerk in a unique, one page = one gag format not typically seen outside…

In the off chance you aren’t friends with Sarah Palin on Facebook, let it be noted that the former Alaska governor/VP candidate/attention starved loon/media juggernaut announced last night that she will indeed be making a stop in the D.C. area on her book tour. This may come as a shock, but it turns out she’s not planning on promoting Going Rogue at Politics & Prose. In fact, she won’t be at a bookstore at…

The South Asian Literary and Theater Arts Festival (SALTAF) brings together writers, filmmakers, and dramatists from across the South Asian diaspora for a day of screenings, panel discussions, and book signings. Previous participants of the festival, which takes place on Saturday, include directors Mira Nair (Mississippi Masala, Monsoon Wedding) and Deepa Mehta (Earth, Fire, Water), and writer Kiran Desai (Inheritance of Loss). The D.C. chapter of the Network of South Asian Professionals and the…

It’s two days from now, September 26. Do you know where John Irving is? The answer, naturally, is the National Book Festival, the literary-themed event that spreads across the National Mall each fall. Though Laura Bush founded the event back in 2001, the festival continues, with appearances scheduled this year with everyone from John Grisham to Jodi Picoult. The author selection tends to be a mix of well-known writers, nostalgia-inducing teen and childrens’ authors,…