Star-Bulletin

ISLE PAGES

"Dead Season": By Alan Berlow, $14, 279 pages, Vintage Departures

A series of murders takes place on the Philippine Island of Negros and the Armed Forces of the Philippines do everything they can to cover it up. Written by a former correspondent for National Public Radio who lived in Manila from 1988 to 1992.

"The Keepers": By Mantle Hood, $19.95, 235 pages, Tale Spin Press

Four men and women try to prevent an international crisis when the jeweled swords of Emperor Shomu are stolen from the repository of Imperial Treasurers in Japan. Hood's first suspense novel is set in Hawaii and Japan. Hood is a former professor of music at the University of Hawaii and a fellow of the East-West Center.

This listing of new books about Hawaii or by Hawaii writers
is published on the last Friday of each month.

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Author signings

Anita Johnston: Author of "Eating in the Light of the Moon," 1 p.m. tomorrow, Borders, Waikele. Call 676-6699.

Maryanne Clare: Author of "The Splintered Soul: Shamanic Journeys to Heal the Inner Darkness," 7 p.m. March 6, Barnes and Noble. Call 737-3323.

Readings

"Multi-America: Essays on Cultural Wars and Cultural Peace": Authors Karla Brundage and Kathryn Waddell Takara; and editor Ishmael Reed sign and read from their book, 2 p.m. tomorrow, Barnes and Noble; call 737-3323; and 4 p.m. tomorrow, Borders, Ward, call 591-8995.

Readings by Vicki Cayetano, Robert Kekaula and Nestor Garcia: In celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthday, 7 p.m. Monday, Borders, Waikele. Call 676-6699.

"Read Across America" celebration: 6:30 p.m. Monday, Kahala Mall, Center Stage. Call 737-3323.

Groups

Honolulu Chapter of the National Writers Association: Meets 7 p.m., second Tuesdays of every month, Manoa Gardens, 2790 Kahaloa Drive. Manuscript critique too. Information, 845-9585.

Romance Readers Anonymous: 6:30 p.m. second Thursday of every month, Borders, Waikele. Call 676-6699.

Professional Writers Group of Hawaii: Meets 4-6 p.m. second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Call Susan, 941-1768.

Miscellaneous

Paula Mantel: Demonstrates ways to improve reading speed and comprehension, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Barnes and Noble. Call 737-3323.

Workshops

"A Life Story": Professor Philip Damon shows how to put your life on paper, 1-3 p.m. Fridays, through-March 27, Waikiki Community Center. Cost: $39-$49. Call 923-1802.

Creative writing: Lillian Cunningham, professor of language arts, teaches, 5-9 p.m. March 13, Gallery Iolani, Windward Community College. Reservations required. Call 235-1140.

"To Areas of Freedom Unknown": Novelist Chaman Nahal leads a six-week course on fiction, memoir, biography and autobiography writing. At 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays, March 14-April 25, Kapiolani Community College, Iliahi 202A. Cost: $400. Limited space. Call 734-9211.

"Writing in Response to the Visual Arts": With Joseph Stanton, professor of art history and American studies, 9 a.m.-noon March 14, Gallery Iolani, Windward Community College. Reservations required. Call 235-1140.

Specials

Donations wanted: Used books and CDs will be accepted and donated to the Friends of the Library for the annual library book sale in July. Drop off donations, March 28-29, Barnes and Noble. Call 737-3323.

"Makana Akamai": Friends of the Library is asking for book donations to help the library's book budget. A brochure of wanted books is available at 536-4174. Titles have been selected by the library staff to expand collections. Books may be donated to a favorite library.

Contests

Enter the "SPAM Recipe Contest": Bring a Spam dish to Border's Lihue store 3 p.m. tomorrow. Gift certificates in the amounts of $25 and $50 will be awarded along with autographed copies of "Hawaii's SPAM Cookbook."

Tasting and judging will be held from 3:30-4 p.m. and prizes awarded at 5 p.m. Recipes must use at least one 12-ounce can SPAM, and be typed or legibly written on an 8-1/2" x 11" paper with name, address and phone number. Categories will be open to children 12 and under; ages 13-17; 18 and older; and professionals and culinary arts students. Call (808) 246-0862.

"Read All About It presents news in brief from Hawaii's
literary scene. Send items -- at least two weeks in advance of publication date --
to Read All About It, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802.

LOCAL BEST SELLERS

January 1998 Favorites

Children's
1. Baby Honu's Incredible Journey Tammy Yee, Island Heritage (3)
2. The Goodnight Gecko Gil McBarnet, Ruwanga Trading (2)
3. Fishes of Hawaii Susan and Thomas Kelly, Bess Press (1)
4. The Musubi Man Sandi Takayama and Pat Hall, Bess Press
5. Tutu Nene-The Hawaiian Mother Goose Rhymes Debra Ryll, Island Heritage
6. Hawaiian Wildlife Tammy Yee, Bess Press
7. Sumorella: A Hawaii Cinderella Story Sandi Takayama, Bess Press
8. Three Whales Who Won the Heart of the World Suzanne Kita, Island Heritage
9. Kama'aina Gecko Ed Freiler, Island Heritage Publishing (6)
10. State of Hawaii Wren, Bess Press

Gift and travel books
1. Viewbook (series) Douglas Peebles, Hawaiian Resources (1)
2. Scenic Hawaii Series Island Heritage (4)
3. Reflections of Kauai edited by Paul Turley, Island Heritage (10)
4. The Choy of Cooking Sam Choy and Catherine Enomoto, Mutual Publishing (2)
5. Island Travelogues (series of six books) Curt Sanburn, Jan TenBruggencate, and Ui and Steve Goldsberry, Mutual Publishing
6. Hawaii the Big Island Glen Grant, Mutual Publishing
7. Maui on My Mind Rita Ariyoshi, Mutual Publishing
8. The Essential Guide to Oahu Island Heritage
9. Sunday in Hawaii U'i and Steven Goldsberry, Mutual Publishing (9)
10. From the Skies of Paradise (series) Glen Grant, Chris Cook, Tom Stevens and Douglas Peebles, Mutual Publishing (5)

Hawaiiana
1. Hawaii the Big Island Revealed Wizard Publications
2. Hawaii's Best Spooky Tales Rick Carroll, Bess Press (1)
3. Hawaiian Journey Joseph Mullins, Mutual Publishing (4)
4. Shoal of Time Gavan Daws, University of Hawai'i Press (6)
5. The Secret Obake Casebook Glen Grant, Mutual Publishing (2)
6. Obake Files Glen Grant, Mutual Publishing (3)
7. Hawaiian Names English Names Eileen Root, Press Pacifica
8. Obake -- Ghost Stories in Hawaii Glen Grant, Mutual Publishing (9)
9. Ka Lei Ha 'Aheo: Beginning Hawaiian Alberta Hopkins, University of Hawai'i Press (7)
10. Pele -- Goddess of Hawaiian Volcanoes Herb Kane, Kane Press

Literature
1. Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen Lydia Liliuokalani, Mutual Publishing (3)
2. Tales of the Tikongs Epeli Hau'ofa, University of Hawai'i Press
3. Myths and Legends of Hawaii W.D. Westervelt, Mutual Publishing (10)
4. Women in Hawaii: Sites, Identities and Voices Joyce Chinen, University of Hawai'i Press (5)
5. Hawaiian Mythology Martha Beckwith, University of Hawai'i Press (7)
6. Mark Twain in Hawaii Mark Twain, Mutual Publishing
7. All I Asking for Is My Body Milton Murayama, University of Hawai'i Press (9)
8. The Betrayal of Liliuokalani Helena G. Allen, Mutual Publishing
9. Potiki Patricia Grace, University of Hawai'i Press (2)
10. Legends and Myths of Hawaii David Kalakaua, Mutual Publishing
Reference
1. New Pocket Hawaiian Dictionary Mary Pukui and Samuel Elbert, University of Hawai'i Press (4)
2. Ultimate Kauai Guidebook, 2nd Edition A. Doughty and H. Friedman, Wizard Publications
3. Hawaii's Birds Hawaii Audubon Society, Island Heritage (10)
4. Pocket Guide to Hawaii's Birds H. Douglas Pratt, Mutual Publishing
5. Atlas of Hawaii O.A. Bushnell, Gavan Daws and Andrew Berger, Island Heritage (6)
6. Hawaiian Dictionary (revised) Mary Pukui and Samuel Elbert, University of Hawai'i Press
7. Pearl Harbor: The Way It Was Scott C.S. Stone, Island Heritage (3)
8. Things Hawaiian, A Pocket Guide to the Language Al Schutz, Island Heritage (8)
9. Let's Learn A Little Hawaiian Ray Helbig, Hawaiian Service Inc. (5)
10. Trees of Hawaii Angela Kay Kepler, University of Hawai 'i Press

These are best-selling books in Hawaii during January 1998.
Figures are courtesy of the Hawaii Book Publishers Association and Booklines
distributors, and reflect sales by Hawaii-based publishers. A star ()
denotes a title that has been on the market at least five years; a number in
parenthesis indicates a title's previous ranking.