Charles Simic, the fifteenth poet laureate of the United States (2007-2008), has published numerous collections of poems, among them, "My Noiseless Entourage;" "Selected Poems: 1963-2003," for which he received the 2005 International Griffin Poetry Prize; "The Voice at 3:00 AM: Selected Late and New Poems;" and "The World Doesn’t End: Prose Poems," for which he received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. His most recent book is "The Renegade: Writings on Poetry and a Few Other Things" (2009).

In conversation with Alice Quinn

Eric Bogosian reads from his new novel, "Perforated Heart." He is the author of two other novels, several films, and numerous award-winning works for the theater including “Talk Radio.” On television, he currently co-stars as Captain Danny Ross on the long running series “Law and Order: CI.” Introduction by Marcelle Clements. (Photo © Steve Appleford).

The Friday Happy Hour series features readings and refreshments on select Fridays at 5pm.

Forrest Gander’s recent books include the novel "As a Friend," the book of poems "Eye Against Eye," and the translation "Firefly Under the Tongue: Selected Poems of Coral Bracho" (a PEN Translation Prize Finalist).

Lance Phillips has published two books of poetry, "Corpus Socius" and "Cur aliquid vidi," and a book of experimental autobiography, "Imposture Notebook." Introduction by Matthew Rohrer. (Photo: Forrest Gander © Denny Moers)

E. L. Doctorow reads from his new novel, "Homer and Langley" (Random House, September 2009). His other novels include "The March," "City of God," "The Waterworks," "Welcome to Hard Times," "The Book of Daniel," "Ragtime," "Loon Lake," "Lives of the Poets," "World’s Fair," and "Billy Bathgate." Among his honors are the National Book Award, three National Book Critics Circle Awards, two PEN/Faulkner awards, and the presidentially conferred National Humanities Medal. Doctorow holds the Lewis and Loretta Glucksman Chair of English and American Letters at NYU. With a special introduction by Jonathan Safran Foer.

Rae Armantrout’s most recent book of poetry, "Versed," is a finalist for the 2009 National Book Award in poetry. Her many other books include "Collected Prose," "Up to Speed," and "Veil: New and Selected Poems."

Bernadette Mayer is the author of numerous books of poetry and prose, including "Midwinter Day" and "The Bernadette Mayer Reader." Her most recent collection is "Poetry State Forest." Introduction by Matthew Rohrer

This reading features five contributors to the anthology of essays, "My Diva: 65 Gay Men on the Women Who Inspire Them." Hosted by editor Michael Montlack. (Photo: Paul Lisicky)

John Wray is the author of the novels "The Right Hand of Sleep" and "Canaan’s Tongue." He wrote much of his acclaimed new novel "Lowboy," published in March 2009, inside the New York City subway system. In conversation with Darin Strauss.

The Friday Happy Hour series features readings and refreshments on select Fridays at 5pm.

On this evening, recent contributors to the literary magazine "Agriculture Reader" read from their poetry and fiction. Hosted by journal editors Justin Taylor and Jeremy Schmall.

Considered one of Slovenia's greatest living poets, Tomaz Salamun is the author of many poetry collections, most recently "There's the Hand and There's the Arid Chair." Introduced by Matthew Rohrer.

Acclaimed poet Carolyn Forché will read as the editor and literary executor of Daniel Simko’s new posthumous poetry collection, "The Arrival."

Tom Healy is the author of "What the Right Hand Knows" (Four Way Books, October 2009), his debut collection of poems. His poems and essays have appeared in "The Paris Review," "Yale Review," "Tin House," "Salmagundi," and other journals.

Nick Flynn’s memoir, "Another Bullshit Night in Suck City" won the PEN/Martha Albrand Award. He is also the author of two books of poetry, "Some Ether" and "Blind Huber." His new memoir, "The Ticking is the Bomb," is forthcoming from W. W. Norton in January 2010. In conversation with Deborah Landau.

Co-sponsored by the Poetry Society of America

Jayne Anne Phillips is the author of two story collections and four novels. Her latest novel, the critically acclaimed "Lark and Termite," is a 2009 National Book Award finalist in fiction. Her other awards include a Guggenheim Fellowship, two National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships, and a National Book Critics Circle Award nomination. In conversation with Darin Strauss.

John Ashbery’s many poetry collections include "Notes from the Air: Selected Later Poems," which was awarded the 2008 International Griffin Poetry Prize, and a book of new poems, "Planisphere" (Ecco, December 2009). His "Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror" won the three major American prizes: the Pulitzer, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award, and an early book, "Some Trees," was selected by W.H. Auden for the Yale Younger Poets Series. The winner of many other prizes and awards, he has received two Guggenheim Fellowships and was a MacArthur Fellow from 1985 to 1990. (Photo © Lynn Davis)

The Friday Happy Hour series features readings and refreshments on select Fridays at 5pm.

Denise Duhamel's most recent poetry titles are "Ka-Ching!," "Two and Two Mille et un Sentiments," and "Queen for a Day: Selected and New Poems."

Jill Bialosky’s collections of poems are "Subterranean," "The End of Desire," and most recently, "Intruder." She is also the author of the novels "House Under Snow" and "The Life Room."

Michael Thomas is the author of "Man Gone Down" (Grove Atlantic), which won the prestigious 2009 IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and was selected as one of "The New York Times Book Review's" top five novels of the year. "The Broken King," a memoir about four generations of men in his family, will be published by Grove Atlantic in February 2010.

Colum McCann is the author of two collections of short stories and five novels, including "This Side of Darkness," "Dancer," and "Zoli," all of which were international bestsellers. His celebrated new novel, "Let the Great World Spin," won the 2009 National Book Award.

Timothy Donnelly is the author of "Twenty-seven Props for a Production of Eine Lebenszeit" (Grove, 2003). His poems have appeared in "Harper's," "The Nation," "Ploughshares," and elsewhere. He is a poetry editor for "Boston Review."

Hosted by journal editors Christopher Cox and Dan Chiasson