Booked: Outdoor Poetry, Student Authors and Autographs!

* Assuming Mother Nature cooperates, this Wednesday’s Naked Words Open Mic will meet on the Nebraska side of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge downtown at 6 p.m. In the event it rains, the event will be held at its usual location — Soul Desires at 10th and Jackson in the Old Market. Questions? Email prairie.sky@gmail.com for more information. * This Thursday, May 5, there will be a book release party for “In My Shoes: Teen Reflections on Hope & the Future” at the Bancroft Street Market, located at 2702 South 10th St. What’s the big deal? The book was produced by 45 student authors from the Omaha South High Magnet School. Written with the support and guidance of 29 volunteer writing mentors, the book is a collection of personal essays on issues teens are struggling with but often keep to themselves. The event runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. * Also on Thursday, author of four books and former Reader Editor-In-Chief Timothy Schaffert will be at the W. Dale Clark branch of the Omaha Public Library downtown from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to discuss the inspiration behind his latest novel, The Coffins of Little Hope. * Author Julia Cook will be at the Bookworm at 87th and Pacific at 10:30 a.m. this Saturday to sign copies of her book, The Worst Day of My Life . Written for children in grades K through 6, the book is designed to help kids develop fundamental social skills, including listening and following instructions.