The Writers take note: Dec 10 is the deadline for the entries in the third annual The Abbey Books Short Story Competition. Win a 500F gift certificate. Submissions, in English or French, can be handed in, mailed, faxed (01 46 33 03 33), or e-mailed (ABParis@compuserve.com). Details from The Abbey Bookshop, 29 rue de la Parcheminerie, 5e, M° St-Michel, tel: 01 46 33 16 24. Winning entries will be read out at the Christmas party, see Dec 15

Celebrated humorist Jean-Loup Chiflet, author of “Sky My Husband!,” presents his new bilingual dictionary “Ciel! Blake Sky! Mortimer,” based on slang expressions from the bande dessinée Blake and Mortimer. Dec 2, 4pm, Brentano’s, 37 av de l’Opéra, 2e, M° Opéra, tel: 01 42 61 52 50

Wine tasting and talk with Robert Joseph, author of “French Wines” and “The K.I.S.S. Guide to Wine” (both DK), and Lætitia Perraut, author of “Déguster et vendre le vin en anglais.” Dec 4, 7:30pm, WH Smith, 248 rue de Rivoli, 1er, M° Concorde, reservations: 01 44 77 88 99

James Beard-winner Mort Rosenblum presents his new book “A Goose in Toulouse and Other Tales of Culinary Adventures in France.” Dec 5, 7:30pm, Brentano’s, 37 av de l’Opéra, 2e, M° Opéra, tel: 01 42 61 52 50

A contributor to The New Statesman, Gerry Feehily introduces David Sedaris whose best-seller “Me Talk Pretty One Day” has just been published in French. Dec 5, 7pm, Village Voice Bookshop, 6 rue Princesse, 5e, M° Mabillon, tel: 01 46 33 36 47

Rachel Kaplan, author of the “Little Known Museum” series of guidebooks, presents a slide program: “Secrets of Four Great European Capitals,” Paris, London, Rome, and Berlin. Dec 6, 8pm, The American Library in Paris, 10 rue du Général Camou, 7e, M° Ecole Militaire, tel: 01 53 59 12 60

American poet Ellen Hinsey introduces Rosanna Warren, whose “Stained Glass” anthology received the American Academy of Poets’ Lamont Prize. Dec 7, 7pm, Village Voice Bookshop, 6 rue Princesse, 5e, M° Mabillon, tel: 01 46 33 36 47

African American Literary Soirée Meet New York writer and performer China Clark. Convivialité... Dec 10, 8pm. Reservations: Patricia Laplante-Collins, parissoiree@noos.fr or 01 43 26 12 88

American Diane Johnson, author of the best-selling novel “Le Divorce,” talks about the recent sequel, “Le Mariage” (Random House/Cape). Dec 12, 7:30pm, WH Smith, 248 rue de Rivoli, 1er, M° Concorde, tel: 01 44 77 88 99

Three American women present a Christmas Readaloud for children. Dec 13, from 3:30pm, WH Smith, 248 rue de Rivoli, 1er, M° Concorde, tel: 01 44 77 88 99

Paris-based American novelist Alfred Kessler launches his new work “The Eighth Day of the Week,” a novel about a doctor eaten up by guilt. Dec 13, 8pm, The Abbey Bookshop, 29 rue de la Parcheminerie, 5e, M° St-Michel, tel: 01 46 33 16 24

Canadian poet Douglas Burnett Smith, reads from his latest work “The Killed,” two long poems about the war in Yugoslavia. Burnett Smith, who has won numerous awards and been nominated for the prestigious Governor General’s award, lives half the year in Nova Scotia and the other half Paris. Dec 14, 7pm, Canadian Cultural Center, 5 rue de Constantine, 7e, M° Invalides, tel: 01 44 43 21 90

Myles Ogrady discusses his successful debut novel about occupied France, “Colonfay.” Dec 14, 8pm, Village Voice Bookshop, 6 rue Princesse, 5e, M° Mabillon, tel: 01 46 33 36 47

Rachel Kaplan presents a slide program titled “Secrets of Four Great European Capitals” (see above). Dec 14, 7:30pm, Brentano’s, 37 av de l’Opéra, 2e, M° Opéra, tel: 01 42 61 52 50

Christmas Party with carol singing, mulled wine and readings from the Short Story Competition. Dec 15, from 8pm, The Abbey Bookshop, 29 rue de la Parcheminerie, 5e, M° St-Michel, tel: 01 46 33 16 24

Evening of poetry with Jennifer Dick, Thomas Gatus and Bill Strangmeyer. Dec 15, 9pm, Bouquin Affamé, 6 rue Dagobert, M° Mairie de Clichy, tel: 01 47 31 34 23

Can you hear the drums, Fernando? J.M. Potiez, author “Abba: The Book” (Aurum Press), talks about the band and the ’70s. Dec 19, 7:30pm, WH Smith, 248 rue de Rivoli, 1er, M° Concorde, tel: 01 44 77 88 99

An evening of poetry and prose to celebrate the new edition of the literary review Pharos, conducted by poet Alice Notley. Jan 10, 8pm, The American Library in Paris, 10 rue du Général Camou, 7e, M° Ecole Militaire, tel: 01 53 59 12 60

The Live Poets Society presents a reading featuring Michael Lynch, Greald Mangan and Jacques Rancourt. Jan 16, 8pm, Flann O’Brien Irish Pub, 6 rue Bailleul, 1er, M° Louvre-Rivoli, tel: 01 42 60 13 58, donation 25F

African American Literary Soirée A special celebration for the anniversary of the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. More convivialité... Jan 18. Reservations: Patricia Laplante-Collins, parissoiree@noos.fr or 01 43 26 12 88