Gen Lhamo, an English Buddhist nun and one of the foremost teachers of Kadampa Buddhism, launches Geshe Kelsang Gyatsu’s new book “Eight Steps to Happiness,” a practical manual of meditation and lifestyle advice. Oct 4, 7:30pm, WH Smith, 248 rue de Rivoli, 1er, M° Concorde, tel: 01 44 77 88 99

Polly Platt, author of the international best-seller “French or Foe,” presents her most recent book “Savoir Flair! 211 Tips for Enjoying France and the French.” Oct 4, 8pm, The American Library in Paris, 10 rue du Général Camou, 7e, M° Ecole Militaire, tel: 01 53 59 12 60

A reading by Diane Johnson, author of “Le Divorce” and “Le Mariage,” introduced by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet C.K. Williams. Oct 5, 7pm, Village Voice, 6 rue Princesse, 6e, M° Mabillon, tel: 01 46 33 36 47

A reading by Barbara Gowdy, author of “White Bone,” now out in French as“Un lieu sûr.” Oct 5, 7pm, Canadian Cultural Center, 5 rue de Constantine, 7e, M° Invalides, tel: 01 44 43 21 90

Canadian novelist and dramatist Ann-Marie MacDonald launches her novel “Parfum de Cèdres,” the French translation of the acclaimed “Fall on your Knees.” Oct 11, 7:30pm, Abbey Bookshop, 29 rue de la Parcheminerie, 5e, M° St-Michel, tel: 01 46 33 16 24

A round table discussion on the theme of “Lire L'Europe” with guests AS Byatt (Great Britain), Vincenzo Consolo (Italy), Leena Lander (Finland) and Timothy O’Grady (Ireland), animated by Jean-Yves Masson. Oct 13, 7pm, The British Council, 9 rue Constantine, 7e, M° Invalides, tel: 01 49 55 73 00

Meet Alev Lytle Croutier, reading from her novel “The Palace of Tears,” Oct 24, 7:30pm, WH Smith, 248 rue de Rivoli, 1er, M° Concorde, tel: 01 44 77 88 99 and Oct 26, 7:30pm, Brentano’s, 37 av de l’Opéra, 2e, M° Opéra, tel: 01 42 61 52 50

A Live Poets Society reading featuring John Kliphan, Sean Street and Vivienne Vermes. Oct 15, 4pm, Flann O’Brien Irish Pub, 6 rue Bailleul, 1er, M° Louvre-Rivoli, tel: 01 42 60 13 58, 25F donation

American playwright Joan Schenka launches “Truly Wilde,” a biography of Oscar Wilde’s flamboyant niece. Oct 18, 7pm, Village Voice, 6 rue Princesse, 6e, M° Mabillon: St-Germain-des-Prés, tel: 01 46 33 36 47

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators presents two evenings with author Bruce Coville. Oct 17, Character Counts: the Essential Element in a Story and Oct 19, Devious Plots. The American Library in Paris, 10 rue du Général Camou, 7e, M° Ecole Militaire. Registration: SCBWI in France, 8 rue Jose Maria de Heredia, 7e, tel: 01 42 73 33 75

A reading by WICE Writers in Residence. Oct 25, 7pm, 20 bd du Montparnasse, 15e, M° Duroc, tel: 01 45 66 75 50

T.E. Carhart reads from his novel “The Piano Shop on the Left Bank.” Nominated for The Guardian’s Best First Book Award, this is a meditation on passion, craftsmanship, and the piano. Oct 25, 8pm, The American Library in Paris, 10 rue du Général Camou, 7e, M° Ecole Militaire, tel: 01 53 59 12 60

A photo exhibition focusing on Henri Zerdoun, who will introduce his latest book “Solitude, Solitudes.” Oct 25, 8pm, Abbey Bookshop, 29 rue de la Parcheminerie, 5e, M° St-Michel, tel: 01 46 33 16 24

Upcoming children’s events at the American Library: for toddlers 1- to 3-years-old: Mother Goose Lap Sit every first and last Thursday of the month at 10:30am, for 3- to 5-year-olds: Story Hour every Wednesday at 2:30pm, for 7- to 10-year-olds: The Wizard of Oz turns 100! Oct 21 at 10:30am and for teens 12 and up: Booktalk and Bagel bits Oct 11, 5pm. 10 rue du Général Camou, 7e, M° Ecole Militaire, tel: 01 53 59 12 60