Local interest on Thursday, March 8: Three authors discuss their Oakland-oriented book projects. Speaking: Erica Mailman, Oakland’s Neighborhoods; Jeff Norman, Temescal Legacies; and Ly Nguyen, contributor to As Is, an anthology of visual and literary art by the Vietnamese Artist Collective. 6-8 p.m. Oakland Main Library. More info.

Acting out on Friday, March 9: The New Short Fiction Series — in which experienced stage and screen actors present the work of a new or emerging West Coast writer — presents God’s Rent Boy, the work of Nzingha Clarke, 8:00 p.m., The Beverly Hills Public Library Auditorium. More info.

Fast Gas Nation on Wednesday, March 12: Lisa Margonelli, author of Oil on the Brain: Adventrures from Pump to Pipeline in conversation with Joanna Pearlstein, Research Editor for Wired magazine. 7 p.m., Los Angeles Public Library, Central Library. Reservations required for this free event. More info.

Help a good cause laugh its way to the bank on Saturday, March 31: An Evening of a Thousand Scowls, the Fifth Annual Comedy Night fundraiser for the 826 Valencia Children’s Writing Center, featuring Janeane Garofalo, Daniel Handler, Al Madrigal, Patton Oswalt, Tig, Jasper Redd, Nick Swardson, Sheng Wang and Brent Weinbach. Tickets $30-250. 8 p.m. Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium. More info.