SWET is sponsoring a lecture and reading by Frank Baldwin, author of Balling the Jack (Simon & Schuster, 1997), a fast-paced coming-of-age story set in New York about “betting it all” (the meaning of the title) on a dart game. He has had readings and discussions for Barnes and Noble in the U.S., a lecture tour in the U.K., and has spoken at numerous writer’s meetings, such as the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books and the Jack London Writer’s Conference. Frank’s story of finding an agent so quickly and getting the offer from S&S just a few weeks later is both atypical and fascinating. Frank also wrote the book’s screenplay and recently sold the film rights to Miramax. Now residing in San Francisco with his wife, Lora, Frank spent many of his early years in Tokyo, graduating from American School in Japan before returning to the U.S. to attend Hamilton College. He’s currently working on his second novel.

The lecture will be held on Saturday, November 28, 3:00-5:00 p.m., at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan, Yurakucho Denki Bldg., 20th Fl., 1-7-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (03-3211-3161). ?1,000 members; ?2,000 nonmembers. Inquiries by fax to SWET 042-320-5278.