<p>North Coast Squid 2013. Submitted photo</p>

MANZANITA – The Manzanita Writers’ Series will host Erica Bauermeister at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at the Hoffman Center, 594 Laneda Ave.

A Seattle-based author, Bauermeister has published two nonfiction books and three novels. She will read from her latest book, “The Lost Art of Mixing.”

Frustrated by the lack of women authors in her university curriculum, Bauermeister co-authored “500 Great Books by Women: A Reader’s Guide,” with Holly Smith and Jesse Larsen, and “Let’s Hear It For the Girls: 375 Great Books for Readers 2-14,” with Smith. In the process she read thousands of books, good and bad, probably one of the best educations a writer can have.

Turning later to fiction, her first result was “The School of Essential Ingredients.” It’s about food and people and the relationships between them – about taking those “unimportant” bits of life and making them beautiful. The response to “School” has been a writer’s dream; the book has been published in 23 countries. Her second book, “Joy for Beginners,” is a book club favorite.

“The Lost Art of Mixing” continues the stories begun in her first novel. A Booklist review describes the book as “Warm, funny, and deeply comforting, The Lost Art of Mixing’ is a delight.”

Following Bauermeister’s reading and question and answer period will be the popular Open Mic where up to nine local writers will read 5 minutes of their original work.

Admission is $7. More information is available at://hoffmanblog.org or contact Vera Wildauer at vwildauer@gmail.com

The second annual North Coast Squid literary magazine will be released at the Feb. 16 Manzanita Writers’ Series event. The series collaborates with the North Coast Citizen to publish the magazine, which showcases work of writers and artists who live on the North Coast or have a strong connection to the area.

More than 60 writers submitted 138 pieces. Submissions were juried by authors outside the community. Bauermeister judged fiction entries, author and publisher Matt Love, of Newport, judged nonfiction, and David Biespiel, poetry columnist for the Oregonian, judged poetry.

Many of the writers whose works were selected will be at the event to read selections during the Open Mic.

The North Coast Squid will be available for purchase at every Manzanita Writers’ Series event as well as at a number of retail outlets along the coast. Fifty percent of the $2 cover price will go to the Hoffman Center to help with operational costs that provide programs such as the Manzanita Writers’ Series.