Each week, we offer a roundup of the best literary events in the city. All events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. Want to submit an upcoming event for consideration? Go here.

Marcia Clark (Guilt by Association)

Friday, July 22nd, 7:30 pm, at Book Passage Corte Madera (51 Tamal Vista Blvd.)

Clark, the former prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson trial, has taken on a curious second act: mystery writer. And with blurbs from the likes of James Ellroy and snaps from Publisher's Weekly, it appears that she's the rare celebrity novelist who's actually delivered on her fame. The story centers around a Clark-like Los Angeles D.A. investigating the mysterious death of a colleague, and reviews frequently mention the book's humor as one of its strong points.

Cecilia Chiang (The Seventh Daughter: My Culinary Journey from Beijing to San Francisco)

Tuesday, July 19th, 6-7 pm, at Omnivore Books (3885a Cesar Chavez St.)

Chiang is a culinary pioneer and the former proprietress of SF restaurant Mandarin, which is widely credited as one of the first regional Chinese restaurants in the U.S. Her memoir, featuring a foreword by Alice Waters, combines stories of her assimilation with recipes for pot stickers, spicy Sichuan eggplant, beggar's chicken, and other favorites from her restaurateur days.

Andrew Baggarly (A Band of Misfits: Tales of the 2010 San Francisco Giants)

Wednesday, July 20th, 6 pm, at Book Passage SF (1 Ferry Building)

Baggarly, a sports reporter for the Mercury News, delivers a comprehensive chronicle of the World Series champs, dubbed "a band of misfits" by their own manager. The book combines insight into the team's playing style with stories of their memorable playoff antics, including Aubrey Huff's "rally thong" and Brian Wilson's beard.

Pitchapalooza with Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sperry (The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published)

Sunday, July 24th, 1 pm, at the Rockit Room (406 Clement St.)

Got a great book idea, but wondering if it's worth the effort? At this American Idol-esque event (sponsored by Green Apple Books), aspiring authors are encouraged to pitch their book ideas, in one minute or less, to a panel of literary luminaries. The winning pitch gets an introduction to an appropriate literary agent. (The New York Times filed this article on a Long Island edition, for those who want more insight into the process.) Attendees who purchase a copy of Eckstut and Sperry's publishing guide at the event will also receive a free publishing consultation from the authors.