Pam Houston, author of the critically acclaimed collection of stories, "Cowboys Are My Weakness," will give a reading at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 15, in 1322 Storer Hall. Author of three books, Houston is a distinguished visiting writer in the English department's creative writing program this spring. Published in 1992, "Cowboys Are My Weakness," received this mention in the New York Times: "Her collection of short stories is an odyssey of a young woman who develops a habit of bad love and uses adventure both to recover and carve a place for herself in the American West .... In the last six months, it has been critically acclaimed, climbed best-seller lists, garnered Hollywood offers, and turned its author -- also a licensed river runner, hunting guide, horse trainer and ski instructor -- into a cult figure." "Waltzing the Cat," Houston's second collection, was published to similar acclaim in late 1998. Her fourth book, "A Little More About Me," a collection of personal essays, will be published next fall. Oakley Hall, a San Francisco-based author of 23 novels, including the best-selling "Warlock" and "Downhill Racer," both of which were made into movies, will read at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 22, at 2203 Social Sciences and Humanities Building. Hall will read from his newest book, "Ambrose Bierce and the Queen of Spades," which has been widely and favorably reviewed. Hall is founder and director of the Squaw Valley Community of Writers and plans to speak on elements of the craft of writing during his presentation. Both readings are sponsored by the UC Davis English department and its creative writing program, and are free and open to the public.