Has anyone ever been to one? If so  how do you find out if there is one going on in your city? Is there a resource i can use to figure this out. There are some authors i would love to meet and hear readings from!

Please let me know :)

If there is an author you are interested in, they often list their appearances/book signings on their websites.

Yes, their websites are very helpful.  I have been to 1 book signing with Nicholas Sparks.  Very crowded, but very worth it.  He went up and down the line before he started and let everyone take a picture with him.  Plus, he thanked us for coming. 

Keep in touch with your libraries and bookstores. They are the main ones that do signings. And book fairs, of course. The bigger city you live in, the better the chances. These are to sell books, so they go where the most customers are, generally. (there are always exceptions to everything; there is one small town near me that gets authors because the indie bookstore owner cultivates those contacts).

Also if your city or town has any sort of magazine or paper with listings of events, you'll find them there.  Also: http://storelocator.barnesandnoble.com/find_an_event.do 

And for very popular authors you can often sign up for email alerts via their publisher.

A lot of times local bookstores will have information on their websites or if you're signed up for monthly newsletters, they will list things like booksignings and other events in that, too.

They can be fun to attend, but are often mobbed, so arrive early.

Cheryl

I've mostly heard about them through the newspaper.

In addition to what everyone else suggested, you may also want to get on e-vite lists.  Go to the author's websites and the sites of local bookstores to sign up for their newsletters so you will be notified by email in advance of any readings.