Amber Benson

Amber Benson, who spent three seasons playing Tara Maclay on "Buffy the Vam pire Slayer," will be at Mid town Comics (200 W. 40th) June 27 to sign copies of her new novel, "Death’s Daughter" — the first in her Calli ope Rea per-Jones trilogy of "urban fan tasy nov els." Ben son’s had quite a varied post- "Buffy" career; she’s written comics, novels and an ani mated Web series ("Ghosts of Albion") with Christopher Golden (author of "Hellboy") — and her children’s book, "The New Newbridge Acad emy," is due out later this year.

Benson also co-directed the big-screen flick "Drones" with fellow "Buffy" cast mem ber Adam Busch (Warren Meers). That’s also out later this year.

Later this month, radio pro ducer Denny Somach will auction off his collection of rock ’n roll memorabilia at backstageauctions.com. So mach, who produces Carol Miller’s "Get the Led Out" segments (airing on Q104), has items from the likes of Ringo Starr, The Who, B.B. King and the Kinks. The cat alogue will go online June 14, with the auction running from June 21-28. Average starting price-per-item: $100.

More music: German violin ist David Garrett performs on "Today" and is live in the Ch. 21 studios on Wednesday (7:30 p.m.) to discuss the PBS special, "David Garrett: Live in Berlin." That’s the day after the release of his new CD, "David Garrett."

Last, but not least:

* Robert Newman ("Guiding Light") has joined the off- Broadway cast of "Sessions" as Dr. Peterson . . . "The Early Show" had its best May, in total viewers, in 14 years (2.9 million) . . . ABC’s "National Spelling Bee" coverage averaged 6.1 million viewers last Thurs day, up from 4.9 million last year.