Las Vegas book briefs, May 11-13, 2015

LAS VEGAS WRITERS SELECTED FOR NATIONAL AWARD

Poets & Writers magazine announced that Las Vegas fiction writer Joseph Langdon and Las Vegas poet Rosemary Powers are the winners of the 2015 Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award. One state is selected each year, and invites writers from that jurisdiction are invited to apply for the award. For 2015, Nevada was chosen. Winners identify New York agents, editors and authors they would like to meet. Magazine staff helps arrange appointments with as many as possible, and in October, the winners travel to New York City where magazine representatives accompany them on a round of visits. Past winners — such as Sue Monk Kidd, Elaine Beale and Fae Myenne Ng — have had books published, received fellowships, secured teaching positions and more as a result of the award.

Langdon earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Vassar College and his master of fine arts degree from UNLV. He has worked as a newspaper reporter, features writer, columnist, political campaign speechwriter and assistant director of the Black Mountain Institute.

Powers is completing her master in fine arts in creative writing at UNLV where she teaches composition.

Judges named first runners-up poet Marianne Chan from Las Vegas and fiction writer Sharon Randall from Henderson.

For more information, visit pw.org.

UNITED WAY PLANS FREE FLIP THROUGH SUMMER READING KICKOFF

The United Way of Southern Nevada’s Flip Through Summer reading kickoff is set to return from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 16 at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. The annual event is set to feature six book nooks with live readings and activities. Children are invited to explore favorites such as “The Cat in the Hat,” “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” “Stuart Little,” “Charlotte’s Web,” “Dora the Explorer” and the Harry Potter series.

Families can also participate in a book swap where each individual can bring two books and swap them for two new ones.

Community members are encouraged to donate books for the event though May 14 at the United Way of Southern Nevada, 5830 W. Flamingo Road.

To learn more about sponsorships, contact Chris Cappas at 702-892-2322 or chrisc@uwsn.org. For event details, visit uwsn.org/flipthroughsummer.

‘THE CHAPEL OF ETERNAL LOVE’ AUTHOR TO SPEAK

“The Chapel of Eternal Love” author Stephen Murray is set to speak at 2 p.m. May 16 at the Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave. For more information, visit thechapelofeternallove.com.

LEE MALLORY LAUNCHES SEVENS LIVE!

Poet Lee Mallory plans to present Sevens Live!, a new music, comedy and spoken arts showcase, from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays inside the Cantina at the Silver Sevens, 4100 Paradise Road. Upcoming dates are May 11, 18 and 25 and June 1.

Admission is free with a one-drink minimum. For more information, call 702-733-7300.

CHILDREN’S AUTHOR PLANS EVENT

Sarah Hoover is set to sign her children’s picture book “If My Dirty Shoes Could Fly at 1 p.m. May 16 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

BOOKSTORE TO HOST WORKSHOP

Gini Koch, T.L. Smith, Sharon Skinner, Alan Black, Marsheila Rockwell and Jeffrey J. Mariotte are slated to discuss writing and publishing during their Amazing Wyked Writers’ Workshop scheduled at 1 p.m. May 17 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

THE WRITER’S BLOCK PLANS EVENTS

The downtown bookstore The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St., offers a full schedule of literary events, including readings and signings for adults and free workshops for students ages 5 to 18. Upcoming events include a presentation by “Call Me Home” author Megan Kruse at 7 p.m. May 14 and a reading with “Fed, White, and Blue: Finding America With My Fork” author Simon Majumdar at 7 p.m. May 22. Volunteers interested in teaching writing to children over the summer can email codex@thewritersblock.org. For more information, visit thewritersblock.org.

ROMANCE WRITERS TO MEET

A meeting of the Las Vegas Romance Writers is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon May 16 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. For more on the event, visit lvrwa.org.

WRITER’S BLOCK CO-OWNERS TO SPEAK TO WRITERS GROUP

The Writer’s Block co-founders Scott Seeley and Drew Cohen are scheduled to speak about the independent bookseller’s mission and role in the community during a meeting of the Las Vegas Writers Group scheduled for 7 p.m. May 21 at the Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd. A $5 meeting fee is charged. For more information, visit meetup.com/las-vegas-writers.

FREE CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS PLANNED AT LIBRARY

A free Creative Writing @ Your Library series is scheduled from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at the Gibson Library, 100 W. Lake Mead Parkway. Writers 18 or older are encouraged to participate and share.

Members of the Henderson Writers’ Group are slated to facilitate workshop sessions on a variety of topics, including editing your own work on May 12 and publishing options on May 26. For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.com.

RONDA ROUSEY TO SIGN BOOKS

Olympic medalist in judo, UFC women’s bantamweight champion and actress Ronda Rousey plans to sign copies of “My Fight/Your Fight,” a memoir written with Maria Burns Ortiz, at 1 p.m. May 23 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

SIGNING SET FOR THEME PARK MYSTERY

Mark S. Bacon, a UNLV master’s degree graduate, tapped his early jobs as crime reporter and Knott’s Berry Farm advertising copywriter as fodder for his theme park mystery “Death in Nostalgia City.” He plans to sign copies of the novel from 1 to 3 p.m. May 30 at BooksorBooks, 3460 E. Sunset Road, Suite R. For more information, visit baconsmysteries.com.

SHARE POEMS AT HUMAN EXPERIENCE

Polish up a poem or two and try them out at Human Experience, a free spoken word event scheduled from 7 to 11:30 p.m. Mondays at The Center, 401 S. Maryland Parkway. Participants 18 or older are welcome. For more information, visit facebook.com/humanexperiencelasvegas.

WRITING ADVENTURES STUDIO TO OFFER CAMPS

Summer camps are scheduled from June 8 through Aug. 14 at the new Writing Adventures studio, 3227 E. Warm Springs Road. Camp fees are $199 a week, with classes from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additional extended care is available from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The studio also offers ongoing tutoring and classes. For more information, visit writingadventuresusa.com or call 702-413-6199.

HEALTH FILMMAKER PLANS LAS VEGAS VISIT

An event featuring Joe Cross, the filmmaker behind “Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead” and author of “Reboot with Joe: Fully Charged: 7 Keys to Losing Weight, Staying Healthy and Thriving,” is scheduled at 7 p.m. June 1 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

ALIANTE LIBRARY TO HOST WRITERS CLUB

The Aliante Library Writers Club is scheduled to meet from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Aliante Library, 2400 W. Deer Springs Way. For more information, email facilitator Glory Wade at glorywadewriter@gmail.com.

ARTS CENTER TO HOST POETS CORNER

The West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd., plans to host poets corner readings with Keith Brantley at 7 p.m. the first and third Friday of each month. For more information, call the center at 702-229-4800.

LIBRARY CAN BENEFIT FROM AMAZON PURCHASES

At no cost to participants, purchases made at amazon.com can help the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District. The district benefits not only when customers buy books but also movies, CDs, electronics, appliances and more. To start, visit wowbrary.org/lasvegas, and the online retailer will donate roughly 7.5 percent of your purchases to the district.

For more information, email ask@lvccld.org or call the Virtual Library section at 702-507-6300.

FREE READ TO ME PROGRAM OFFERED

Celebrity storytellers Oscar Goodman, Rita Rudner, Clint Holmes, Terry Fator, Carrot Top, The Scintas and others have donated their talents to the Clark County Education Association Community Foundation’s Read To Me program. Children can view more than 15 videos of celebrities reading books on the website at readtomelv.com. Stories also can be accessed by calling 702-240-2665. Both databases are frequently updated with fresh stories. Parents and teachers can download lesson plans for each book on the website.

SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY GROUP UNDERWAY IN LIBRARY

Readers, writers and editors of science fiction and fantasy are invited to check out a new group scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. Saturdays in meeting room two at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. For more information, call 702-334-0204.

UNLV WRITERS WELCOME ALL TO NEON LIT

Neon Lit, a public reading featuring writers from UNLV’s Master of Fine Arts and Ph.D. writing programs, is scheduled the fourth Friday of most months at The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St., No. 100. For more information, visit neonlit.org.

BARNES & NOBLE TO HOST WRITING GROUP

The 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble plans to host a writing critique group at 5:15 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month. The group is limited to the first 20 participants per meeting. Sign up at meetup.com/las-vegas-creative-writing-class.

HENDERSON WRITERS GROUP MEETINGS SET

The Henderson Writers Group plans to meet from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. Mondays in Room C-2 at Community Lutheran Church, 3720 E. Tropicana Ave. Meetings are typically canceled on holidays. For more information, visit hendersonwritersgroup.

MEMOIR-WRITING WORKSHOPS SLATED

An ongoing series of free four-week memoir-writing workshops is scheduled at noon Wednesdays and 10 a.m. Fridays at the Las Vegas FamilySearch Library, 509 S. Ninth St. Four-week sessions are set to begin the first week of every month. For more information, call 702-382-9695.

ACCESS RECORDED BOOK PROGRAMS ONLINE

Too busy to get out to book programs? The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District posts videos and podcasts of many of its programs online. Selections available include: “An Afternoon with Tony Curtis,” John L. Smith’s presentation “Amelia’s Long Journey: The Challenge of Writing What You Know,” “Batman” movie producer Michael Uslan’s presentation at the 2009 Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival, Jami Carpenter’s “ABCs of Editing” workshop and Brian Rouff’s “Getting Published: A Long Strange Trip.” To access the programs, visit lvccld.org, select “Books, Movies & More” and then “Video and Podcasts.”

The Black Mountain Institute has offered recordings of its programming since 2006. To access recordings of a gamut of writers from E.L. Doctorow to Alissa Nutting, visit blackmountaininstitute.org and select “multimedia.”

NEVADA STATE MUSEUM COLLECTING PHOTOS FOR BOOK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF NORTH LAS VEGAS

The Nevada State Museum is looking for photos for a book about the history of North Las Vegas.

Photos are sought that document regular life and special events, from family barbecues to award ceremonies, or show what the city looked like back in the day. Photographs from the 1930s and 1940s are of particular interest.

Museum professionals are set to scan photographs, and the originals will remain with the donors.

For more information, call Crystal R. Van Dee at 702-822-8751.

SIGNING SET FOR ‘MIRACLES AND MURDER’

Jet Arnett plans to sign “Miracles and Murder” at 1 p.m. June 14 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.