Las Vegas book briefs for Feb. 11-17, 2016

"A Gambler's Apprentice": College of Southern Nevada professor H. Lee Barnes plans to talk about his new novel from 7 to 8 p.m. Feb. 11 at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Dating advice: Alex Schiller, author of the book "Never Sleep Alone," is slated to be in town to perform her one-woman show by the same title at Caesars Palace. While she's here, she plans to read from her book, sign copies and give advice from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St. The event is free, but suggested for guests 18 or older. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Writer's retreat: The writer's retreat series with instruction on fiction, nonfiction, traditional and digital publishing offered by local writers Laurel Gale, Morgan St. James and Gregory Kompes, is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 13 and 27 and March 12 at Lake Las Vegas. Workshops are free but limited to 25 attendees, and registration is required. Visit mypubliclibrary.com.

"What's Next?": Astrid Stromberg plans to read from and sign copies of her book "What's Next? Exploring the Journey of Souls in the Afterlife" at 1 p.m. Feb. 13 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

Love stories: Actors Evelyn Connors, Elizabeth Nelson, Anais Thomassian, Maythinee Washington and others are slated to perform readings of love poems and stories from 7 to 8 p.m. Feb. 13 at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Finding passion signing: Rachel Zangrillo-Galicinao plans to sign copies of her book "Passion in Love and Life" at 1 p.m. Feb. 14 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

Spa and song signings: Stephen Murray plans to sign copies of his books "The Chapel of Eternal Love" and the new sequel "Return to the Chapel of Love" from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at Body Spa West Salon, 8751 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 190. He is also set to sign books during a brunch performance by Sythe & Deanne from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and during Swingin' Sundays, a professional open mic show, from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at Ron DeCar's Event Center, 1201 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Admission to the Sythe & Deanne brunch is $39. Swingin' Sundays admission starts at $15. Visit rondecarseventcenter.com.

Talking of Tolkien: Tolkien scholar John Garth, author of "Tolkien the Great War" and the fellow in humanistic studies at the Black Mountain Institute, is slated to read from his work and then talk about Tolkien with local author and Tolkien enthusiast Geoff Schumacher from 7 to 8 p.m. Feb. 16 at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Las Vegas Writer's Conference: Storyfix.com founder Larry Brooks is slated to give the keynote address at this year's Las Vegas Writer's Conference scheduled April 28-30 at Sam's Town. Other conference faculty at Henderson Writers' Group-sponsored event include agents, acquisition editors and authors from a variety of genres. Registration is $475 or $300 for a Friday or Saturday pass. Clark County high school students and student chaperone Saturday-only passes are $100 per person. Registration at the door, if available, is set to be $525. The conference is limited to 150 participants. Visit lasvegaswritersconference.com.

Children's publishing: Laurel Gale, author of the middle grade novel "Dead Boy," is scheduled to talk about children's publishing during a meeting of the Las Vegas Writers Group scheduled at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd. The meeting fee is $5. Visit meetup.com/Las-Vegas-Writers. For more on the author, visit laurelgale.com.

Bechtel book signing: Investigative reporter Sally Denton plans to read from and sign her book "The Profiteers: Bechtel and the Men Who Built the World" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Desert author series: College of Southern Nevada professor Earnest N. Bracey, author of "Daniel 'Chappie' James: The First African American Four Star General" and "The Moulin Rouge and Black Rights in Las Vegas," is slated to speak from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave. Visit lvccld.org.

Literary Speed Dating: Singles 25 to 39 are invited to bring a favorite book as a conversation starter and mingle with other singles from 4 to 6 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. Visit mypubliclibrary.com.

Conference in a day: The Las Vegas Romance Writers plan a Conference in a Day featuring presenters Shirley Kennedy, Shannon Albright, Kay Phoenix and Angela Forister from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 20 in the community room at Findlay Chevrolet, 6800 S. Torrey Pines. The conference is $25 or $10 for Las Vegas Romance Writers members. Coffee, soft drinks and lunch are included. Visit lvrwa.org.

Love story: Yetta Yvette plans to sign copies of her love story "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number" at 1 p.m. Feb. 20 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

Storyteller: Children are invited to celebrate African American Heritage month with Oba William King, the Poetic Storyteller, from 10 to 11 a.m. Feb. 23 at the West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd.; from 4 to 5 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Spring Valley Library, 4280 S. Jones Blvd.; and from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Whitney Library, 5175 E. Tropicana Ave. Visit lvccld.org.

Poet visit: Sandra Lim, author of the poetry collections "Loveliest Grotesque" and "The Wilderness," is scheduled to speak during a Black Mountain Institute Emerging Writers Series presentation from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 25 in room 101 of the Rogers Literature & Law Building at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Admission is free, but RSVPs are requested at blackmountaininstitute.org.

Swing Queen: Norma Miller, author of "Swingin' at the Savoy: The Memoir of a Jazz Dancer," is scheduled to share stories of her days dancing the Lindy Hop in Harlem from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 29 at the West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd. Visit lvccld.org.

Meghan O'Rourke: The Black Mountain Institute is set to host a visit from Meghan O'Rourke, who began her career as one of the youngest editors in the history of The New Yorker and has served as culture editor and literary critic for Slate as well as poetry editor and advisory editor for The Paris Review. O'Rourke is slated to speak at 7:15 p.m. March 2 in room 101 of the Rogers Literature & Law Building at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Admission is free, but RSVPs are requested at blackmountaininstitute.org.

Fiction reading: Catherine Lacey, author of novel "Nobody Is Ever Missing," is scheduled to speak during a Black Mountain Institute Emerging Writers Series presentation from 7 to 8:30 p.m. March 10 in room 101 of the Rogers Literature & Law Building at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Admission is free, but RSVPs are requested at blackmountaininstitute.org.

"Fire Touched": Patricia Briggs is slated to sign copies of her newest Mercy Thompson urban fantasy book at 3 p.m. March 13 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

"The Irish Scam": JD McNamee is set to sign books at noon March 12 and 13 at the 8915 W. Charleston Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

RT Booklovers Convention: Authors, bloggers, librarians and romance fiction fans are invited to connect with more than 200 workshops, parties and a giant book fair at the RT (Romantic Times) Booklovers Convention scheduled April 12-17 at the Rio, 3700 W. Flamingo Road. Full registration through March 1 is $449 for readers, $489 for authors, $425 for industry professionals, and $375 for booksellers and librarians. Day passes start at $99. Saturday-only passes for teens are $20. Visit rtconvention.com.

Running health author class: Donald A. Ozello, author of "Running: Maximize Performance & Minimize Injuries," is scheduled to lead a free spinal health class on ergonomics at 6:30 p.m. March 9 at Championship Chiropractic, 8871 W. Flamingo Road. Ozello is also slated to make an appearance from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 3 at The Corner Gallery, Suite 220, inside The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd. Visit championshipchiropractic.com.

Breaking Silence: A panel discussion on women writing on crime, conspiracy and cruelty featuring panelists Sally Denton, Maggie Nelson and Eliza Griswold and moderated by Carol C. Harter is scheduled at 7 p.m. March 14 in the Tam Alumni Center at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Visit blackmountaininstitute.org.

Ongoing events

Neon Lit: Neon Lit, a public reading featuring writers from UNLV's Master of Fine Arts and Ph.D. writing programs, is scheduled at 6 p.m. the fourth Friday of most months at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St., No. 100. The next gathering is set for Feb. 26. Visit neonlit.org.

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. Email facilitator Glory Wade at glorywadewriter@gmail.com.

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. Call 702-229-4800.

Science fiction and fantasy writing group: 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. Call 702-334-0204.

Barnes & Noble 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: 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. Visit hendersonwritersgroup.com.

Memoir-writing workshops: 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. Call 702-382-9695.