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Las Vegas book briefs for Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2016

“Southern Paiute — A Portrait”: Author Logan Hebner and photographer Michael Plyler plan to talk about their book “Southern Paiute: A Portrait” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Hiking talk: “Hiking Las Vegas” author Branch Whitney is scheduled to speak from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at the Enterprise Library, 25 E. Shelbourne Ave. Visit lvccld.org.

Scott Voltz: The author of “The American Trinity: How Do Americans Know If Their Ideas Are Un-American?” is scheduled to meet with readers from 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 30 at BooksorBooks, 3460 E. Sunset Road, Suite R. Visit booksorbooks.com.

Painted Stories: Writers of Southern Nevada is slated to host an afternoon of live painting inspired by author readings from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Authors to be featured include Randy Sutton and Vito Colucci Jr., who are to be joined by guest artists Meegan Boiros and Michael Davies. Admission is free. Visit nevadawriters.org.

Helen Stewart Poetry Award: Poets are invited to submit work for Helen Magazine’s inaugural competition for Clark County poets. Local poet Gregory Robinson is set to judge, and contestants can submit as many poems as they like. A $5 entry fee is charged for every three poems. The deadline is Feb. 1. An awards event is expected sometime in April. Visit helenpresents.com.

Sign Scholar: Stefan Al, the internationally recognized architect, author and academic, plans a presentation titled “Bigger, Better and Brighter: The Evolution of Las Vegas Signs” at 7 p.m. Feb. 2 in the auditorium of the Marjorie Barrick Museum at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Al, a scholar-in-residence at the Neon Museum, 770 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is the author of “Factory Towns of South China,” “Village in the City” and “Mall City” and is writing a book about Las Vegas architecture. Visit neonmuseum.org.

Book Traces — Digital Humanities and the Future of the Library: Andrew Stauffer, associate English professor from the University of Virginia, plans to talk about the future of the reading experience during a free University Forum Lecture Series event scheduled from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 4 in the Marjorie Barrick Museum at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Visit unlv.edu.

Reading in the Dark: Lights are set to go off at 8 p.m. Feb. 5 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St., as Iranian fiction writer and screenwriter Hossein Mortezaeian Abkenar reads from his work in the dark. Abkenar’s award-winning works, such as “A Scorpion on the Steps of Andimeshk Railroad Station,” are banned in Iran. His reading is slated to be followed by a question-and-answer session moderated by Joshua Shenk, executive director of the Black Mountain Institute. Latecomers will not be admitted once the lights are out. Reserve a free seat at thewritersblock.org/darkness.

Jim Blockey: The local author is set to sign copies of his book “Public Schools — The Worst Case of Child Abuse in American History” from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 6 at BooksorBooks, 3460 E. Sunset Road, Suite R. Visit jimblockey.tateauthor.com.

Literary theory: UNLV English professors Anne Stevens and Evelyn Gajowski plan a conversation on literary theory from 7 to 8 p.m. Feb. 6 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Kingpin: Ron Chepsiuk, author of “Black Caesar: The Rise and Disappearance of Frank Matthews, Kingpin,” is slated to speak at 1 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave. The event is free with museum admission. Visit themobmuseum.org.

Love at Human Experience: Local poet Lee Mallory plans to read passionate poetry backed up by upright bass player Mizz Absurd at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 at Hop Nuts Brewing Co., 1120 S. Main St. Jazz artist Philena Carter is also slated to perform. A Human Experience open mic is set to follow. Admission is free. Guests must be 21 or older.

“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.

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.

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.

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: 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.

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.

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.

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.

Ongoing events

5/5+ Poetry: Poets are invited to share original work for five minutes followed by attendees offering comments for five minutes during 5/5+, a workshop series put on by Nick Marco, Lana Hanson and Lee Mallory, scheduled every two weeks at BooksOrBooks, 3460 E. Sunset Road, Suite R. Call 702-754-5971, email jtjmarco@live.com, raisewomenup@gmail.com or leewmallory3@gmail.com or search for 5/5+ on Facebook.

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 Jan. 29. 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.

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