Las Vegas book briefs for Oct. 20-26, 2016

“Spy Ski School”: Stuart Gibbs is set to discuss and sign his books at 6 p.m. Oct. 20 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble. Call 702-631-1775.

Las Vegas Writers Group: Local science fiction author Maxwell Alexander Drake is scheduled to offer advice on showing, not telling, during a meeting of the Las Vegas Writers Group at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd. The meeting fee is $5. Visit meetup.com/Las-Vegas-Writers.

Stillpoint Reader’s Series: Max Oliva, author of “Becoming A Person of Mercy: Personal Reflections and Practices on the Works of Mercy” is set to speak as part of the Stillpoint Reader’s Community Series from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at Stillpoint: Center for Spiritual Development, 8072 W. Sahara Ave., Suite D. Admission is free, but donations are suggested. A coffee discussion of Oliva’s work is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Visit stillpointcsd.org.

Neon inspiration: Clark County writers and poets are invited to submit flash fiction, essays and poems inspired by three visual images from the Neon Museum in a competition sponsored by Helen: A Literary Magazine. Submissions do not have to include mention of all images, but ones that do will be given higher priority. Judges include Brett Salsbury of the Neon Museum and Heather Lang of Petite Hound Press and The Literary Review. The deadline to enter is Oct. 31. There is no entry fee. The winner gets a $25 cash prize and Neon Museum gift bag and tickets and goodie bag from The Writer’s Block. All entries will be considered for publication. Visit helenpresents.com.

Delectable Intellectual: William Todd Schultz, author of “Torment Saint: The Life of Elliott Smith,” is set to speak from noon to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 21 in a Black Mountain Institute sack lunch gathering at the Rogers Literature & Law Building at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. The event is free, but RSVPs are required. Visit blackmountaininstitute.org.

Neon Lit: A fiction, nonfiction and poetry series featuring writers from the UNLV Master of Fine Arts and Ph.D. program is scheduled fr.om 7 to 8 p.m. one Friday a month at The Writer’s Block, 1020 E. Fremont St. Events are scheduled Oct. 21, Nov. 18, Jan. 27, Feb. 24, March 31 and April 28. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Viva Vegas Lit: An evening of readings with contributors to The Literary Review and Helen: A Literary Magazine featuring Claudia Keelan, Donald Revell, Jocelyn Paige Kelly, Angela M. Brommel, Jennifer Battisti, Arika Elizenberry, Caroline Horwitz, Michael Kroesche, Ingrid Taylor and Sarah Vernetti is scheduled from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 22 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 E. Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Cold case chat: An author talk with investigative journalist Shaun Assael about his book, “The Murder of Sonny Liston: Las Vegas, Heroin, and Heavyweights,” is scheduled at 7 p.m. Oct. 25 at The Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave. The event is free with paid museum admission. Visit themobmuseum.org.

Richard Wiley: Former Black Mountain Institute artistic director Richard Wiley is set to read from his newest book, the psychological thriller “Bob Stephenson,” at 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Greenspun Hall Auditorium at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. The event is free, but an RSVP is requested. Visit blackmountaininstitute.org.

Linda Stiles Fox: The contemporary romance fiction author of “A Cabin in the Woods” and “Forever Again” is set to speak from 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at Atria Sunlake, 3250 S. Fort Apache Road. Call 702-628-5963.

Ghost stories: Celebrate Halloween with readings of classic spooky stories read by professional actors Rich Binning, Adriana Chavez, Elizabeth Nelson, Heidi Rider, Mindy Woodhead and more from 7 to 8 p.m. Oct. 27 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 E. Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Deepak Chopra: The author of “Radical Beauty: How to Transform Yourself from the Inside Out” is scheduled to discuss the future of well-being and ways to enhance consciousness at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave. Tickets start at $35. Limited VIP packages with a meet and greet pre-show reception, refreshments and a signed copy of “Radical Beauty” are $175. Visit thesmithcenter.com.

Miriam Melton-Villanueva: The UNLV assistant professor of history and author of “The Aztecs at Independence” is slated to speak from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 E. Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Painted Stories: Duel in the Desert: A mixed media showcase with artists painting while writers read is scheduled at 2 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Visit lvccld.org.

Shannon Messenger: The author plans to read from and sign copies of her novel “Lodestar” at 7 p.m. Nov. 2 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Rainbow Writer’s Group: A new LGBTQIA+ writers group designed to provide a safe place to critique each other’s work without judgment or censorship is set to meet at 3:15 p.m. Saturdays at La Maison de Maggie, 3455 S. Durango Drive, Suite 112. Visit lvrainbowwriters.com.

Alumni Reading Series: UNLV Master of Fine Arts alumni Mani Rao, the author of nine poetry books and two books in translation from Sanskrit, is slated to speak from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 3 in the Rogers Literature & Law Building at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Visit blackmountaininstitute.org.

Street stories: Author Mark Hall-Patton, administrator for the Clark County Museum System, plans to talk about the practical jokes, love stories, friendships and family dedications behind local street names at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Visit lvccld.org.

Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival: Special guests James Robinson, J.H. Williams III, Scott Koblish, Amy Chu, Jay Edidin, Miles Stokes, The Velveteen Band and more are set to be featured at the ninth annual festival scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. The free all-ages event is set to include craft workshops, panel discussions, a vendor marketplace, an artists alley, food trucks, live music, film screenings (including a screening of “Neil Gaiman: Dream Dangerously”), kids’ crafts and face painting. Visit vegasvalleycomicbookfestival.org.

Signing to support rescue: Local authors Vicki-Ann Bush, Susan Johnson and Mat Kaufman are scheduled to sign books to benefit Wagging Tails Rescue from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 5 at BooksOrBooks, 3460 E. Sunset Road, Suite R. Visit booksorbooks.com.

National Novel Writing Month: Each November, NaNoWriMo encourages writers to craft the first draft of a 50,000-word novel in a month. Visit nanowrimo.org. The Las Vegas Romance Writers plan a NaNoWriMo group writing celebration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Sundance Grill in the Silverton, 3333 Blue Diamond Road. Visit lvrwa.org.

Stagecoach Mary signing: Erich Hicks is set to sign copies of his book “Mary Fields aka Stagecoach Mary” at 1 p.m. Nov. 5 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

Emerging Writers Series: Dustin M. Hoffman, author of the story collection “One Hundred-Knuckled Fist,” is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Rogers Literature & Law Building at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Visit blackmountaininstitute.org.

Deep editing: Margie Lawson, known for helping writers learn deep psychologically-based editing techniques, is slated to put on a master class from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 12 at Spring Valley Library, 4280 S. Jones Blvd. The fee, which includes lunch, is $50 for members of the Las Vegas Romance Writers and $75 for nonmembers. Visit lvrwa.org.

Fit Fuel signing: Chef Robert Irvine is slated to sign copies of his newest book “Fit Fuel: A Chef’s Guide to Eating Well, Getting Fit, and Living Your Best Life” during a meet and greet from 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Tropicana Las Vegas, 3801 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The event is set to coincide with the thirteenth annual Military Culinary Competition to be hosted by the hotel. Visit troplv.com/vetdaycookoff.

Vicki-Ann Bush signing: The local author plans to sign copies of her thriller “Room 629” at 1 p.m. Nov. 12 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

Hiking chat: “Hiking Las Vegas” author Branch Whitney is scheduled to speak from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane. Visit lvccld.org.

Book art: The exhibit “Page by Page: Artist Books and Drawings by Karen Baldner” is scheduled to be on display through Nov. 19 in the College of Southern Nevada Artspace Gallery at the North Las Vegas campus, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. Visit sites.csn.edu/artgallery.

Literary Pin-ups: The opening for Joshua Weinberg’s art exhibit “Famous Literary Characters Reimagined” is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. Visit hendersonlibraries.com.

Bob Newhart: The comedian and best-selling author is set to speak at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave. Tickets start at $29. Visit thesmithcenter.com.

Writing Workshop: A full-day publishing conference featuring instructor Chuck Sambuchino and agents Jennifer March Soloway, Carlie Webber, Thao Le, Patricia Nelson, Paul S. Levine, Jill Marr, Jamie Bodnar Drowley and Annie Bomke is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Embassy Suites, 4315 Swenson St. Visit lasvegaswritingworkshop.com.

Tellabration: Members of the Nevada Storytelling Guild plan to perform tales during a festival scheduled from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd. Visit lvccld.org.

Ballet bunny: Robert Beck is slated to sign copies of his children’s book “A Bunny in the Ballet” at 1 p.m. Nov. 19 at the 567 N. Barnes & Noble.

BMI Anniversary: Joshua Wolf Shenk is scheduled to host a 10th anniversary celebration for the Black Mountain Institute featuring Wole Soyinka, Cheryl Strayed, Charles Bock, Tom Bissell, Olivia Clare and Vu Tran from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov 21 in the Student Union & Event Services building at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. The event is free, but RSVPs are required. Visit blackmountaininstitute.org.

Lenora McClellan: The author is scheduled to sign copies of her book “With My Father’s Blessing” at 4 p.m. Nov. 23 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

Author signing: Local author Roger DeBlanck plans to speak and sign copies of his book “The Destruction of Silence” from 6 to 7 p.m. Nov. 30 at Atria Sunlake, 3250 S. Fort Apache Road. Call 702-628-5963.

Library Tree Lane: The annual Friends of Henderson Public Libraries benefit set to feature guest author William Kent Krueger is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 in the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. Visit hendersonlibraries.com.

Critique event: Trident Media Group agent Mark Gottlieb is slated to participate in a Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators One Agent At a Time manuscript critique event scheduled from 9:45 to 11:45 a.m. Dec. 4 at the Sperling-Kronberg-Mack Holocaust Resource Center, 4794 S. Eastern Ave., Suite A. Critiques are $55 and are available only to SCBWI members. Members can attend without a critique for $30. Nonmember registration is set to open Nov. 14. Space is limited, and critique requests must be in by Nov. 1. Visit tinyurl.com/agentattime.

ONGOING EVENTS

Books for Louisiana: Nevada Oral and Facial Surgery, with offices at 6950 Smoke Ranch Road, Suite 200, and 1525 W. Warm Springs Road, Suite 125, is hosting a book drive to help restock school library shelves in flood-stricken Louisiana. Books can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Visit nevadaoralandfacialsurgery.com or call 702-360-8918. Lexus of Las Vegas, 6600 W. Sahara Ave., and Lexus of Henderson, 7736 Eastgate Road, are also collecting books for flood victims. Donations can be dropped off in the parts departments.

Online fiction: Overton resident Elizabeth Trombley offers free short stories for readers 12 or older at her website, authorinwaiting.com.

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.