Las Vegas book briefs for April 28-May 4, 2016

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, 5111 Boulder Highway. Other conference faculty members at the Henderson Writers’ Group-sponsored event are to 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.

Beat poet visit: Michael McClure, founding member of the beat generation and the San Francisco Poetry Renaissance, plans a reading as part of the Poets of National Stature Reading Series initiated by Clark County Poet Laureate Bruce Isaacson at 7 p.m. April 30 at the Winchester Cultural Center, 3131 McLeod Drive. McClure is also set to present a free writing workshop from 2 to 3:30 p.m. May 1 in the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Visit clarkcountynv.gov or lvccld.org.

Vegas guidebook: Las Vegas native Laura Carroll and her co-author, former Las Vegas journalist Adam Kealoha Causey, plan to talk about their new book “100 Things to Do in Las Vegas Before You Die” from 7 to 8 p.m. April 28 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Bonds of Blood talk: Local author Deborah Dorchak and her co-writer, Wendi Kelly, are set to talk about their Bonds of Blood & Spirit books at 1 p.m. May 1 in the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

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 April 29. Visit neonlit.org.

Dragon author signing: Lisa McMann is scheduled to sign copies of “The Unwanteds: Island of Dragons” at 7 p.m. April 29 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Local author showcase: April’s featured local authors — Andrew R. Nixon, Mike Bennett, Denise Stephenson, Niki Breeser Tschirgi and Jami Rodman — are set to speak and sign books from 5 to 7 p.m. April 30 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Writing workshop: Local publisher Jo Wilkins plans to talk about evaluating writers’ hooks from 6 to 7:30 p.m. May 2 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Visit lvccld.org.

Reducing library fines: The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District plans a food for fines program through April 30. For each nonperishable food item brought in to be donated to Three Square food bank, the library will reduce patron fines by $2. Materials must be returned, and food donations can’t be used to pay for lost or damaged materials. Visit lvccld.org.

Library campaign: The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District’s Love Your Library? Tell a friend! campaign is planned through April 30. Sign up for a library card or “like” the district on Facebook and be entered to win a Discovery Children’s Museum gift basket, which includes a family membership. Library patrons can get $3 off per person on museum admission through April 30 by showing a library card. Visit lvccld.org.

Fellows named: The Black Mountain Institute has selected writers to share research and writing expertise in the literary center’s 2016-17 fellowship season. Authors set to participate in the program include Hossein Mortezaeian Abkenar, Yelena Akhtiorskaya, Jane Barnes, Malena Morling, David Morris, William Todd Schultz, David L. Ulin and Gabriel Urza. Visit blackmountaininstitute.org.

Free reading classes: Adults are invited to participate in free learn-to-read classes from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays through May 27 at the Stupak Community Center, 251 W. Boston Ave. Call 702-507-3530 to register.

Picture book exhibit: Local graphic novelist Kenneth Lamug plans to exhibit art from his new dark children’s fantasy “The Stumps of Flattop Hill” through May 3 at the Whitney Library, 5157 E. Tropicana Ave. Visit thestumpsbook.com.

Corner Gallery Signing: Local author Stephen Murray plans to sign his books “The Chapel of Eternal Love” and “Return to the Chapel of Eternal Love” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 5 at the Corner Gallery in The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd. No. 220. Visit thechapelofeternallove.com.

Local author signings: Local author M.W. Smith is set to sign the book “A Mother’s Day Wish” at 1 p.m. May 1 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble. The store is also set to host Jillene Simms’ signing of “Sister to Sister: A Survivors Guide” at 1 p.m. May 7.

Echoes of Homer: A panel discussion on the new literature of war is set to feature George Packer, Brian Turner, Siobhan Fallon and Phil Klay at 7 p.m. May 5 in the Philip J. Cohen Theatre in the UNLV Student Union, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Visit blackmountaininstitute.org.

Hiking chat: “Hiking Las Vegas” author Branch Whitney is set to speak at 6 p.m. May 10 in the Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane. Visit lvccld.org.

Transforming Fear to Love: Karen Smith, author of “The ‘I AM’ Solution: Simple Practices to Transform Fear Back to Love,” is set to speak on the world’s need for love from 1 to 3 p.m. May 7 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble. Visit drkarmen.com.

Music history: Janis L. McKay, UNLV associate professor of bassoon and principal bassoonist for the Las Vegas Philharmonic, is slated to talk about and sign copies of her book “Played Out on the Strip: The Rise and Fall of Las Vegas Casino Bands” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. May 12 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Leopoldo Gout signing: The film producer is slated to sign copies of his book “Genius: The Game” at 7 p.m. May 13 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Visiting authors: Readers are invited to join Gini Koch, T.L. Smith, Sharon Skinner and Alan Black as they discuss the writing process and sign their books at 2 p.m. May 14 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

Teen animeFEST: Teens are invited to celebrate anime with workshops, cosplay contests, a Super Smash Bros. tournament, musical guests, food trucks and more at 10:30 a.m. May 14 at the Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave. Visit lvccld.org.

Romance workshop: Laurie Schnebly Campbell is scheduled to speak during a workshop planned by the Las Vegas Romance Writers at 9 a.m. May 21 in the community room at Findlay Chevrolet, 6800 S. Torrey Pines Drive. Information on topics and fees are slated to be announced at lvrwa.org.

Las Vegas stories: Elaine McNamara is slated to sign copies of her memoir “In the Midst of Cowboys, Crooners and Gangsters: Recollections of the Las Vegas Glamour Era” at 1 p.m. May 21 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Diane Merrill Wigginton: The author is slated to sign her books “Angelina’s Secret” and “Isabella’s Heart” at 1 p.m. May 28 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

Communication seminar: Jill Spiegel, local author of five books, including “How to Talk to Anyone About Anything,” plans to bring the messages she has shared on the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” the “Today” show and more to Las Vegas as she leads a communication seminar from 10 a.m. to noon June 11 at the College of Southern Nevada Charleston campus, 6375 W. Charleston Blvd. The course fee is $50. To register, visit csn.edu/workforce or call 702-651-4747. For more on the author, visit jillspiegel.com.

“Lily and the Octopus” signing: Screenwriter Steven Rowley is set to sign copies of his debut novel “Lily and the Octopus” at 2 p.m. June 25 in the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

“Broadcast Hysteria” discussion: Michigan writer A. Brad Schwartz plans to discuss his book “Broadcast Hysteria: Orson Welles’s War of the Worlds and the Art of Fake News” from 7 to 8 p.m. July 14 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Megan Volpert: A reading and signing with Megan Volpert, author of “1976,” is scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. July 15 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Leviosa Con: A convention dedicated to the Harry Potter universe is scheduled July 7-10 at Green Valley Ranch, 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway. While J.K. Rowling won’t be in the house at the unofficial fan festival, other authors slated to participate include Victoria Aveyard, Alexandra Bracken, Susan Dennard and Sarah J. Maas. Admission starts at $200. Visit leviosa.org.

Painted Stories: Writers of Southern Nevada plans to present a mixed-media showcase featuring local authors reading as artists paint from 2 to 3:30 p.m. July 31 and Oct. 30 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Visit clarkcountynv.gov or lvccld.org.

Vegas Valley Book Festival: This year’s book festival, an event that typically packs in 100 authors, workshops, panel discussions, readings and signings, is scheduled Oct. 13-15. To apply to be a participating author, volunteer or vendor, visit vegasvalleybookfestival.org.

ONGOING EVENTS

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.