Las Vegas book briefs for March 17-23, 2016

Fiction writing: Paul Papa, author of “It Happened in Las Vegas: Remarkable Events That Shaped History,” “Discovering Vintage Las Vegas” and more, is scheduled to talk about fiction writing during a meeting of the Las Vegas Writers Group scheduled at 7 p.m. March 17 at the Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd. The meeting fee is $5. Visit meetup.com/Las-Vegas-Writers or paulwpapa.com.

“Pretty Is”: Maggie Mitchel is slated to speak about and sign copies of her debut novel, “Pretty Is,” from 7 to 8 p.m. March 17 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Gregg Jones: Author and Pulitzer Prize-finalist foreign correspondent and investigative journalist Gregg Jones is scheduled to speak as part of a Black Mountain Institute-sponsored reading at noon March 18 in the Rogers Literature & Law building at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Visit blackmountaininstitute.org.

Spring Fling Book Fair: Readers can meet dozens of local and regional authors, buy autographed books and attend workshops during the annual fair scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 19 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Visit lvccld.org or call 702-507-3458.

Alzheimer’s benefit signing: A local author book signing to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. March 19 at BooksorBooks, 3460 E. Sunset Road, Suite R. A think tank discussion on Alzheimer’s headed up by local author Nancy Nelson is scheduled prior to the signing from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit booksorbooks.com.

Exploring punk: Courtney Sheets, who writes fantasy and screenplays under the pen name Seege, is slated to talk about punk themes in romance writing during a meeting of the Las Vegas Romance Writers at 10 a.m. March 19 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. Visit lvrwa.org.

“Speakers of the Dead”: J. Aaron Sanders, author of “Speakers of the Dead: A Walt Whitman Mystery,” is scheduled to speak and sign books from 7 to 8:30 p.m. March 19 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.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 how trauma is never wasted from 1 to 3 p.m. March 19 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble; and 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.

Zine Lit: Celebrate Las Vegas’ Zine culture with local and visiting artists who will present handmade magazines from 7 to 8 p.m. March 22 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Hike chat: “Hiking Las Vegas” author Branch Whitney is scheduled to speak from 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 24 at the Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive, and from 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 13 at the Whitney Library, 5175 E. Tropicana Ave., and from 6 to 7:30 p.m. May 10 at the Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane. Visit lvccld.org.

Picture book reading: Palm Springs Ballet Co. founder Robert Beck is slated to read from his picture book “A Bunny in the Ballet” at 1 p.m. March 26 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

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, March 29-May 27, at the Stupak Community Center, 251 W. Boston Ave. Call 702-507-3530 to register.

Dual signing: Local authors Erica Kiefer and Sally Johnson are scheduled to sign their books at 1 p.m. April 2 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

Timber Hawkeye: A discussion with Timber Hawkeye, author of “Buddhist Boot Camp” and “Faithfully Religionless,” is scheduled from 5 to 6:30 p.m. April 2 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Reducing library fines: The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District plans a food for fines program April 1-30. 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.

Pen & Palette: The Corner Gallery inside The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., Suite 220, is set to host a weekend of art and literature April 2 and 3. The April 2 schedule includes Judy Shine Logan speaking at 10 a.m.; Eric James Miller at 11:30 a.m.; Stephen Murray at 1 p.m.; s h Montgomery at 2:30 p.m.; Tom Keller at 4 p.m.; and William Darrah Whitaker at 5:30 p.m. Speakers for April 3 are set to include Brian Rouff at 10 a.m.; Donald A. Ozello at 11:30 a.m.; Linda Stiles Fox at 1 p.m.; Lori Piotrowski at 2:30 p.m.; Paul Atreides at 4 p.m.; and JG Debs at 5:30 p.m. Visit tinyurl.com/penpaint.

Heather Winterer: Poet Heather Winterer is slated to speak as part of the Black Mountain Institute’s Alumni Reading Series at 7 p.m. April 7 in the Rogers Literature & Law building at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Visit blackmountaininstitute.org.

Poetry presentation: Andrew S. Nicholson, assistant professor-in-residence at UNLV and author of “A Lamp Brighter Than Foxfire,” is scheduled to speak from 7 to 8 p.m. April 9 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

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 21 is $499 for readers, $564 for authors, $475 for industry professionals, and $425 for booksellers and librarians. Day passes start at $124. Saturday-only passes for teens are $20. Visit rtconvention.com.

Fiction signings: Cecelia Ahern is set to discuss and sign copies of her book “Flawed,” and Rae Carson is slated to present the book “Walk on Earth a Stranger” at 7 p.m. April 13 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Italian evening: Karen Haid, author of “Calabria: The Other Italy,” a book based on four years living and traveling in the region, is slated to speak and sign books from 6 to 7 p.m. April 14 at the Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave. Visit lvccld.org.

Love and publishing: A panel of romance and young adult authors, including Dahlia Adler, Erica Cameron, Lucy Briand, Rachel Harris and Jennifer Allis Provost, is set to discuss the merits of publishing through small presses and traditional publishers from 2 to 4 p.m. April 17 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Visit lvccld.org.

Band tales: An event is slated for the book “NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories,” a tell-all punk band autobiography by NOFX with Jeff Alulis, at 5 p.m. April 18 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble. Wristbands are set to be distributed to book buyers starting at 9 a.m. Visit barnesandnoble.com.

Newbery medalist: Kate DiCamillo, author of the Newbery medal-winning “The Tale of Despereaux” and “Flora and Ulysses” and the Newbery Honor Book “Because of Winn-Dixie,” is scheduled to talk about her new book “Raymie Nightingale” at 6:30 p.m. April 26 at the Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St. Due to time restrictions, DiCamillo will only sign one copy of previous works.

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 the 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.

Writing workshop: Beat poet Michael McClure plans to present a writing workshop from 2 to 3:30 p.m. May 1 in the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, as part of the Poets of National Stature Reading Series initiated by Clark County Poet Laureate Bruce Isaacson. Visit lvccld.org.

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

Painting stories: Writers of Southern Nevada plans to present a mixed media showcase featuring local authors Vital Germaine and Geoff Schumacher reading, as artists Svetlana Miller and Andy Williams paint along, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. April 24 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Future Painted Stories events are slated for July 31 and Oct. 30. Visit lvccld.org.

Writing workshop: Beat poet Michael McClure plans to present a writing workshop from 2 to 3:30 p.m. May 1 in the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, as part of the Poets of National Stature Reading Series initiated by Clark County Poet Laureate Bruce Isaacson. Visit lvccld.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.

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 or vendor, visit vegasvalleybookfestival.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 March 18. 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.