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Las Vegas book briefs for May 12-18, 2016

Creative book launch: A scheduled book launch for “Creative Courage With Alex Raffi,” written by Imagine Communications partner and creative director Alex Raffi, is being postponed. Watch yourcreativecourage.com for a new launch date.

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.

Dating by the Book: Singles 30 to 45 are invited to try literary speed dating with their favorite book as wingman at 4 p.m. May 14 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. Register at hendersonlibraries.com.

Corner Gallery signings: Local authors are set to speak and sign from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. May 15 in the Corner Gallery in The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., No. 220. Participating authors are slated to include JG Debs, Eric James Miller, s.h. Montgomery, Stephen Murray, Brian Rouff and Darrah Whitaker. Each is scheduled to read for 10 minutes followed by a signing from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Visit lasvegascornergallery.com.

Las Vegas Writers Group: Morgan St. James is scheduled to discuss pumping up an author’s personality to appeal to readers during a meeting of the Las Vegas Writers Group at 7 p.m. May 19 at the Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd. The meeting fee is $5. Visit meetup.com/Las-Vegas-Writers.

Vegas Diaries: Author, model, TV personality and former Playboy Bunny Holly Madison is set to sign copies of her book “The Vegas Diaries: Romance, Rolling the Dice, and the Road to Reinvention” at 7 p.m. May 20 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Romance workshop: Laurie Schnebly Campbell is scheduled to speak during a workshop planned by the Las Vegas Romance Writers from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 21 in the community room at Findlay Chevrolet, 6800 S. Torrey Pines Drive. The workshop is $20 for Las Vegas Romance Writers members and $35 for nonmembers. Topics to be explored include character psychology, hero flaws and motivation. Visit 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.

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.

Mini Con: Henderson Libraries plans a Mini Con with family-friendly comic book themed activities, panel discussions, an artist alley and vendors from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 28 in the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. A character cosplay contest is planned from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. as is a workshop on drones at 2:30 p.m. A live recording of the local podcast Geek Shock is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Visit hendersonlibraries.com/mini-con.

Virginia City signing: Nicholas Clapp plans to discuss Virginia City’s turbulent bonanza years and sign copies of his book “Virginia City: To Dance with the Devil” from 2 to 4 p.m. May 28 at the Nevada State Museum at the Springs Preserve, 309 S. Valley View Blvd. The program is free with paid admission. Visit museums.nevadaculture.org/nsmlv-home.

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.

Lecture and signing: Local author Thomas B. Holmes is set to lecture and sign books from 1 to 3 p.m. May 28 at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd. Visit lvccld.org.

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.

Romance writers: Lynn Crain is scheduled to speak during a Las Vegas Romance Writers meeting at 10 a.m. June 18 in the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. Visit lvrwa.org.

“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’ 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 signing: 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 from their works 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.

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