Book Briefs

Cooperative Extension offers memoir writing classes for seniors

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension's Life Stories Nevada program plans free four-week memoir writing classes for seniors starting in January.

Instructors help would-be memoirists sort through their memories and organize how they want to tell their story. Sessions are slated for:

n 10:30 a.m. to noon Fridays Jan. 4-25 at Merrill Gardens at Green Valley Ranch, 1935 Paseo Verde Parkway;

n 10 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays Feb. 1-22 at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Paradise campus, 851 E. Tropicana Ave.;

n 10:30 a.m. to noon Fridays March 8-29 at the Las Vegas FamilySearch Library, 509 S. Ninth St.;

n 10 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays April 8-29 at Temple Beth Sholom, 10700 Havenwood Lane;

n 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays May 2-23 at the East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave.

For more information, visit lifestoriesnevada.org. To register, contact Jean Norman at 702-940-5423 or norman@unce.unr.edu.

BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY TO HOST AUTHOR DAVID CUNNINGHAM JAN. 6

Brandeis University's University on Wheels program plans to host author David Cunningham at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 6 at the Siena Golf Club Bistro, 10575 Siena Monte Ave.

Cunningham is the author of "Klansville, U.S.A.: The Rise and Fall of the Civil Rights-Era Ku Klux Klan" and plans to give a presentation titled "Truth, Justice, and the Ku Klux Klan."

A sandwich buffet is planned. The cost is $40. Reservations are required by Sunday by sending a check made out to BNC to Marilyn Shocket, 8837 Cortile Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89134.

New 'Eating Las Vegas' book is out

Readers won't have to wait for the new year to get a copy of the 2013 edition of "Eating Las Vegas: The 50 Essential Restaurants" by local food critics John Curtas, Max Jacobson and Al Mancini. For more on the book, which includes information on close to 200 area eateries including (for the first time) buffets, visit shoplva.com or eatinglv.com.

Urbanologist to speak on travel writing, city planning

Max Grinnell, urbanologist, traveler and writer for The Rough Guide and Frommer's travel guides, is scheduled to speak on making travel writing meaningful at 11 a.m. Jan. 12 at the Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane, and at 2 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Rainbow Library, 3150 N. Buffalo Drive. He is set to speak on the future of cities in the 21st century, highlighting challenges and opportunities at 2 p.m. Jan. 12 at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd. He plans to deliver an abbreviated history of travel writing in the United States at 11 a.m. Jan. 13 at the Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive. All presentations are free. For more on Grinnell, visit theurbanologist.com. For more library programs, visit lvccld.org.

Children's Book Writers and Illustrators plan one-day workshop

The Nevada Region of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators plans The Write Resolution workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Las Vegas Day School, 3275 Red Rock St. Faculty members scheduled to participate include novelists Ellen Hopkins, Suzanne Morgan Williams, Susan Hart Lindquist, Terri Farley and agent Keren Grencik. Registration for society members is $100 before Jan. 20 or $125 at the door. Nonmembers pay $125 or $135. Manuscript and portfolio reviews are available for an additional $40.

For more information, visit nevadascbwi.org.

Library plans Mob Month activities

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District plans a series of free events related to the Mob at 7 p.m. Tuesdays in January at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. All events are intended for mature audiences. Entry wristbands will be given out starting at 6 p.m. For more information, visit call 507-3458.

The schedule includes:

n When the Mob Ran Vegas, Jan. 8, panelists will discuss life in Las Vegas during the Mob's heyday. Guests include americanmafia.com columnist and former Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Miller and authors Cathy Scott and Wendy Mazaros.

n The IRS vs. the Chicago Outfit, Jan. 15, Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist John L. Smith is set to moderate as former Chicago Mob associates Frank Cullotta and Tony Montana and author Dennis Griffin chat with current and retired agents from the IRS criminal investigation division about what really happened and how Hollywood got it wrong.

n Remembering Henry Hill, Jan. 22, ex-mobster turned author and film producer Sal Polisi will reminisce with guests about Henry Hill, whose life was portrayed in the movie "Goodfellas." Included is a screening of an interview Polisi conducted with Hill days before his death.

n When the Law Kicked the Mob Out of Vegas, Jan. 29, former Clark County Sheriff Ralph Lamb, whose experiences are portrayed in the new CBS series "Vegas" and guests will share stories of memorable encounters with the Hells Angels, Chicago gangster Johnny Rosselli and his involvement as technical adviser on the TV show.

LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP HAS PERKS

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District and "The Chuck Jones Experience" at Circus Circus have teamed up to present Love your Library? Tell a Friend!, a library card sign-up campaign through Monday . Sign up for a free library card during December, or if you already have a library card, like the library district on Facebook and be automatically entered to earn a chance to win a framed Chuck Jones animation cel from "The Chuck Jones Experience."

Existing library card holders will receive a 50 percent discount off general admission through March 15 (cannot be combined with other offers or discounts). Show your library card at the box office at "The Chuck Jones Experience" at Circus Circus to receive the discount.

The interactive attraction "The Chuck Jones Experience" is designed to educate, inspire and entertain. Learn about the life of Jones and the famous characters he created, such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, the Tasmanian Devil, Yosemite Sam and others. To get a free library card, stop by any library district branch to fill out an application or apply online at lvccld.org.

The Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, is signing up local published authors for the fifth annual Spring Fling Book Fair, scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 6. Authors who have books to sell can sign up for signing table sessions from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1:30 to 3 p.m. Space is limited. The main theater is expected to feature a Hollywood authors panel, a concert and more.

For more information, contact library scheduling specialist Julie Okabayashi at okabayashij@lvccld.org.

Browse rare books in new app

Searching for rare books? Now there's an app for that. Bauman Rare Books, which has a shop in The Palazzo, 3325 Las Vegas Blvd. South, recently launched an app available on iTunes that allows readers to see new acquisitions, browse catalogs, view videos, make purchases and manage their personal accounts and share items via Twitter and Facebook. If you have $65,000 to spend on a first-edition "The Catcher in the Rye" signed by J.D. Salinger, the app has you covered. The catalog can also be perused at baumanrarebooks.com.

Vegas Lit to publish fiction with covers by local artists

Las Vegas-based publisher Huntington Press has launched the new fiction imprint Vegas Lit with plans to specialize in works with a Las Vegas or gambling tie-in.

The imprint's first title is "Risk of Ruin," a debut novel by Las Vegas writer Arnold Snyder, who serves as Vegas Lit's managing editor. Vegas Lit also recently released Michael Konik's satirical fantasy, "Becoming Bobby." David Kranes' thriller, "abracadabra," is slated for an early 2013 release.

Huntington Press is planning to feature original artwork commissioned from local artists on all Vegas Lit covers. Writers and artists can visit lasvegasadvisor.com for submission guidelines. Queries can be emailed to books@huntingtonpress.com.

Bank to help bookstore give gift of literacy during holidays

Barnes & Noble patrons can have their donation matched by City National Bank when they purchase a book for donation to local schools through Jan. 1 as part of the Gift of Literacy Holiday Book Drive.

'The Child Whisperer' author plans visit

Carole Tuttle, author of "The Child Whisperer," is scheduled to sign books at 1 p.m. Jan. 5 at the 8915 W. Charleston Barnes & Noble.

Learn to write irresistible queries

LeeAnne Krusemark, author of "101 Ways to Make $Money$ as a Freelance Writer," is scheduled to talk about writing irresistible query letters during a meeting of the Las Vegas Writers Group scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd. The meeting fee is $5. For more information, visit meetup.com/las-vegas-writers.

NObel laureate Wole Soyinka to speak at BMI event

The Black Mountain Institute plans a presentation by Wole Soyinka, winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize for Literature, at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 in the student union at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Additional Black Mountain programs scheduled include a Nevada Emerging Writers Series featuring Leslie Jamison at 7 p.m. Feb. 19 in the Greenspun Hall auditorium at UNLV; Mustapha Marrouchi at 7 p.m. March 6 in the UNLV student union; and a conversation with BMI Fellows Criselda Yabes and Oksana Marafioti, moderated by Richard Wiley, at 7 p.m. April 10 in the UNLV student union. For more information, visit black mountaininstitute.org.

Henderson Writers Group meetings set

The Henderson Writers Group meets 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 henderson writersgroup.com for more information.

Barnes & Noble to host writing group

The 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble hosts a writing critique group 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.

FREE STORYCORPS TOOLKIT HELPS COLLECT MEMORIES

The national StoryCorps' Memory Loss Initiative encourages people with memory loss to share their stories with loved ones and future generations. To make that task easier, a free step-by-step toolkit is available to download at storycorps.org/mli.

The Commemorate toolkit offers an individual reminiscence program that family members can initiate or memory loss care facilities can add to activities.

The initiative has collected more than 1,800 interviews with 180 partner organizations.

For more information, visit storycorps.org or call 646-723-7027.

ACCESS RECORDED BOOK PROGRAMS ONLINE

Too busy to get out to book programs? The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District has started posting videocasts and podcasts of many of its programs online. Selections available so far include: "An Afternoon with Tony Curtis," John L. Smith's presentation "Amelia's Long Journey: The Challenge of Writing What You Know," "Batman" movie producer Michael Uslan's presentation at the 2009 Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival, Jami Carpenter's "ABCs of Editing" workshop and Brian Rouff's "Getting Published: A Long Strange Trip." To access the programs, visit lvccld.org, select "Books, Movies & More" and then "Video and Podcasts."

The Black Mountain Institute has offered recordings of its programming since 2006. To access recordings of a gamut of writers from E.L. Doctorow to Alissa Nutting, visit blackmountain institute.org and select "multimedia."

FREE READ TO ME PROGRAM OFFERS STORIES ONLINE AND BY PHONE

Celebrity storytellers Oscar Goodman, Rita Rudner, Clint Holmes, Terry Fator, Carrot Top, The Scintas and others have donated their talents to the Clark County Education Association Community Foundation's Read To Me program. Children can view more than 15 videos of celebrities reading books on the website at readtomelv.com. Stories also can be accessed by calling 702-240-2665.

Both databases are frequently updated with fresh stories. Parents and teachers can download lesson plans for each book on the website.

SHARE POEMS AT HUMAN EXPERIENCE

Polish up a poem or two and try them out at Human Experience, a free spoken word event, from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays in The Beat Coffeehouse inside Emergency Arts, 520 Fremont St. For details, visit lasvegaspoets.org.

DOWNLOAD BOOKS and MORE FROM YOUR PUBLIC LIBRARY

Virtual Branch websites make it easy to browse, check out and download digital books and more to a home computer for free. All patrons need is a valid library card and an Internet-connected PC.

Virtual Branch download websites feature a digital catalog of downloadable audio books, e-books, music and video titles.

Each site is meant to look and feel like the library's main site, and it has many easy-to-use features similar to an online store.

Digital book downloads are borrowed just like print materials. Once patrons select the title or author they want, they follow the steps to check out and then download the title to their home computer.

Patrons can transfer most titles to portable media players, such as MP3 players, PDAs, Kindles or smart phones.

Each title that is downloaded has a designated lending period. When the title expires, it is automatically returned to the Virtual Branch, so there are no late fees.

For more information, visit search.overdrive.com.

ZINE LIBRARY OPEN IN EMERGENCY ARTS

Grab a cup of coffee and check out the independently crafted magazines at the Las Vegas Zine Library inside The Beat Coffeehouse in Emergency Arts, 520 Fremont St.

The library is more of a collection on display for reference and on-site reading than a checkout repository. Contributions of zines are appreciated. For more information, visit lvzinelibrary.blogspot.com.