Book Briefs for April 16-22
Black Mountain Institute
to host poet Amaranth Borsuk
Poet Amaranth Borsuk is slated to speak as part of the Black Mountain Institute’s Emerging Writers Series at 7 p.m. today in the Greenspun Hall Auditorium at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Visit blackmountaininstitute.org or call 702-895-5542 for details.
Las Vegas Writers Conference
to include free public reception
The Las Vegas Writers Conference is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday at Sam’s Town, 5111 Boulder Highway. Registration is $475 in advance or $500 at the door. One-day registration for $300 is also offered. For more information, visit lasvegaswritersconference.com.
A free public reception sponsored by Stephens Press is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday .
Authors, agents and editors on the conference faculty are slated to include My Haley, Peter Joseph, Jeniffer Thompson, Jeff Kleinman, Margaret Bail, Sara Sciuto, Sara D’Emic, Rhonda Penders, Michelle Johnson, Johanna Melaragno, John Vorhaus, Randall Platt, Jo Wilkins, Claudia Suzanne, Rachel Ekstrom, Paul Sinor, David Zuckerman, Oksana Marafioti and Paula Stahel.
Grace Robbins to chat with Robin Leach
about Robbins’ tell-all memoir
Robin Leach is slated to interview author Grace Robbins about her new tell-all memoir, “Cinderella and the Carpetbagger: My Life as the Wife of the ‘World’s Best Selling Author,’ Harold Robbins,” at 2 p.m. Saturday at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble. For more on the book, visit cinderellaandthecarpetbagger.com.
Father of Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp
to sign rock business book
David Fishof, creator of the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp, is slated to sign copies of his book “Rock Your Business: What You and Your Company Can Learn From the Business of Rock and Roll” at 6 p.m. Thursday at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.
Las Vegas Writers plan program featuring Kurt Divich
Las Vegas writer Kurt Divich, author of the novel “Lords of Las Vegas” and the nonfiction book “The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, A Dream in the Desert,” is scheduled to speak on grabbing readers’ attention during a meeting of the Las Vegas Writers Group scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd.
A meeting fee of $5 is charged.
For more information, visit meetup.com/las-vegas-writers.
Romance writers to welcome Tom Keller
Tom Keller, local author of the urban fantasy “Return of the High Fae,” is scheduled to speak on self-publishing and marketing at 10:30 a.m. Saturday during a meeting of the Las Vegas Romance Writers in the Wengert conference room in the NV Energy building, 6226 W. Sahara Ave. The meeting is scheduled to begin with club business at 10 a.m. For more information, visit lasvegasrwa.org.
Book launch slated for Nevada
Women’s History Project book
The Southern Nevada Women’s History Project is slated to launch its new book “Steadfast Sisters of the Silver State: One Hundred Biographical Profiles of Nevada Women,” a tribute to the women who helped build Nevada, published by Stephens Press, with a book release party from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Mesquite Club, 702 E. St. Louis Ave. The project’s book “Skirts That Swept the Desert Floor” is also slated to be available at the free, public event. For more information, call 888-951-2665 or visit nevadawomeninhistory.com.
Local author to sign fantasy novel
Local author Chelsea Ramsey is slated to sign copies of her fantasy novel “Brink the Awakening” at 1 p.m. Saturday at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.
READ Local author Series
to feature Anna Mae Zuccari
Anna Mae Zuccari, author of the children’s book “The Land of Cukoa: The Adventure of the Missing Cuckoo” is scheduled to appear as part of the Henderson District Public Libraries READ Local Author Series, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. April 24 in the lobby of the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.com.
Storyteller plans free lecture
Storyteller Binnie Wilkin, author of “African and African American Images in Newbery Award Winning Titles: Progress in Portrays,” is scheduled to speak on code words in traditional spirituals during a free lecture at 7 p.m. April 24 at the Sun City MacDonald Ranch Community Center, 2020 W. Horizon Ridge Drive. The event, sponsored by the Henderson Gathering of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Las Vegas, is set to feature singing of classic spirituals and explanations of how they were more than slave songs, they were songs of freedom and escape. For more information, call 702-898-5732.
Kat Von D to sign books
Kat Von D is slated to sign copies of her book “Go Big or Go Home: Taking Risks in Life, Love and Tattooing: at 7 p.m. April 24 a the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble. Wristbands for a place in the signing line are to be given out beginning at 9 a.m.
StoryCorps trailer is in Las Vegas through April 27
StoryCorps, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to recording, sharing and preserving the stories of Americans from all backgrounds, is slated to record interviews in Las Vegas through April 27 as part of its cross-country MobileBooth tour.
StoryCorps’ MobileBooth, which is an Airstream trailer outfitted with a recording studio, is set to be parked at Centennial Plaza, 401 S. Fourth St, for four weeks. Reservations can be made by calling StoryCorps’ 24-hour, toll-free reservation line at 800-850-4406 or by visiting storycorps.org.
Panel discussion to include input from three Nevada governors
The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, the Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave., is slated to host a panel discussion with former Nevada Governors Bob List, Bob Miller and Sen. Richard Bryan at 6:30 p.m. April 25. Miller is expected to sign copies of and share stories from his new book “Son of a Gambling Man.” Tickets are $10 for members and $19.95 for non-members. Tickets include admission to a reception set to begin at 6 p.m. For more information, visit themombmuseum.org or call 702-229-2734.
Pandering team detective to speak, sign books
Metropolitan Police Department Pandering Investigative Team detective Chris Baughman plans to talk about and sign copies of his book “Off The Street: Redemption” at 1 p.m. April 27 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.
Library to host Children’s Day/Book Day
El Dia De Los Ninos/El Dia De Los Libros, Children’s Day/Book Day, an afternoon of plays, music, crafts and activities to encourage literacy in children of all languages and backgrounds, is scheduled from 2:30 to 5 p.m. April 27 at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. The schedule includes children’s crafts from 2:30 to 4:30, a performance by Ballet Folklórico Xyachimal’s child performers at 2:30 p.m., its junior performers at 3:30 p.m. and its master performers at 4:30 p.m. Puppet shows are scheduled at 3 and 4 p.m. For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.com or call 702-492-6581.
Anthem author to sign book on surviving ‘Obamageddon’
Anthem area author and Libertarian candidate for president Wayne Allyn Root is scheduled to sign copies of his book “The Ultimate Obama Survival Guide: How to Survive, Thrive, and Prosper During Obamageddon” at 7 p.m. April 27 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.
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.
Readers invited to Meet the Author event at Green Valley Library
Readers are invited to meet Margit Macchia, author of “Herzipinki: 7 Steps to Living a Life of Joy, Laughter and Happiness,” from 1 to 3 p.m. May 4 in the vestibule of the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. Visit mypubliclibrary.com for details.
Sun City MacDonald Ranch plans book events
The Sun City MacDonald Ranch Literary Guild plans to host a book event for “Rogue Town,” written by Dennis Griffin and Vito Colucci, at 2 p.m. May 5 at the Willows Community Center, 2020 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway. The event is free and open to the public, and the onsite Willows restaurant is slated to offer a 20 percent discount to attendees on the day of the event. Other upcoming authors scheduled to visit the guild include Governor Bob Miller, who is scheduled to talk about his book “The Son of a Gambling Man” at 7 p.m. May 17 in the center’s ballroom. Henderson bestselling romance author Robyn Carr is scheduled to meet with the group at 2 p.m. June 9.
Library district to host storytelling festival
The Clark County Library District is scheduled to host the Bristlecone Storytelling Festival, a series of performances featuring Clark County School District fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grader students. Events are scheduled from 5 to 6:30 p.m. May 13 and 14 at the Sunrise Library, 5400 Harris Ave.; May 14 and 15 at the Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane; May 20 and 21 at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd.; and May 22 and 23 at the Whitney Library, 5175 E. Tropicana Ave. For more information, visit lvccld.org.
Summerlin Library offers
Readers and writers workshop series
A readers and writers workshop series sponsored by poet, editor and writer Barbara Miller is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month at the Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive. For more information, call 702-507-3866.
Fierce Reads 2013 Summer Tour plans Las Vegas stop
Authors Leigh Bardugo, Jessica Brody, Anna Banks and Emmy Laybourne are scheduled to visit at 7 p.m. June 5 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble as part of the Fierce Reads 2013 Summer Tour.
For more information about the tour, visit macteenbooks.com.
Story time event set for tractor book
Ken Hinman is slated to participate in a story time and sign copies of his children’s book “Jimmy John the Tractor” at 11 a.m. Saturday at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.
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.
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.
