Book Briefs for Sept. 25-Oct. 1
Cheryl Strayed to participate in Book Festival preview event
Maile Chapman is scheduled to interview Cheryl Strayed, the New York Times bestselling author of "Wild," "Tiny Beautiful Things" and "Torch," during a Vegas Valley Book Festival preview event scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road.
Oprah Winfrey selected "Wild" as the first book for her Oprah's Book Club 2.0, and the memoir has been optioned for film by Reese Witherspoon's production company.
Chapman is the author of the novel "Your Presence Is Requested at Suvanto."
A book signing for both authors and a reception is scheduled to follow the interview. For more information, visit lvccld.org. For more on Strayed, visit cherylstrayed.com.
Crime writing conference slated
A free Crime Story 101 writers conference is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. For more information, visit lvccld.org.
Trio of authors plan group signing
"A Little Sumthin' Sumthin' " author Imani True, "When is Strong, Strong Enough?" author Souraya Christine and "Whispers of Words Spoken" author An Howard are scheduled to sign books at 1 p.m. Saturday at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.
Crystal Bookmark Award nomination deadline extended to Oct. 5
Planning is in high gear for the Vegas Valley Book Festival, which is expected to feature more than 100 authors participating in panel discussions, readings, book signings, workshops and exhibitions Nov. 1-3. The festival has extended the deadline for nominations for the Crystal Bookmark Award, an honor bestowed on a local individual and an organization for advancing the cause of literature in the Las Vegas Valley, to Oct. 5. Visit vegasvalleybookfestival.org to make a nomination.
Library to host Latino storyteller
Storyteller David Gonzalez is scheduled to share "Cuentos: Tales from the Latino World," a series of colorful stories from the Caribbean, South America, the Bronx and beyond, from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday in the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. For more information, visit lvccld.org.
Writers of Southern Nevada plan freelance writing conference
Making Cent$ of a Writing Career, a Writers of Southern Nevada freelance writing conference, is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Gold Coast, 4000 W. Flamingo Road.
Slated speakers include Steve Friess, Andrew Kiraly, Heidi Kyser, Becky A. Johnson, Steve Blust, Geoff Schumacher and Rick Lax. Topic discussions are to include marketing, avoiding common editing mistakes, reaching out to national markets and handling rejection.
Admission is $149. Continental breakfast is included, as is lunch with industry experts leading table discussions. For more information, visit nevadawriters.org.
Pumpkin patch readings scheduled
Kids of all ages are invited to Readings in the Pumpkin Patch, a Vegas Valley Book Festival preview event scheduled to feature kids' bookmaking projects, local children's authors, book signings and more from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 6 at Gilcrease Orchard, 7800 Tenaya Way. Admission is free for the first 300 cars and $3 per car for additional vehicles. For more information, visit vegasvalleybookfestival.org or call 229-5431.
Event slated for book about Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini
Mark Kriegel, author of "The Good Son: The Life of Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini," is scheduled to be joined by Mancini during a book signing scheduled at 7 p.m. Oct. 6 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble. Patrons must present a Barnes & Noble receipt for the book to enter the signing line. For more information, call 631-1775.
Literary censorship to be discussed at 'Uncensored Voices' event
In recognition of National Banned Books Week, Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Steve Sebelius is scheduled to moderate "Uncensored Voices: Celebrating Literary Freedom," a free event set to feature dramatic readings and discussion on literary censorship from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Participants are set to include Eva Galperin, Jeanne Price, Auggie Romero and Tony Diaz. For more information, visit vegasvalleybookfestival.org or call 507-3459.
Gingriches plan book appearance
Newt Gingrich is scheduled to sign copies of his book "A Nation Like No Other: Why American Exceptionalism Matters" alongside his wife, Callista, who is to sign copies of her children's book "Land of the Pilgrim's Pride: Ellis Discovers the 13 Colonies" at 7 p.m. Oct. 9 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble. For more information, call 631-1775.
Female policing pioneer to sign books
Debra Cauthier, author of "Bright Lights, Dark Places: Pioneering as a Female Police Officer in Las Vegas," is scheduled to sign books at 1 p.m. Oct. 13 at the 8915 W. Charleston Blvd. Barnes & Noble.
'Dinosaur vs...' author to visit
Bob Shea, author/illustrator of "Dinosaur vs. The Potty," "Dinosaur vs. Bedtime," "I'm a Shark" and more, is scheduled to celebrate the release of his new book "Dinosaur vs. Santa" with an appearance scheduled at 10 a.m. Oct. 12 at the Gibson Library, 100 W. Lake Mead Parkway in Henderson. For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.org or call 564-9287.
LOVE YOUR LIBRARY? TELL A FRIEND
September is Library Card Sign-Up Month, and the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District and CSI: The Experience at the MGM Grand have teamed up to present Love your Library? Tell a Friend! The sign-up campaign continues through Sunday .
Just sign up for a free library card during the month of September, or, if you already have a library card, "like" the library district on Facebook and be automatically entered for a chance to win a grand prize that includes a family pack of tickets to CSI: The Experience and CSI: The Experience official merchandise.
Existing library cardholders will receive a 50 percent discount off general admission to the CSI feature through Nov. 30 (cannot be combined with other offers or discounts). Simply show your Las Vegas-Clark County Library card at the box office at the MGM Grand to receive the discount.
Getting a free library card is easy. Just stop in at any library to fill out an application or visit lvccld.org.
Young writers invited to coffee house
Young writers 12 to 17 are invited to share poetry at a Coffee House event sponsored by the Teen Writing Club from 4 to 5 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. Visit mypubliclibrary.org to register.
Fablehaven series author plans visit
Brandon Mull, best known for the Fablehaven and the Beyonders books, is scheduled to speak during a free event from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Galleria Library inside the Gallery at Sunset mall, 1300 W. Sunset Road in Henderson. A reception and book signing is scheduled to follow. For more information, visit vegasvalleybookfestival.org or call 207-4275.
Events set for 'Sun, Sin & Suburbia'
Geoff Schumacher, a 23-year Las Vegas journalist who now serves as the publisher of the Ames Tribune and its sister publications in central Iowa, is headed back to Southern Nevada to promote a new revised and expanded edition of "Sun, Sin & Suburbia: The History of Modern Las Vegas."
A book launch featuring a discussion of Las Vegas' past, present and future is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Nevada State Museum, 309 S. Valley View Blvd., at the Springs Preserve. Admission to the program is free. Those who would like to attend are encouraged to RSVP by calling 822-8735. Schumacher also plans a book signing from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 14 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble. For more information, visit sunsinsuburbia.com.
Workshop to discuss novel publishing
A free workshop titled "How to Get Your Novel Published" directed by Erin Lale, an acquisitions editor from Damnation Books, is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 20 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. Participants are asked to bring the first page of their novel. Visit mypubliclibrary.org to register.
Inspirational poetry event slated
Shellykay Saunders is scheduled to read and sign copies of her inspirational poetry from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. The reading is to be accompanied by acoustic guitar performed by Keith Saunders. For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.org.
BMI fall season schedule to include poetry reading and more
The Black Mountain Institute plans several free presentations including James Longenbach reading poetry at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Flamingo, 3555 Las Vegas Blvd. South; Jennifer Egan, in cooperation with the Vegas Valley Book Festival, at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St.; Wole Soyinka at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 in the student union, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway; A Nevada Emerging Writers Series featuring Leslie Jamison at 7 p.m. Feb. 19 in the Greenspun Hall auditorium, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway; Mustapha Marrouchi at 7 p.m. March 6 in the 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 student union.
For more information, visit black mountaininstitute.org.
Henderson Writers Group meets Mondays
The Henderson Writers Group meets from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. Mondays at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at 4550 S. Maryland Parkway on the second and fourth Mondays and at Saxbys Coffee Lounge, 72 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway in Henderson, on the first, third and occasional fifth Mondays. Meetings are typically canceled on holidays.
Visit hendersonwritersgroup.com for more information. Meetings are open to the public.
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 www.meetup.com/las-vegas-creative-writing-class.
Las Vegas Romance writers to welcome Amber Scott
Amber Scott, author of "Soul Search" and "Love Soul Deep" plans to direct a discussion titled "Your Brain on Writing" at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 20 during a Las Vegas Romance Writers meeting set to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Wengert Conference Room at the NV Energy Building, 6226 W. Sahara Ave. Visit lasvegasrwa.org for details. For more on the author, visit amberscottbooks.com.
Patricia Falanga to be featured
The READ Local Author Series is scheduled to feature Patricia Falanga, author of the novel "American Music," from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. The fourth Monday of each month the series features local authors meeting with readers in the library's lobby. For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.org or call 492-6580.
Mob museum hosting Inside Stories series
The National Museum of Organized Crime & Law Enforcement, The Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave., is scheduled to continue its Inside Stories fall speaker series with a talk by security expert Mark Galeotti, from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 17. Tickets are $35.
The series is also set to feature crime-fighting lawyer G. Robert Blakey at 6 p.m. Nov. 13. Presentations include a cocktail reception and hors d'oeuvres. Visit themobmuseum.org for details.
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."
S.P. Grogan's 'bin Laden's Revenge' is now available in its entirety
Local author S.P. Grogan's "bin Laden's Revenge," first released as a serial e-book, is now available in its completed form. The book tracks a bounty hunter reality show on its quest to capture Osama bin Laden. When the U.S. Navy beats them to it, the TV stars uncover an al-Qaeda plot against the United States. For more on the book, visit spgrogan.com.
Teen Writing Club plans meetings
A Teen Writing Club for writers ages 12 to 17 meets from 4 to 5 p.m. the third Tuesday of most months at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. Twice a year the club hosts a Coffee House open mic event. For more information, call 207-4260.
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 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.
