Book Briefs, Jan .29-Feb. 4

Memoir-writing classes slated

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

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

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

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

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

---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.

Library plans Mob Month finale

The final Las Vegas-Clark County Library District mob month lecture is slated for 7 p.m. today at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Intended for mature audiences, this week's event is titled When the Law Kicked the Mob Out of Vegas. Former Clark County Sheriff Ralph Lamb, whose experiences are portrayed in the new CBS series "Vegas," and guests are slated to share stories of memorable encounters with the Hells Angels, Chicago gangster Johnny Rosselli and Lamb's involvement as technical adviser on the TV show. Seating is limited. Entry wristbands will be given out starting at 6 p.m. today. For more information, visit lvccld.org or call 702-507-3458.

Visiting professor to speak on native Hawaiians and native Americans

University of Minnesota associate professor David Chang, author of "The Color of the Land," is scheduled to deliver a lecture titled "Indigenous Encounters in the Pacific: Native Hawaiians, Native Americans and a Globalizing World" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the auditorium of the Marjorie Barrick Museum at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Visit unlv.edu/liberalarts for details.

Author to put on writers' conference

Author Bobbie Christensen is scheduled to offer a writers' conference from 1 to 6:45 p.m. Feb. 9 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Paradise campus, 851 E. Tropicana Ave. Three sessions are slated:

---Writing your first book (or seventh!), a 10-step writing method designed to complete a book in as little as two months is scheduled from 1 to 2:45 p.m.

---Publishing your book, learn the differences between traditional and self-publishing, and learn about copyrights, the Library of Congress and tax concerns from 3 to 4:45 p.m.

---Marketing your book, discover how to make a profit before the book is even printed as you learn how to set up local and national book signings, present seminars, and write press releases from 5 to 6:45 p.m.

The conference is $105 or $44 for a single session. To register, call 702-895-3394.

Centennial Hills Library to host YAllapalooza teen literature event

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District and Barnes & Noble plan to team up to present YAllapalooza, a day-long festival celebrating teen literature scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive.

Young adults will have the chance to meet attending authors such as Nancy Holder, Suzanne Young, Martha Brockenbrough, Lisa Schroeder, Kevin Emerson, Lindsey Leavitt, Cat Patrick, Sean Beaudoin, Tera Lynn Childs and Dan Haring. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

Panel discussions are scheduled, including a Buffy discussion with New York Times bestselling author Holder, who has written a number of popular books in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. Haring, who has worked on the films "Tangled" and "Hotel Transylvania," is set to present an animation workshop. Other plans include a teen writing group, craft programs and a fashion show featuring teens dressed as favorite book characters. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit lvccld.org or call 702-507-6114.

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. the second Saturday of every month at the Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive. February's topic is African American 20th Century writing. For more information, call 702-507-3866.

Romance writers plan mini conference

The Las Vegas Romance Writers plan to host a Mini Conference in a Day event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Downtown Project facility at 117 S. Seventh St. Instructors include Shannan Albright, Tami Cowden, Joyce Brennan, Rebecca Andrews, Diane Clough, Tera Lynn Childs and Siobhan Muir heading sessions on character building, plot development, manuscript preparation, editing, queries and more.

The cost is $20 for Las Vegas Romance Writers members and $35 for others. Payment must be made in advance.

For more information, visit lasvegasrwa.org.

Stephens Press to produce book for Nevada sesquicentennial

The Nevada 150 Sesquicentennial Planning Committee has selected Stephens Press to produce a book commemorating the state's sesquicentennial - 150 years of statehood - in 2014.

"While history will be a vital component, it will be just one element of this book's rich texture," the book's editor, Geoff Schumacher, said in a release. "From desolate dry lakes to bustling urban streetscapes, all aspects of Nevada will be explored, with the goal of accurately and perceptively depicting a state that's too often misunderstood."

Schumacher plans to assemble a team of editors, writers and photographers who will scour all corners of the state to tell its story. For more information, search for Stephens Press' page on Facebook.

Stephens Press is seeking a spectacular professional photograph for the cover. The image must be available in high-resolution and in a horizontal format. To be considered, photographers can send a low-resolution version to cuber@stephenspress.com.

'Bad Kitty' author plans Vegas visit

Nick Bruel, bestselling author of the humorous children's picture and chapter books about the cantankerous Bad Kitty, is scheduled to meet with readers at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

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.

Author to sign Christian inspiration books

Kenneth Zeigler is scheduled to sign copies of his Christian inspiration books "The Children of Eternity," "The War in Heaven" and "Heaven and Hell" at 6 p.m. Feb. 22 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Writer to sign book on China

Robert Stanelle "Lao Luo" is scheduled to sign copies of his book "China: In My Eyes," an account of his five-year journey through China, at 1 p.m. Feb. 23 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Visiting author to speak on the creative process

"The Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Seuss" author Kathleen Krull is scheduled to speak on enhancing the creative process from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Enterprise Library, 25 E. Shelbourne Ave. A book sale and signing for Krull is scheduled at 4 p.m. For more information, visit lvccld.org.

Mary Jo Buttafuoco to sign copies of her new memoir March 2

Mary Jo Buttafuoco is scheduled to sign copies of her memoir "Getting It Through My Thick Skull: Why I Stayed, What I Learned, and What Millions of People Involved with Sociopaths Need to Know" at 1 p.m. March 2 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Library district plans book fair

The Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, plans its fifth annual Spring Fling Book Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 6. Authors are scheduled for signing table sessions from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1:30 to 3 p.m. 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.

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.

Wall Street trader to sign books

Veteran Wall Street trader Andrew Hecht plans to sign copies of his book "How to Make Money with Commodities" at 3 p.m. Feb. 23 at the 8915 W. Charleston Blvd. 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.