Las Vegas Book Briefs for Aug. 13-19, 2015

Amish Brides of Pinecraft author to visit

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Shelley Shepard Gray is slated to discuss the art of writing and her popular Amish Brides of Pinecraft series at 7 p.m. Aug. 14 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Visit lvccld.org.

Event slated for 'Beautiful Liar'

Ni'cola Mitchell is scheduled to sign copies of her book "Beautiful Liar" at 6 p.m. Aug. 14 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Romance writers to welcome Shelley Shepard Gray

A meeting of the Las Vegas Romance Writers is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 15 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. The event is set to feature a presentation on the business of being an author by best-selling romance author Shelley Shepard Gray. Visit lvrwa.org.

Clark County poet laureate to host workshops

Clark County's new poet laureate, Bruce Isaacson, plans to conduct a series of free workshops on the subject of beatnik poetics at 2 p.m. Aug. 15 and Sept. 12 at the Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 McLeod Drive. Registration is required by emailing poetlaureateclarkcounty@cox.net. Isaacson studied under Allen Ginsberg and knew other beat poets, such as Gregory Corso and Diane di Prima. The first workshop is set to focus on precursors, starting with the Bible, French poets, Walt Whitman and others. Isaacson also plans to lead a series of open readings at the center at 6:30 p.m. Fridays, except for the third Friday. Visit clarkcountynv.gov.

BooksorBooks to host Alzheimer's benefit

BooksorBooks, 3460 E. Sunset Road, Suite R, is slated to host a fundraiser benefit for the Alzheimer's Association of Desert Southwest chapter from 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 15. Authors to be featured include Roger DeBlanck, Mardana Hunter, s.h. Montgomery, Stephen Murray, Nancy Nelson and Matt Nighswonger. A portion of local author sales will be donated to the local Alzheimer's Association chapter, and a national early stage Alzheimer's Association advocate is set to be available to answer questions. Visit facebook.com/booksorbooks.

Comic book author Russell Lissau to visit

Comic book writer Russell Lissau is set to talk about an industry he's been involved with for 10 years at 11 a.m. Aug. 15 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Visit lvccld.org.

Library to host edible book contest

An edible book competition with readers creating entries based on literary titles' characters is scheduled throughout the day Aug. 15 at the Gibson Library, 100 W. Lake Mead Parkway. Entry forms are due Aug. 13. Visit mypubliclibrary.com.

Ruvo Center to host lunch featuring authors

Authors Nancy Nelson and Patricia Stone are set to speak about their experiences with Alzheimer's disease during a Lunch & Learn education series session scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, 888 W. Bonneville Ave. Bring your own lunch. Dessert and drinks are to be provided. Visit keepmemoryalive.org.

The Writer's Block to showcase local authors

The downtown bookstore The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St., No. 100, plans to showcase a monthly selection of books from local authors followed by a last Saturday of the month book signing. This month's authors include Michael D. Mercurio, John Destino, Mathias B. Freese, Chris D'Errico and G. Gordon Davis signing from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 29. Visit thewritersblock.org.

The Writer's Block plans literary trivia night

A literary trivia night is scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 13 at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St., No. 100. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Signing set for 'Angelina's Secret'

Diane Merrill Wigginton is set to sign her book "Angelina's Secret" at 1 p.m. Aug. 15 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

Writing Adventures summer camp planned

Writing Adventures of Nevada plans a Summer Spectacular camp Aug. 17-21 at 3227 E. Warm Springs Road. Visit writingadventuresusa.com or call 702-378-7089.

John Hill to speak to writers group

Local author and screenwriter John Hill is scheduled to speak about how to write short stories during a meeting of the Las Vegas Writers Group scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd. A $5 meeting fee is charged. Visit meetup.com/las-vegas-writers.

Summer reading programs finish up

Library summer reading program finale events are planned throughout the valley. For details on Las Vegas-Clark County Library District locations, visit lvccld.org. For Henderson Libraries, visit mypubliclibrary.com. For North Las Vegas, visit nlvld.org.

South Point spa to host signing

Arizona author Mark Parker is slated to sign his book "Integrity" throughout the day Aug. 14 in the spa at the South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

Signing set for 'Whispering Winds Remember'

Arizona author Donald L. Ensenbach is set to sign copies of his book "Whispering Winds Remember" from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Visitors Center, 1000 Scenic Loop Drive.

'Breathing Water' book signing slated

S.R. Atkinson plans to sign copies of "Breathing Water," the first book in a planned siren anthology, at 1 p.m. Aug. 23 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Crystal Bookmark Award nominations requested

The public is invited to submit nominations for the 2015 Vegas Valley Book Festival Crystal Bookmark Awards through 5 p.m. Sept. 24. The annual awards honor a Southern Nevada individual and an organization for advancing the cause of literature in the Las Vegas Valley. Nominations can be submitted at vegasvalleybookfestival.org/crystal-bookmark-nomination-form, or forms may be requested by phone at 702-229-5902.

Poetry to be featured at 5/5+

Poets are invited to share original work for five minutes followed by attendees offering comments for five minutes during 5/5+, a workshop series put on by Nick Marco, Lana Hanson and Lee Mallory, scheduled every two weeks at BooksorBooks, 3460 E. Sunset Road, Suite R. The next session is planned from 3 to 5 p.m. Aug. 16. Call 702-754-5971, email jtjmarco@live.com, raisewomenup@gmail.com or leewmallory3@gmail.com or search for 5/5+ on Facebook.

Maxwell Alexander Drake offers free writing workshop

Local author Maxwell Alexander Drake plans to conduct a free writing workshop from 3 to 5 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive. Visit lvccld.org or call 702-507-6107.

Matthew B. Freese to speak at library

Author Matthew B. Freese is set to speak as part of the Poets, Authors or Persons of Interest series at 9 a.m. Aug. 25 at the Heritage Park Library, 300 S. Racetrack Road. Visit mypubliclibrary.com.

Signing set for 'Porn Again'

Josh Sabarra is scheduled to sign "Porn Again," his memoir on life in the Hollywood fast lane, at 7 p.m. Aug. 26 at the 2129 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Library to host writing coach workshops

Writing coach Liz Ozi is set to work with writers in free workshops from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays through Sept. 12 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. Visit mypubliclibrary.com.

Share poems at Human Experience

Polish up a poem or two and try them out at Human Experience, a free spoken word event scheduled from 7 to 11:30 p.m. Mondays at The Center, 401 S. Maryland Parkway. Participants 18 or older are welcome. Visit facebook.com/humanexperiencelasvegas.

'Still Life Las Vegas' author to visit

James Sie is set to sign copies of his novel "Still Life Las Vegas" at 3 p.m. Aug. 22 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

Henderson Writer's Group president to lead series

The Creative Writing @ Your Library: Fiction Writing series facilitated by Henderson Writer's Group president Gregory A. Kompes is scheduled from 10 to 11:30 a.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month Sept. 1 through Dec. 15 at the Gibson Library, 100 W. Lake Mead Parkway. Topics to be discussed include settings, characters, dialogue and editing. Visit mypubliclibrary.com.

Aliante Library to offer 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.

Arts Center to host 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.

Author to speak about self-defense

"Bright Lights, Dark Places" author Debra Gauthier is set to speak about self protection and awareness for women from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. Visit mypubliclibrary.com.

Science fiction and fantasy writing group underway

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.

UNLV writers welcome all to Neon Lit

Neon Lit, a public reading featuring writers from UNLV's Master of Fine Arts and Ph.D. writing programs, is scheduled the fourth Friday of most months at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St., No. 100. Visit neonlit.org.

Barnes & Noble to host 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 meetings set

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 slated

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.

Vegas Valley Book Festival speakers announced

Brad Meltzer and Colum McCann have been selected to be keynote speakers for this year's Vegas Valley Book Festival, Oct. 15-17.

Meltzer, author of "The Inner Circle," "The Book of Fate" and seven other best-selling thrillers, is set to open the festival Oct. 7 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road.

McCann is the author of two story collections and six novels, including the National Book Award-winning "Let the Great World Spin."

Other festival events are set to include vendor booths, panel discussions, readings and workshops for adults, teens and children. All events are free. Volunteers are needed. Visit vegasvalleybookfestival.org.

Free novel writing class offered at Green Valley

Author Sean Hoade plans a free novel writing class from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. Participation is free, but registration is required. Visit mypubliclibrary.com.