Las Vegas book briefs for Dec. 17-23, 2015

Laura McBride & Walter Kirn: A reading and signing featuring "We Are Called to Rise" author Laura McBride and "Up in the Air" author Walter Kirn is scheduled from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St. McBride teaches at the College of Southern Nevada, and Kirn is a Bennett Fellow at the Black Mountain Institute at UNLV. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Wolfsayer signing: Hannah R. Smith plans to sign copies of her Wolfsayer trilogy from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 19 at BooksorBooks, 3460 E. Sunset Road, Suite R. Visit hannahr-smithauthor.com.

Holiday Book Drive: City National Bank and Barnes & Noble plan to team up for a multi-state holiday book drive. Shoppers can drop donated books off at Barnes & Noble or any City National Bank location through Jan. 1 or make cash donations at readingisthewayup.org. The bank plans to match book donations up to $100,000 and distribute books to area schools early next year. Visit readingisthewayup.org.

Winter Reading Program: The North Las Vegas Library District plans to host Buddy Bookworm's second annual Winter Reading Program with activities and reading promotions planned through Jan. 7. Visit nlvld.org.

Hollywood Memoir: Actress Illeana Douglas plans to discuss her memoir "I Blame Dennis Hopper: And Other Stories From a Life Lived In and Out of the Movies" at 2 p.m. Jan. 3 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Writer's Retreat: The writer's retreat series with instruction on fiction, nonfiction, traditional and digital publishing offered by local writers Laurel Gale, Morgan St. James and Gregory Kompes is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 9 and 23, Feb. 13 and 27 and March 12 at Lake Las Vegas. Workshops are free but limited to 25 attendees, and registration is required. Visit mypubliclibrary.com.

Mob Month: The Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, is set to host authors and experts on the mob at 7 p.m. Tuesdays in January. For a full schedule, visit lvccld.org.

Literary Launch: An event celebrating the launch of Helen: A Literary Magazine's animal issue is set for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8 at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St. The evening is slated to be co-hosted by Heather Lang, co-editor of Petite Hound Press. Artwork from the issue is set to be featured, and appearances by contributors Chelsea Sedoti, Sarah Vernetti, Judy Salz, Kim Idol, Jamison Crabtree, Joan Robinson and Megan Duffy are expected. Visit thewritersblock.org or helenpresents.com.

Career Workshop: Local author PJ Sheldon plans to lead a workshop in resumes and cover letters from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 9 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 Green Valley Parkway. Visit mypubliclibrary.org.

Publishing contracts: Las Vegas intellectual property attorney Kim Cooper is set to talk about trademark and copyright issues during a meeting of the Las Vegas Romance Writers at 10 a.m. Jan. 16 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. Visit lvrwa.org.

Paleo Cookbook: Sarah Ballantyne is set to sign "The Healing Kitchen: 175+ Quick & Easy Paleo Recipes to Help You Thrive" at 2 p.m. Jan. 17 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Painted Stories: Writers of Southern Nevada is slated to host an evening of live painting inspired by author readings from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Visit nevadawriters.org.

Little Rascals Reading: Julia Lee, assistant professor of English at UNLV, plans to read from and sign copies of her book "Our Gang: A Racial History of the Little Rascals" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 22 at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

"Southern Paiute: A Portrait": Author Logan Hebner and photographer Michael Plyler plan to talk about their book "Southern Paiute: A Portrait" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Jim Blockey: The local author is set to sign copies of his book "Public Schools — The Worst Case of Child Abuse in American History" from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 6 at BooksorBooks, 3460 E. Sunset Road, Suite R. For more on the book, visit jimblockey.tateauthor.com.

Bechtel Book: Investigative reporter Sally Denton plans to read from and sign her book "The Profiteers: Bechtel and the Men Who Built the World" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at The Writer's Block,1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Ongoing events

5/5+ Poetry: 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. Dec. 20. Call 702-754-5971, email jtjmarco@live.com, raisewomenup@gmail.com or leewmallory3@gmail.com or search for 5/5+ on Facebook.

Neon Lit: Neon Lit, a public reading featuring writers from UNLV's Master of Fine Arts and Ph.D. writing programs, is scheduled at 6 p.m. the fourth Friday of most months at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St., No. 100. The next gathering is set for Jan. 29. Visit neonlit.org.

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.

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.

Science fiction and fantasy writing group: 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.

Barnes & Noble 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: 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: 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.