Las Vegas book briefs for Feb. 4-10, 2016

Book Traces — Digital Humanities and the Future of the Library: Andrew Stauffer, associate English professor from the University of Virginia, plans to talk about the future of the reading experience during a free University Forum Lecture Series event scheduled from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 4 in the Marjorie Barrick Museum at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Visit unlv.edu.

A Norwegian & The Mob: Local author and director of content for the Mob Museum Geoff Schumacher is slated to speak at a Vegas Viking Lodge of Sons of Norway meeting scheduled from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at Christ Lutheran Church, 111 N. Torrey Pines Drive. Visit tinyurl.com/geoffchat.

Reading in the Dark: Lights are set to go off at 8 p.m. Feb. 5 at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St., as Iranian fiction writer and screenwriter Hossein Mortezaeian Abkenar reads from his work in the dark. Abkenar's award-winning works, such as "A Scorpion on the Steps of Andimeshk Railroad Station," are banned in Iran. His reading is slated to be followed by a question-and-answer session moderated by Joshua Shenk, executive director of the Black Mountain Institute. Latecomers will not be admitted once the lights are out. Reserve a free seat at thewritersblock.org/darkness.

Friday Pop-Up Poetry: The third season of Pop-Up Poetry is set to launch with Angela Brommel reading alongside a live painter from 7 to 8 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Nevada Humanities offices, 1017 S. First St., Suite 190. Brommel is the director of arts and culture initiatives at Nevada State College. She holds a master's degree in theater from the University of Northern Iowa and a master of fine arts in creative writing from Antioch University. Visit lasvegaspoets.org.

Voice for Ferguson: Devin S. James plans to discuss and sign his new book "Inside Ferguson: A Voice for the Voiceless" at 6 p.m. Feb. 5 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Henderson Barnes & Noble.

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. Visit jimblockey.tateauthor.com.

Boutique Signing: Local author Vicki-Ann Bush plans to sign copies of her book "The Garden of Two" from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 6 at the independent gift boutique Le Melange, 120 E. Horizon Drive, Suite D. The event is set to include the raffle of a gift basket. Visit vickiannbush.com.

Literary theory: UNLV English professors Anne Stevens and Evelyn Gajowski plan a conversation on literary theory from 7 to 8 p.m. Feb. 6 at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Kingpin: Ron Chepsiuk, author of "Black Caesar: The Rise and Disappearance of Frank Matthews, Kingpin," is slated to speak at 1 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave. The event is free with museum admission. Visit themobmuseum.org.

Be the One: Alex Schiller's book "Never Sleep Alone: How to Become The One Everyone Wants" is a spoof sexual guidebook. An author event for the book is slated for noon Feb. 6 at the 8915 W. Charleston Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Drawn From Life: Lenora McClellan plans to sign her book "The Day I Wore My Afro — In Color: Poems, quotes and reflections of acceptance, encouragement and maturing in the Lord" at 1 p.m. Feb. 6 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

Love at Human Experience: Local poet Lee Mallory plans to read passionate poetry backed up by upright bass player Mizz Absurd at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 at Hop Nuts Brewing Co., 1120 S. Main St. Jazz artist Philena Carter is also slated to perform. A Human Experience open mic is set to follow. Admission is free. Guests must be 21 or older.

Poetry Out Loud: High school students are set to perform memorized poetry in hopes of making it to the state level of the national national Poetry Out Loud recitation competition from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd. Visit lvccld.org.

Running Health: Donald A. Ozello, author of "Running: Maximize Performance & Minimize Injuries," is scheduled to lead a free spinal health class on bone health at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10 and on ergonomics at 6:30 p.m. March 9 at Championship Chiropractic, 8871 W. Flamingo Road. Ozello is also slated to make an appearance from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 3 at The Corner Gallery, Suite 220, inside The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd. Visit championshipchiropractic.com.

"A Gambler's Apprentice": College of Southern Nevada professor H. Lee Barnes plans to talk about his new novel from 7 to 8 p.m. Feb. 11 at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

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 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.

"What's Next?": Astrid Stromberg plans to read from and sign copies of her book "What's Next? Exploring the Journey of Souls in the Afterlife" at 1 p.m. Feb. 13 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

Finding Passion: Rachel Zangrillo-Galicinao plans to sign copies of her book "Passion in Love and Life" at 1 p.m. Feb. 14 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

Talking of Tolkien: Tolkien scholar John Garth, author of "Tolkien the Great War" and the fellow in humanistic studies at the Black Mountain Institute, is slated to read from his work and then talk about Tolkien with local author and Tolkien enthusiast Geoff Schumacher from 7 to 8 p.m. Feb. 16 at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Children's Publishing: Laurel Gale, author of the middle grade novel "Dead Boy," is scheduled to talk about children's publishing during a meeting of the Las Vegas Writers Group scheduled at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd. The meeting fee is $5. Visit meetup.com/Las-Vegas-Writers. For more on the author, visit laurelgale.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.

Desert Author Series: College of Southern Nevada professor Earnest N. Bracey, author of "Daniel 'Chappie' James: The First African American Four Star General" and "The Moulin Rouge and Black Rights in Las Vegas," is slated to speak from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave. Visit lvccld.org.

Conference in a Day: The Las Vegas Romance Writers plan a Conference in a Day featuring presenters Shirley Kennedy, Shannon Albright, Kay Phoenix and Angela Forister from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 20 in the community room at Findlay Chevrolet, 6800 S. Torrey Pines. The conference is $25 or $10 for Las Vegas Romance Writers members. Coffee, soft drinks and lunch are included. Visit lvrwa.org.

Love Story: Yetta Yvette plans to sign copies of her love story "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number" at 1 p.m. Feb. 20 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

Storyteller: Children are invited to celebrate African American Heritage month with Oba William King, the Poetic Storyteller, from 10 to 11 a.m. Feb. 23 at the West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd.; from 4 to 5 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Spring Valley Library, 4280 S. Jones Blvd.; and from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Whitney Library, 5175 E. Tropicana Ave. Visit lvccld.org.

Swing Queen: Norma Miller, author of "Swingin' at the Savoy: The Memoir of a Jazz Dancer," is scheduled to share stories of her days dancing the Lindy Hop in Harlem from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 29 at the West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd. Visit lvccld.org.

"Fire Touched": Patricia Briggs is slated to sign copies of her newest Mercy Thompson urban fantasy book at 3 p.m. March 13 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

"The Irish Scam": JD McNamee is set to sign books at noon March 12 and 13 at the 8915 W. Charleston Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

RT Booklovers Convention: Authors, bloggers, librarians and romance fiction fans are invited to connect with more than 200 workshops, parties and a giant book fair at the RT (Romantic Times) Booklovers Convention scheduled April 12-17 at the Rio, 3700 W. Flamingo Road. Full registration through March 1 is $449 for readers, $489 for authors, $425 for industry professionals, and $375 for booksellers and librarians. Day passes start at $99. Saturday-only passes for teens are $20. Visit rtconvention.com.

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. 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 Feb. 26. 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.