Las Vegas book briefs for Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2015

Writing and art competition: Henderson Libraries are sponsoring a creative writing and cover art contest for Clark County writers and artists 18 or older. The contest deadline is Nov. 30. Visit mypubliclibrary.com.

Writing Workshops: Science-fiction author Maxwell Alexander Drake plans to host free writing workshops for adults from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 6 and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive. Visit lvccld.org.

Writing space: The Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive, plans to open its conference room from 10 a.m. to noon every day in November for writers looking for space to complete National Novel Writing Month projects. Visit lvccld.org or call 702-507-3866.

Cocktail Fiction: Scott Deitche, author of "Cocktail Noir: From Gangsters and Gin Joints to Gumshoes and Gimlets," is set to read and sign books from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org. Deitche is also set to sign books from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 4 in the retail store at the Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave. There is no admission charge to access the store. Visit themobmuseum.org.

Reno author visit: Patricia D. Cafferata has served in the Nevada Assembly, as Nevada State treasurer and as a district attorney in Lincoln, Lander and Esmerelda counties. She plans to read from and sign copies of her story collection "Christmas in Nevada" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

"The Dream Puppy": Carla Masterson, author of "What's On the Other Side of the Rainbow," is set to talk about and sign copies of her second children's book, "The Dream Puppy," at 2 p.m. Dec. 5 at the West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd. Visit harmonysoup.com.

"Their Fractured Light": Authors Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner are set to speak and sign copies of their book "Their Fractured Light" at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Amazing Wyked Writers: Gini Koch, Alan Black, Sharon Skinner and T.L. Smith are slated to sign books in an event organized by Amazing Wyked Writers at 2 p.m. Dec. 5 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

Exploring the Andes: Kim MacQuarrie, a four-time Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker and anthropologist, plans to read from and sign copies of his book "Life and Death in the Andes: On the Trail of Bandits, Heroes, and Revolutionaries" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org. MacQuarrie is the author of four books on Peru and lived in the country for five years. Visit thewritersblock.org or kimmacquarrie.com.

Spinal Health: Chiropractor Donald Ozello, author of "Running: Maximize Performance & Minimize Injuries," plans free monthly classes followed by book signings in the first-floor conference room at Championship Chiropractic, 8871 W. Flamingo Road. Spinal Health: Spine Strengthening Exercises is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9. Attendees will get a $5 discount on Ozello's book.

Holiday Mixer: Writers of Southern Nevada and the Las Vegas Writers Group plan to host a holiday member mixer from 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 8 at Bahama Breeze, 375 Hughes Center Drive. Admission is free for Writers of Southern Nevada members and $10 for guests. Visit nevadawriters.org.

Mob Museum event: Author Bernie Sindler is scheduled to sign copies of his book "The Bernie Sindler Story: My Life with Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, and the Mob" from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 11 in the retail store at the Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave. There is no admission charge to access the store. Visit themobmuseum.org.

Slam Poets: Andrew Clark Hall is set to present a free workshop on slam poetry at noon Dec. 12 at the Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Drive. The workshop is set to be followed by a free open poetry reading at 2 p.m.

"The Turnip": Jan Brett is set to present her children's picture book "The Turnip" at 5 p.m. Dec. 12 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

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. 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. 6. 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.

Fiction writing series: The Creative Writing @ Your Library: Fiction Writing series facilitated by Henderson Writer's Group presidentGregory A. Kompes is scheduled from 10 to 11:30 a.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month 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.

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.