Las Vegas book briefs for May 26-June 1, 2016

Mini Con: Henderson Libraries plans a Mini Con with family-friendly comic book-themed activities, panel discussions, an artist alley and vendors from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 28 in the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. A character cosplay contest is planned from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., as is a workshop on drones at 2:30 p.m. A live recording of the local podcast “Geek Shock” is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Visit hendersonlibraries.com/mini-con.

Book launch party: Playboy model Lauren Jenifer Gates plans a book launch party for her photo collection “FOOTography” from 7 to 9 p.m. May 26 at the Luxe Bar in the Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road. RSVP at 702-367-0331.

Launch party: Sin City Writer’s Group president Toni K. Pacini plans to launch her Southern Gothic memoir “Alabama Blue” with a party from 4 to 8 p.m. May 28 at PT’s Gold, 6570 S. Buffalo Drive. The author is set to read excerpts throughout the event. RSVP to info@toni-k-pacini.com.

C-SPAN segments: American History TV and Book TV producers plan to air segments recorded in Las Vegas on BookTV (C-SPAN2, Cox Communications channel 193) and American History TV (C-SPAN 3, Cox Communications channel 194) June 4 and 5. Recorded May 9-12, the programs are set to feature interviews on the Black Mountain Institute’s asylum program, the book collection of Beverly Rogers, The Writer’s Block bookstore and more. Visit c-span.org.

Virginia City signing: Nicholas Clapp plans to discuss Virginia City’s turbulent bonanza years and sign copies of his book “Virginia City: To Dance with the Devil” from 2 to 4 p.m. May 28 at the Nevada State Museum at the Springs Preserve, 309 S. Valley View Blvd. The program is free with paid admission. Visit museums.nevadaculture.org/nsmlv-home.

Diane Merrill Wigginton: The author is slated to sign her books “Angelina’s Secret” and “Isabella’s Heart” at 1 p.m. May 28 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

Local Author Showcase: The monthly showcase is set to feature the fiction works of George A. McLendon, Fernando Torres, Mathew William Nighswonger, Morgan St. James and s.h. Montgomery from 5 to 7 p.m. May 28 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Lecture and signing: Local author Thomas B. Holmes is set to lecture and sign books from 1 to 3 p.m. May 28 at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd. Visit lvccld.org.

“Primal Threat”: Joan Peck plans to sign copies of her book “Primal Threat” at 11 a.m. June 4 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Communication seminar: Jill Spiegel, local author of five books, including “How to Talk to Anyone About Anything,” plans to bring the messages she has shared on the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” the “Today” show and more to Las Vegas as she leads a communication seminar from 10 a.m. to noon June 11 at the College of Southern Nevada Charleston campus, 6375 W. Charleston Blvd. The course fee is $50. To register, visit csn.edu/workforce or call 702-651-4747. For more on the author, visit jillspiegel.com.

Las Vegas Writers Group: “Warlock Holmes: A Study in Brimstone” author Gabe Denning is scheduled to discuss how improv can be used to complement writing during a meeting of the Las Vegas Writers Group at 7 p.m. June 16 at the Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd. The meeting fee is $5. Visit meetup.com/Las-Vegas-Writers.

Romance writers: Lynn Crain is scheduled to speak during a meeting of the Las Vegas Romance Writers at 10 a.m. June 18 in the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. Visit lvrwa.org.

“Lily and the Octopus” signing: Screenwriter Steven Rowley is set to sign copies of his debut novel “Lily and the Octopus” at 2 p.m. June 25 in the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

“Broadcast Hysteria” discussion: Michigan writer A. Brad Schwartz plans to discuss his book “Broadcast Hysteria: Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds and the Art of Fake News” from 7 to 8 p.m. July 14 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Megan Volpert signing: A reading and signing with Megan Volpert, author of “1976,” is scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. July 15 at The Writer’s Block, 1020 Fremont St. Visit thewritersblock.org.

Leviosa Con: A convention dedicated to the Harry Potter universe is scheduled July 7-10 at Green Valley Ranch, 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway. While J.K. Rowling won’t be in the house at the unofficial fan festival, other authors slated to participate include Victoria Aveyard, Alexandra Bracken, Susan Dennard and Sarah J. Maas. Admission starts at $200. Visit leviosa.org.

Painted Stories: Writers of Southern Nevada plans to present a mixed-media showcase featuring local authors reading from their works as artists paint from 2 to 3:30 p.m. July 31 and Oct. 30 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Visit clarkcountynv.gov or lvccld.org.

Vegas Valley Book Festival: This year’s book festival, an event that typically packs in 100 authors, workshops, panel discussions, readings and signings, is scheduled Oct. 15. School visits by author are planned on Oct. 14. To apply to be a participating author, volunteer or vendor, visit vegasvalleybookfestival.org.

ONGOING EVENTS

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.