Book briefs for Aug. 6-12, 2013

Mac King plans Magical Literacy Tour

Comedy magician Mac King plans to set out on a Magical Literacy Tour to collect books for students in at-risk schools. Patrons who donate three or more new or gently used books to the Clark County READS program will be rewarded with two tickets to see “The Mac King Comedy Magic Show” at Harrah’s Las Vegas, 3475 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

Books can be dropped off throughout August at all five of Grimaldi’s Pizzeria’s Las Vegas locations, where King has created the signature Mac King’s Magic Pizza, a pie decked out in anchovies and Kalamata olives. Grimaldi’s is also slated to give donors a $5 off coupon good on their next visit. For a list of Grimaldi’s locations, visit grimaldispizzeria.com.

A book drive is also scheduled during the Las Vegas 51s home game scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 24 at Cashman Field, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North. King is slated to be on site to collect donations and greet fans from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m.

For more information, visit mackingshow.com.

Books adapted to film on display

Visitors can view a collection of first-edition books that were adapted for movies through Aug. 31 at Bauman Rare Books in The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Highlights of the free exhibit include a first edition of “To Kill a Mockingbird” priced at $23,000, a signed first edition of “Carrie” for $4,000, galley proofs from “Terms of Endearment” valued at $4,200, a signed first printing of “Gone With the Wind” for $20,000 and a first edition of “Call of the Wild” inscribed by Jack London to his mother, priced at $125,000.

The exhibit is open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, visit baumanrarebooks.com.

Sun City Writers Workshop
welcomes public to seminar

The Sun City Summerlin Writers Workshop plans a free creative writing seminar from 9 to 11 a.m. Aug. 19 at the Sun Shadows Community Center, 8700 Del Webb Blvd.

The event is open to the public. Alyse Sweeney plans to present a program titled “Drop Down and Write.”

For more information, call 702-489-3305.

Library to host blowout book sale

The second annual Centennial Hills Library End-of-Summer Blowout Book Sale is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 9 and 10 at the 6711 N. Buffalo Drive library. Organizers expect to offer thousands of gently used hardcovers, paperbacks and children’s books. For more information, visit lvccld.org or call 702-507-6107.

Patrick Cristobal to sign new book

Local author Patrick Cristobal is slated to sign copies of his books “Momentaer” and “The Orbiter” at 1 p.m. Aug. 10 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Signings set for ‘Ripper: A Love Story’

Local authors Lance Taubold and Richard Devin are set to sign copies of their historic novel “Ripper: A Love Story” at 1 p.m. Aug. 10 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

The authors are also set to meet with readers from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 8 at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway, as part of the READ Local Author Series.

USA Today bestselling author Heather Graham is slated to join them at their author tables at both events.

Visit mypubliclibrary.org for more information.

Vegas Valley Book Festival announces headliners, seeks volunteers

The 2013 Vegas Valley Book Festival is slated for Oct. 30 through Nov. 2 at venues throughout Las Vegas. Festival headliners include Catherine Coulter, Luis Alberto Urrea and Walter Dean Myers.

For information on the festival schedule or to register as a potential festival volunteer, visit vegasvalleybookfestival.org.

Journalists to present
‘The Boston Mob Guide’

Beverly Ford and Stephanie Schorow are set to sign copies of their book “The Boston Mob Guide: Hit Men, Hoodlums and Hideouts” from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 16 at the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, the Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave. The veteran journalists plan a presentation with stories behind the book from 1 to 2 p.m. Aug. 17. The presentation is free with paid museum admission, which is $19.95 with discounts for children, seniors, Nevada residents, teachers and more. For more information, visit themobmuseum.org.

Eric J. Miller to speak
at Las Vegas Writers Group

Las Vegas writer Eric J. Miller, author of the soon-to-be released “For Rent: Dangerous Paradise” and the road trip comedy “The Metaphysics of Nudity,” is scheduled to deliver a presentation titled “Early Lessons of a Newbie e-Pubber” during a meeting of the Las Vegas Writers Group scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd. A meeting fee of $5 is charged. Visit meetup.com/las-vegas-writers for more information.

Romance writers to welcome speaker

Diane Clough is set to share tax tips for writers during a Las Vegas Romance Writers meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. Aug. 17 at the Downtown Project construction site, 117 S. Seventh St. For more information, visit lasvegasrwa.org.

Professor explores immigration reform through insect analogies

First-generation U.S. citizen Peter Okeleke Nzeogwu, who goes by Peter On, is scheduled to present his humorous take on immigration reform, “The House of Bug Representatives and Bug Immigration Reform,” during a meet the author event scheduled from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 17 in the lobby of the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. On, the MBA program director and a professor of economics at Roseman University of Health Sciences-Henderson, explores immigration reform using insect analogies.

For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.org.

Red Hot Romance Writers event slated

Meet 11 authors affiliated with Entangled Publishing during a free event titled Red Hot Romance Writers Galore! scheduled from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road . Scheduled to appear are: Gina L. Maxwell, Jade Lee, Tonya Burrows, Paula Altenburg, Misty Dietz, Chloe Jacobs, Inara Scott, Seleste DeLaney, Callie Hutton, Angela McCallister and Lisa Kessler. A book signing and reception are set to follow the presentation. For more information, visit lvccld.org.

Author series to feature Vicki-Ann Bush

Vicki-Ann Bush, author of “Winslow Willow the Woodland Fairy” and “The Queen of It,” is scheduled to participate in the Reader Meet the Author program at 1 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.org.

Memoir-writing workshops slated

An ongoing series of free four-week memoir-writing workshops is scheduled from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays at the Las Vegas FamilySearch Library, 509 S. Ninth St. The monthly series is slated to begin the first Friday of each month and continue weekly through the fourth Friday. For more information, call 702-382-9695.

ALIANTE LIBRARY TO HOST WRITERS CLUB

The Aliante Library Writers Club is scheduled to meet from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Aliante Library, 2400 W. Deer Springs Road. For more information, contact facilitator Glory Wade at glorywadewriter@gmail.com.

Comic Book Festival
to offer VIP package

Novelist and comic book writer Greg Rucka and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” artist Georges Jeanty are two of the many creators scheduled to participate in the annual Vegas Valley Comic Book Fest set for 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. The festival is free, but this year for $5 fans can upgrade by registering for a VIP package, which is to include a VIP badge, swag bag, preferred seating at panels, screenings and concerts and a limited-edition poster. For more information, visit vegasvalleycomicbookfestival.org.

Fiction Writing in the Digital Age conference offers early registration

Writers of Southern Nevada is slated to put on a Fiction Writing in the Digital Age conference Oct. 11 and 12 at the Plaza, 1 S. Main St. Workshops are planned in the craft of writing for any media with an emphasis on the art of getting published in new mixed media. Conference registration is $325, which includes meals.

For more information, visit nevadawriters.org.

Readers invited to meet Jennifer AlLee

Readers are invited to meet local author Jennifer AlLee, author of the novel “Diamond in the Rough,” from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 28 in the lobby of the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway, as part of the READ Local Authors Series. For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.org.

John “JT the Brick” Tournour
shares life story in new memoir

Sports radio personality John “JT the Brick” Tournour is scheduled to sign copies of his memoir “The Hand-Off: A Powerful Story of Two Guys, Sports, and Friendship” at 3 p.m. Aug. 31 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Reader series to feature Sean Hoade

Sean Hoade plans to read passages from and sign copies of his works from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 31 in the rotunda of the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway, as part of the Reader Meet the Author program. For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.org.

Evening with Gov. Bob Miller scheduled

Las Vegas Review-Journal political columnist Steve Sebelius is scheduled to interview former Gov. Bob Miller about Miller’s memoir “Son of a Gambling Man: My Journey from a Casino Family to the Governor’s Mansion” at 7 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, as part of a Vegas Valley Book Festival preview event. A book signing and reception are slated to follow the discussion. For more information, visit lvccld.org or call 702-507-3400.

Comedy historian to speak

Darryl Littleton, author of “Black Comedians on Comedy,” “Comediennes: Laugh Be a Lady” and executive producer of the documentary “Why We Laugh,” is scheduled to discuss the history of comedy at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at the West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd. The event is set to include a question-and-answer session and a live comedy show. For more information, visit lvccld.org or call 702-507-3989.

Undercover operative to speak on infiltrating Hells Angels

Jay Dobyns is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. and sign copies of his book, “No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels,” from 8 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 17 at the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, The Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave. In addition to his groundbreaking work in Hells Angels, Dobyns has infiltrated street and prison gangs, gun-running groups, drug-trafficking organizations, bomb makers and home invasion crews. Tickets for Dobyns’ presentation are $15 for museum members and $20 for nonmembers. To make reservations, call 702-229-2734 or visit themobmuseum.com.

Morgan St. James to speak at Las Vegas Writers Group

Morgan St. James, co-author of the Silver Sisters Mystery series and the newly released true-crime novel “La Bella Mafia,” is scheduled to share tips on tight writing during a meeting of the Las Vegas Writers Group scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd. A meeting fee of $5 is charged. Visit meetup.com/las-vegas-writers for more information.

SUN CITY MACDONALD RANCH plans events

The Sun City MacDonald Ranch Literary Guild plans to take the summer off and return with events at the Desert Willow Community Center, 2020 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, featuring Beverly Washburn, author of the memoir “Reel Tears,” scheduled for Sept. 8; and Jazzin’ Jeanne Brei, author of “House Party Tonight” a biography of saxophonist Don Hill, for Oct. 13.

Signing set for ‘It Took a Bullet’

Claudia Bowker is set to sign copies of her book “It Took a Bullet” at 1 p.m. Sept. 7 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Explore fan fiction at free workshop

Librarian Susan M. Williams and writer/educator James L. Kring plan to lead a workshop on fan fiction using examples of tales based on Joss Whedon’s television show “Firefly,” “Star Trek” and “Jane Austen” from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive. For more information, visit lvccld.org or call 702-507-3866.

Vegas Valley Poetry Celebration set for Sept. 28

Poet, novelist, nonfiction writer Gretchen Henderson is set to be featured at the Vegas Valley Poetry Celebration scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St.

Las Vegas poets slated to participate in the preview event for the Vegas Valley Book Festival include Mick Axelrod, Shaun Christensen, Jamison Crabtree, Ali Eteraz, Harry Fagel, Dana Killmeyer, Shaun Leonard, Tara Phillips, Joan Robinson and Vouge Robinson. For more information, visit vegasvalleybookfestival.org or call 702-229-3515. For more on Henderson, visit bookunbound.wordpress.com.

Signing set for ‘The Silent Partner’

Terrence King is scheduled to sign copies of his novel “The Silent Partner” at 1 p.m. Sept. 14 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Children’s Book illustrations to be displayed

An exhibit titled “Imaginings through Illustrations: Work by Children’s Book Illustrators” featuring artwork by illustrators Jorge Betancourt-Polanco, Elisha Cooper, Adam Gustavson, Bethanie Murguia, Kip Noschese and Joseph Watson is slated to be on display Sept. 18-Nov. 30 at the Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St. The exhibit is scheduled to be open during Vegas Valley Book Festival events and by appointment. For more information, visit vegasvalleybookfestival.org or call 702-229-1012.

Hiking author plans presentation

Local hiking expert and author Branch Whitney is set to talk about his book “Hiking Las Vegas” at 5 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane. For more information, visit lvccld.org or call 702-507-6036.

Author to host writing workshops

Local author Maxwell Drake plans to host a writing workshop from 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 22 and from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive. For more information, visit lvccld.org or call 702-507-6107.

Richard Wiley to release new novel

UNLV professor Richard Wiley, whose books include “Soldiers in Hiding,” “Fools’ Gold,” “Festival for Three Thousand Maidens” and “Commodore Perry’s Minstrel Show,” is scheduled to speak as part of a Black Mountain Institute event at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 in Greenspun Hall at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Wiley is slated to read from his newest novel, “The Book of Important Moments,” to be published in September. For more information, visit blackmountaininstitute.org.

Library to mark Banned Books Week with Uncensored Voices event

In recognition of Banned Books Week, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District plans to team with the Vegas Valley Book Festival and the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada for Uncensored Voices: Celebrating the Freedom to Read scheduled from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Las Vegas Review-Journal political columnist Steve Sebelius is slated to moderate the evening of readings and debate on censored books. A reception is set to follow the program. For more information, visit lvccld.org.

Historian plans workshop
on preserving personal history

University of Nevada, Las Vegas oral historian Barbara Tabach, the author of “545 Life Prompts” and “LifeCatching: The Art of Saving and Sharing Memories,” is scheduled to lead a workshop on preserving personal and community memories from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 28 in the West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd. For more information, visit lvccld.org or call 702-507-3982.

Parenting book event slated

Linda Herman, author of the self-help book “Parents to the End,” is slated to sign books at 1 p.m. Sept. 28 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Justin Torres to be featured
at Emerging Writers Series event

Justin Torres, author of the coming-of-age novel “We The Animals,” is slated to speak as part of the Black Mountain Institute’s Emerging Writers Series from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 29 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. The University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop graduate served as a 2010-12 Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford University and as a 2012-13 fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard.

For more information, visit blackmountaininstitute.org.

Progress is theme
for this year’s Las Vegas Writes Project

Editor Scott Dickensheets rounded up a cast of contributors such as novelist and memoirist Kris Saknussemm, horror writer Rena Mason, journalists Geoff Carter and Henry Brean and writer Sarah Jane Woodall to provide original essays and short fiction on the theme of progress for the 2013 Las Vegas Writes anthology, the fifth in a series of annual books showcasing the city’s literary talents in cooperation with the Vegas Valley Book Festival. Anthology contributors are slated to participate in a panel discussion at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. For more information, visit lvccld.org or vegasvalleybookfestival.org.

Black Mountain Institute
fellowships slated to begin in late August

The Black Mountain Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ 2013-14 fellow are slated to take their posts in late August.

Historian/reporter Sally Denton has been named the BMI-Kluge Fellow. Her fellowship is a partnership between BMI and the Library of Congress, where Denton is expected to spend some of her residency doing research for future projects. Denton is the author of seven books, including “The Money and the Power: The Making of Las Vegas and Its Hold on America” and “American Massacre: The Tragedy at Mountain Meadows.”

Matthew Davis, author of “When Things Get Dark: A Mongolian Winter’s Tale,” a memoir of his time as a Peace Corps volunteer, has been named a Diana L. Bennett Fellow.

Syrian poet, translator and scholar Abed Ismael has been named a City of Asylum writer in residence. The City of Asylum program provides a safe haven for writers at risk of persecution, imprisonment or assassination.

All three writers are slated to work in offices provided by the university, participate in BMI programs and potentially visit UNLV classrooms throughout their fellowships spanning from late August to mid-May. For details, visit blackmountaininstitute.org.

HENDERSON WRITERS GROUP MEETINGS SET

The Henderson Writers Group meets 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 for more information.

BARNES & NOBLE TO HOST WRITING GROUP

The 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble hosts a writing critique group 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.

FREE READ TO ME PROGRAM
OFFERS STORIES ONLINE AND BY PHONE

Celebrity storytellers Oscar Goodman, Rita Rudner, Clint Holmes, Terry Fator, Carrot Top, The Scintas and others have donated their talents to the Clark County Education Association Community Foundation’s Read To Me program. Children can view more than 15 videos of celebrities reading books on the website at readtomelv.com. Stories also can be accessed by calling 702-240-2665.

Both databases are frequently updated with fresh stories. Parents and teachers can download lesson plans for each book on the website.

SHARE POEMS AT HUMAN EXPERIENCE

Polish up a poem or two and try them out at Human Experience, a free spoken word event, from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays in The Beat Coffeehouse inside Emergency Arts, 520 Fremont St. For details, visit lasvegaspoets.org.

DOWNLOAD BOOKS AND MORE
FROM YOUR PUBLIC LIBRARY

Virtual Branch websites make it easy to browse, check out and download digital books and more to a home computer for free. All patrons need is a valid library card and an Internet-connected PC.

Virtual Branch download websites feature a digital catalog of downloadable audio books, e-books, music and video titles.

Each site is meant to look and feel like the library’s main site, and it has many easy-to-use features similar to an online store.

Digital book downloads are borrowed just like print materials. Once patrons select the title or author they want, they follow the steps to check out and then download the title to their home computer.

Patrons can transfer most titles to portable media players, such as MP3 players, PDAs, Kindles or smart phones.

Each title that is downloaded has a designated lending period. When the title expires, it is automatically returned to the Virtual Branch, so there are no late fees.

For more information, visit
search.overdrive.com.

ZINE LIBRARY OPEN IN EMERGENCY ARTS

Grab a cup of coffee and check out the independently crafted magazines at the Las Vegas Zine Library inside The Beat Coffeehouse in Emergency Arts, 520 Fremont St.

The library is more of a collection on display for reference and on-site reading than a checkout repository. Contributions of zines are appreciated. For more information, visit lvzinelibrary.blogspot.com.

FREE STORYCORPS TOOLKIT
HELPS COLLECT MEMORIES

The national StoryCorps’ Memory Loss Initiative encourages people with memory loss to share their stories with loved ones and future generations. To make that task easier, a free step-by-step toolkit is available to download at storycorps.org/mli.

The Commemorate toolkit offers an individual reminiscence program that family members can initiate or memory loss care facilities can add to activities.

The initiative has collected more than 1,800 interviews with 180 partner organizations.

For more information, visit storycorps.org or call 646-723-7027.

ACCESS RECORDED BOOK PROGRAMS ONLINE

Too busy to get out to book programs? The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District has started posting videos and podcasts of many of its programs online. Selections available so far include: “An Afternoon with Tony Curtis,” John L. Smith’s presentation “Amelia’s Long Journey: The Challenge of Writing What You Know,” “Batman” movie producer Michael Uslan’s presentation at the 2009 Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival, Jami Carpenter’s “ABCs of Editing” workshop and Brian Rouff’s “Getting Published: A Long Strange Trip.” To access the programs, visit lvccld.org, select “Books, Movies & More” and then “Video and Podcasts.”

The Black Mountain Institute has offered recordings of its programming since 2006. To access recordings of a gamut of writers from E.L. Doctorow to Alissa Nutting, visit blackmountain
institute.org and select “multimedia.”