Book briefs for July 23-29, 2013
Henderson author plans to visit library with inspirational tractor
Henderson author Ken Hinman is slated to bring the tractor that inspired his picture book “Jimmy John the Tractor” on a visit from 10 to 10:45 a.m. July 24 to the Gibson Library, 100 W. Lake Mead Parkway. Space is limited. Participants are asked to get a pass the morning of the storytime from the children’s desk. Visit mypubliclibrary.com for details.
READ local author series
to feature ‘Nana’s magical Closet’
“Nana’s Magical Closet” author Phyllis Hughley Edwards is slated to be featured as part of the READ Local Author Series from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. July 24 in the lobby of the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.com.
Author to sign Parallel Ops finale
R.J. Archer, author of the Seeds of Civilization series and the Parallel Ops mystery adventure sci-fi novels, is slated to sign copies of his final Parallel Ops book “The Teachers” at 1 p.m. July 27 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.
For more on the author, visit rjarcherbooks.com.
Author to speak on real estate crash
Ken Sarna, author of “Crash and Burn: Rising From the Ashes After the Real Estate Collapse,” is scheduled to speak from 10 to 11:30 a.m. July 25 at Fidelity National Title in the first-floor training room of the Pulte Building, 8345 W. Sunset Road. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 702-358-0088.
Author series to feature Sean Hoade
Sean Hoade, author of the novels “Ain’t That American,” “Darwin Dreams,” “Inappropriate Behavior” and “The Act,” is slated to meet readers as part of the Reader Meet the Author Series from 1 to 3 p.m. July 27 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.com.
Author to discuss same-sex dynamics
in 19th-century America
Historian D. Michael Quinn is set to discuss his book “Same-Sex Dynamics Among Nineteenth-Century Americans: A Mormon Example” during an OutWest at the Library presentation scheduled at 2 p.m. July 28 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. For more information, visit lvccld.org.
Signing set for ‘Seeking Justice’
W. Ward Neuman is slated to sign copies of his novel “Seeking Justice” at 1 p.m. July 28 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.
Appearances slated for Turtle book
Tino the Turtle, a mascot for the Tino Turtle Travels book series, is scheduled to participate in activities at the Discovery Children’s Museum, 360 Promenade Place. On July 27 at
11:30 a.m., Tino plans to travel to Mexico and at 2:30 p.m. he plans to be on his way to Kenya. He’s set to lead a Conga line out of the museum at 4:45 p.m. On July 28, he’s slated to travel to London at 2:30 p.m. Live media presentations of his travels will include book signings by author Carolyn L. Ahern.
For more information, visit discoverykidslv.org.
Comic Book Festival
to offer VIP package, original comic
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.
Also tied to the festival is the release of “Tales From Lost Vegas,” an all-ages, full-color comic book to be packed with the work of Las Vegas talents — including Justin Ayers, Daniel Blodgett, Steve Benton, Kenneth Lamug and Jska Priebe — and published by local comic/graphic novel publisher Pop Goes the Icon. A Kickstarter campaign to fund the project can be found at tinyurl.com/lostvegascomic. Support levels begin at $5, which buys donors a digital copy of the comic, slated to be completed in time for the festival.
The deadline for pledges is Aug. 4. For more information, visit popgoestheicon.com.
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 $250 through July 31 and $325 after.
For more information, visit nevadawriters.org.
Historic books on display through July
Through July 31, visitors can catch an exhibit of documents from the Revolutionary War period at Bauman Rare Books in The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Highlights of the free exhibit are slated to include a book from Thomas Jefferson’s personal library, a 1776 edition of Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense,” a 1756 Poor Richard’s Almanac printed by Benjamin Franklin and a 1787 document signed by Franklin just before the Constitutional Convention. 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.
There’s still time to sign up
for summer reading program
It’s not too late to sign up for the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District’s Club read summer reading program scheduled to end July 31.
Children and teens are invited to drop by a local branch and pick up a reading log or register online at lvccld.org.
Families can celebrate the program’s end at events scheduled at 4 p.m. July 31 at the Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave; 4 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Sunrise Library, 5400 Harris Ave.; noon Aug. 3 at the Las Vegas Library, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North; 3 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive; and 3 p.m. Aug. 6 at the Enterprise Library, 25 E. Shelbourne Ave.
For more information, visit lvccld.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.
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.
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.
Las Vegas Writers Group to meet
A meeting of the Las Vegas Writers Group is 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.
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.
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 glorywade
writer@gmail.com.
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.
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.”
SUMMERLIN LIBRARY OFFERS
READERS AND WRITERS WORKSHOP SERIES
A readers and writers workshop series sponsored by poet, editor and writer Barbara Miller is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month at the Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive. For more information, call 702-507-3866.
Black Mountain Institute
selects Writers for fellowships
The Black Mountain Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, announced its 2013-14 fellowships July 1.
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.
