Book Briefs for June 25-July 1, 2013
Western Writers of America conference to include massive book signing
The Western Writers of America conference is scheduled June 25-29 at the Riviera, 2901 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The conference is set to include panels on the Victorian West, cowboys, songwriting, Great Basin history and more. For conference information, visit westernwriters.org.
As a conference outreach effort, participants are scheduled to join with other Western writers for a book signing featuring more than 70 writers from 4 to 7 p.m. June 28 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.
Clark County Museums administrator Mark Hall-Patton is slated to kick off the signing with a short address at 4 p.m. The signing is free and open to the public.
Children’s author/illustrator Bob Shea plans visit to Gibson Library
Bob Shea, author/illustrator of “Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great,” the Dinosaur Vs. books, “I’m a Shark” and many more, plans to share stories and participate in activities with families from 1 to 2 p.m. July 2 at the Gibson Library, 100 W. Lake Mead Parkway.
For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.org. For more on the author, visit bobshea.com.
Las Vegas FamilySearch library
to host memoir-writing workshops
An ongoing series of free four-week memoir-writing workshops is scheduled from noon to 1 p.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.
Oz book author event slated
Roger Baum, great-grandson of “Wizard of Oz” author L. Frank Baum, is slated to sign copies of his books at 1 p.m. June 29 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble and at 1 p.m. July 13 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.
Paseo Verde Library to host
free Lifecatching workshop
A free three-session workshop titled “Lifecatching: The art of Saving and Sharing Memories” is scheduled to continue 10 to 11:30 a.m. June 29 and July 13 at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. Registration is required. For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.org or call 702-207-4299.
Pajama party to launch ‘Bedtime Math’
Families are invited to a free pajama party to celebrate the release of the book “Bedtime Math: A Fun Excuse to Stay Up Late,” scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. June 25 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble. For more information, visit bedtimemath.org.
Clark County Library
plans free book publishing workshop
A free book publishing workshop is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. July 6 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. The event is set to feature Nicole McInnes, author of the novel “Brianna on the Brink;” Roger DeBlanck, author of the historical novel “The Ramos Brothers Trust Castro and Kennedy;” and Jonathan Sturak, author of the psychological thriller “A Smudge of Gray,” discussing the changing face of publishing, agents, queries, marketing and when to consider self-publishing or independent presses.
For more information, visit lvccld.org or call 702-507-3459.
Writer shares keys to ‘Marital Bliss’
Jim Hamilton is scheduled to sign copies of his self improvement book “It’s All About Her: A Man’s Guide to Marital Bliss” at 1 p.m. July 6 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.
Library to host mob series book event
“Rogue Town” author Vito Volucci is slated to share his true stories about bringing down the mob in Connecticut during a Summer Mob Series book event at 2 p.m. July 7 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road.
For more information, visit lvccld.org.
Teens to help kids reach reading goals
Children 4 to 10 can earn Summer Reading Program minutes by doing reading activities with a teen volunteer from 2:30 to 4 p.m. July 9 at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway.
To participate, children can pick up a pass at the children’s desk starting at 2 p.m.
For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.com.
Author to discuss ‘The End of Night’
Author Paul Bogard is slated to talk about his book “The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light” from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 11 at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway.
The book, which is due for release July 9, explores the nature of disappearing darkness in a world ever filling with light pollution from streetlights to Earth’s brightest beam shooting from the apex of the Luxor in Las Vegas.
Bogard teaches creative nonfiction at James Madison University. He is the editor of the anthology “Let There Be Night: Testimony on Behalf of the Dark.”
For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.com.
Storyteller to share tasty tales
Storyteller Jim Cogan is set to share tasty tales for hungry readers at 10 a.m. July 12 at the Gibson Library, 100 W. Lake Mead Parkway. For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.com.
Author to speak on Jesus
as man and historical figure
Reza Aslan, author of “No god but God,” “How to Win a Cosmic War” and the new release “Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth,” is scheduled to speak on Jesus as both man and historical figure during a book event at 7 p.m. July 22 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road.
Aslan is a fellow at the University of Southern California’s Center on Public Diplomacy, a Middle East analyst for CBS News and cofounder of BoomGen Creative Writing Studios. For more information, visit lvccld.org.
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 at 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 series to feature children’s author
“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 series mystery adventure novels with a sci-fi twist, 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.
Local author series
to feature Moniru Ravanipur
Moniru Ravanipur was among 17 activists in Iran to face trial for anti-Iranian propaganda for participation in the Iran After the Elections conference in Berlin in 2000. In 2006, copies of her work were stripped from bookstore shelves in Iran in a countrywide police action.
Ravanipur, author of “The Gypsy by Fire,” “Satan’s Stones,” “Heart of Steel” and “The Drowned,” is slated to participate in the READ Local Author series meeting readers from 2:20 to
4:30 p.m. June 26 in the lobby of the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.org.
Author series to feature Sean Hoade
Sean Hoade, author of the novels “Ain’t That American,” “Darwin Dreams,” “Iappropriate 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,
author to discuss same-sex dynamics
in ninteenth-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.
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.
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.
BROWSE RARE BOOKS IN NEW APP
Searching for rare books? Now there’s an app for that. Bauman Rare Books, which has a shop in The Palazzo, 3325 Las Vegas Blvd. South, has launched an app available on iTunes that allows readers to see new acquisitions, browse catalogs, view videos, make purchases and manage their personal accounts and share items via Twitter and Facebook. If you have $65,000 to spend on a first-edition “The Catcher in the Rye” signed by J.D. Salinger, the app has you covered. The catalog can also be perused at baumanrarebooks.com.
