BOOK BRIEFS

RANGER'S APPRENTICE TOUR TO VISIT CHILDREN'S BOOK SHOP

Is John Flanagan the next J.K. Rowling? Let your kids decide for themselves when the New York Times best-selling author visits Las Vegas on his first North American book tour.

The Australian author is set to visit with children at a couple of local elementary schools Wednesday. Then, after he lunches with the winner of a student writing competition sponsored by his publisher, Penguin, he's scheduled to sign his newly released book "Ranger's Apprentice: Book Four: The Battle for Skandia" beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the NeverEnding Story Bookshoppe, 9440 W. Sahara Ave.

Copies of the book can be reserved by calling 869-8943.

ASPIRING YOUNG AUTHORS CONFERENCE PLANNED

Young adult writers Brandon Mull and William Hill are just two of the authors planning to share writing tips with youth from grades four through eight at the Henderson Libraries' Aspiring Young Authors Conference from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 14 at the Henderson Convention Center, 200 S. Water St.

Mull is best known for his "Fablehaven" fantasy series. Hill has written seven books including "Wizard Sword," "The Magic Bicycle," "Chasing Time" and "California Ghosting."

The conference will be limited to the first 125 students to sign up. Registration packets are available for pick-up from any of Henderson Libraries' four locations.

Book signings and sales, which are open to the public, will take place from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.com or call 492-7252.

JOIN JANE AUSTEN'S DESCENDANT FOR A UNIVERSITY LECTURE

Jane Austen's great-great-great-great nephew Richard Jenkyns will discuss his book on Austen in an upcoming lecture at UNLV. Jenkyns, a professor of the classical tradition from Oxford University, will ask the question Is Jane Austen Modern? at 7:30 p.m. April 9 in the Barrick Museum Auditorium at UNLV.

The lecture, sponsored by the UNLV Great Works Academic Certificate program, is free and open to the public.

Jenkyns is author of "A Fine Brush on Ivory: An Appreciation of Jane Austen," published by Oxford University Press in 2004. Other books include "The Victorians and Ancient Greece," "Three Classical Poets: Sappho, Catullus and Juvenal," "Dignity and Decadence: Victorian Art and the Classical Inheritance," "Classical Epic: Homer and Virgil; Virgil's Experience" and "Westminster Abbey." He also edited the book "The Legacy of Rome: A New Appraisal."

TIME FOR TURTLE TALES AT MUSEUM

The Lied Discovery Children's Museum will host a presentation of the children's travel series, "Tino Turtle Travels" 10:15 a.m. April 12 in the museum's stage area.

In addition to a visit from the Tino Turtle mascot, Las Vegas entertainer Ryan Ahern will perform a presentation of the book, "Tino Turtle Travels to London, England" by Carolyn L. Ahern. Following the performance, there will be a question and answer session and a booksigning. Copies of "Tino Turtle Travels to London, England," "Tino Turtle Travels to Paris, France" and the Tino Turtle plush toy will be available for purchase.

Admission to the museum, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is $8 for adults and $7 for children ages 1 through 17, seniors and military families. Children under one are admitted free. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday Noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 382-5437 or visit the Museum Web site at www.ldcm.org.

LIBRARY PUTS OUT A CALL FOR AUTHORS

Published authors living in Nevada are invited to participate in Clark County Library events.

To participate, fill out a registration form at the information table at any of the local author programs at Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road.

Events open to local authors include the Local Authors Book Festival, the Meet The Authors monthly series and more.

The next Meet the Authors event, 6:30 p.m. April 30 in the library's Jewel Box Theater, is set to feature Brian Rouff and Laura Branchini in a program focused on gambling. For details, call 507-3458.

LIBRARY DISTRICT TO PUT ON ANNUAL BIG READ PROGRAM

The National Endowment for the Arts and the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District are teaming up again to encourage adults to read with The Big Read program.

For the second year, one book has been selected for valleywide reading and discussion. Last year, residents explored "The Joy Luck Club." This year's book is "The Great Gatsby."

This week, the program features a Speakeasy Murder Mystery event 7 p.m. Saturday at the Spring Valley Library, 4280 S. Jones Blvd. and '20s-themed ice cream socials 4 p.m. today at the Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive, and 4 p.m. Wednesday at the West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd. Discuss the book 7 p.m. today at the Whitney Library, 5175 E. Tropicana Ave.

Visit www.lvccld.org for a complete Big Read schedule.

LEARN MORE ABOUT AREA AUTHORS

Published authors are invited to share their stories with readers and other writers at the 18Q Web site, www.eighteenquestions.com.

More than 100 authors have already answered the 18-question survey, which includes information on finding inspiration, writing styles, marketing techniques and advice for new writers.

Surveys are posted on the Web site and sent out as part of The Fabulist Flash, a weekly eZine put together by local writer Gregory A. Kompes.