BOOK BRIEFS

AUTHOR TEACHES READERS TO SEE COMPLAINTS AS GIFTS

Local author and business consultant Janelle Barlow is scheduled to sign copies of her book "A Complaint is a Gift" at 1 p.m. Saturday at the 8915 W. Charleston Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

Poet to speak to Shalom Hadassah

Shalom Hadassah will welcome poet and author Sally Zigler as its keynote speaker for September.

Zigler has been written up in "Who's Who in Professional and Executive Women" and published a book of poetry, "The Grass Roots Woman from Vegas," in 2007.

The meeting will be at 10 a.m. Sept. 10 at the Congregation Ner Tamid, 55 N. Valle Verde Drive. The public is invited. For information, call Lillian at 269-0387.

AUTHORS TEACH WRITERS TO BLOG THEIR WAY TO BOOK FAME

Local authors Lisa McGlaun and Tami Cowden will teach authors how to use the Internet for promotion in "Bloggin' Your Way Through Life: How to Start Your Own Online Journal," 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. For more information, call 507-3459.

GO ON A 'VEGAS DIE' QUEST

The Mystery Adventures Las Vegas tour company set up a series of Quest Mystery Adventure Tours to visit the Las Vegas clue sites from Stephen Grogan's mystery novel "Vegas Die." The clues are designed to lead readers to a $25,000 dagger hidden somewhere in Las Vegas. The last planned tour date is Wednesday. Space is limited.

For more information, call 893-6400 or visit www.Mystery AdventuresLasVegas.com or www.QuestMystery.com.

LEARN THE SCIENCE OF SCREENWRITING AT EVENT

Dan Decker, screenwriter and author of "Anatomy of a Screenplay," plans to conduct a seminar on screenwriting at 10 a.m. Sept. 5 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road.

For more information, call 507-3459.

ELVIS BOOK TO BE FEATURED AT FASHION FUNDRAISER

Michael and Karan Feder will be signing copies of their latest book, "Elvis: Your Personal Fashion Consultant," during a Shoes That Rock fashion fundraiser to benefit the International Academy of Design & Technology's scholarship fund at 9 p.m. today in the Hawaiian Tropic Zone inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort.

The event, which is free and open to the public, also will also include two fashion shows featuring shoes and accessories from the Kashi Kicks line.

The new Elvis book is packed with 12 punch-out paper dolls and humourous fashion advice based on the King's attire.

CELEBRATE BIRTHDAYS AMONG CHILDREN'S BOOKS

The NeverEnding Story children's bookshop, 9440 W. Sahara Ave., No. 120, now offers birthday parties.

Parents can select the do-it-yourself option, with room rental only, or they can go all out with a hosted theme party, which can include decorations, storytime, dancing and crafts.

Prices begin at $50 for the do-it-yourself option and $150 for a hosted party.

For details, call 869-8943.

BLACK MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES 2008 SCHEDULE

The Black Mountain Institute has a full slate of author presentations planned for 2008.

First up will be Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jane Smiley, who will speak in a private reception for BMI supporters in September.

The rest of the season's offerings are free and open to the public, starting with National Book Award-winner Joyce Carol Oates, who is set to speak to the public, 7 p.m. Oct. 18, at the UNLV Student Union Ballroom.

Charles Simic, the 2007 U.S. Poet Laureate, is scheduled for 7 p.m., Oct. 21 in the UNLV Student Union theater. His visit is co-sponsored by the UNLV Department of English.

Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Michael Chabon is set to speak at 6 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, in a reading co-sponsored by Nevada Humanities, the city of Las Vegas Office of Cultural Affairs, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District and the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Nevada Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, is set to act as host for an author's panel titled "The Role of Race and Gender in the 2008 Election," featuring Susan Faludi, Katha Pollitt and Farai Chideya, 7 p.m. Dec. 3 in Doc Rando Hall in the Beam Music Center at UNLV.

For more information, visit blackmountain.unlv.edu or call 895-5542.

AUTHOR IS REGULAR AT AIRPORT

Just about every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., readers can catch William Slick Hanner, co-author of "Thief! The Gutsy, True Story of an Ex-con Artist," signing books at the McCarran International Airport Borders. For information about the book, visit Thieftruestory.com.

BOOK FESTIVAL PUTS OUT CALL FOR LOCAL AUTHORS

The Vegas Valley Book Festival isn't until Nov. 6-8, but organizers are already taking applications from writers interested in participating in the Nov. 8 Local Author's Expo downtown at the Fifth Street School. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the school's gallery space will be packed with tables for authors to present books. Exhibit space is free, but limited, and the deadline to apply is Monday.

In addition to locals, big-name festival presenters for this year include Neil Gaiman and Michael Chabon. For more information, visit www.artslasvegas.org/vvbf or call 229-5431.

POETRY SERVED UP ONCE WEEKLY AT REJAVANATE

The ReJAVAnate coffee house hosts live poetry performances from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays.

Some of the selections are intense and not intended for all ages. The shop is located at 3300 E. Flamingo Road, No. 23. Call 253-7721 for more information.

LEARN MORE ABOUT AREA AUTHORS

Authors are invited to share information with readers and other writers at the 18Q Web site, www.eighteenquestions. com.

Surveys are posted on the Web site and sent out as part of The Fabulist Flash, a weekly eZine.

CARR CHAT SERIES HOSTS CONVERSATIONS WITH WRITERS

Local writer Robyn Carr hosts conversations with visiting authors as part of the Carr Chat series sponsored by the Henderson Public Libraries. Book signings follow each chat and most events are free and open to the public.

Upcoming events are set to feature David Rosenfelt, 7 p.m. Sept. 18; and Linda Lael Miller, noon Oct. 3, Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. For more information, call 492.6584 or e-mail organizers at carrchat@hdpl.org.

BOOKSTORE OFFERS WRITERS GROUP ON WEDNESDAYS

Borders bookstore, has a writers group at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, 2190 N. Rainbow Blvd.