BOOK BRIEFS

COLUMNIST PLANS APPEARANCES AT COFFEE AND SPORTS SHOPS

View Outdoors columnist Deborah Wall's "Base Camp Las Vegas: Hiking the Southwestern States" is October's Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf book of the month. Wall is set to visit the 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. South Town Square Las Vegas location from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday. She'll visit the 10834 W. Charleston Blvd. store from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 9, the 2220 Village Walk Drive District at Green Valley Ranch shop from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 16, and the 3645 S. Town Center Drive store from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 23.

Wall also is booked to speak at The District's REI at 7 p.m. Oct. 7 and at the 710 S. Rampart Blvd. REI at 7 p.m. Oct. 19. For more information about the book, visit basecamplasvegashikes.com.

Mötley Crüe frontman to autograph copies of 'Tattoos and Tequila'

Vince Neil is set to sign copies of his book "Tattoos and Tequila: To Hell and Back with One of Rock's Most Notorious Frontmen," written with Mike Sager, at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the 3860 S. Maryland Parkway Barnes & Noble.

BANNED BOOK WEEK READING SET

Celebrate Banned Book Week with a reading titled "Uncensored Voices: Celebrating Literary Freedom," featuring presentations by Moniro Ravanipour, Flo Rogers and more, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road.

BOOK FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS WELCOME

The Vegas Valley Book Festival is seeking volunteers. Individuals and community groups are welcome to pitch in for three- or four-hour stretches from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 6 and 7. Volunteers will receive a Vegas Valley Book Festival gift bag with an assortment of festival mementos.

To sign up, contact Xan Goodman at goodxan@yahoo.com or (313) 492-6723 or call Bobbie Ann Howell at 895-1878.

BLUEBIRD COFFEE SHOP TO HOST LAUNCH

Michael Konik is planning a book launch party for "Reefer Gladness: Stories, Essays, and Riffs on Marijuana" from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday at Bluebird Coffee Shop, 2025 Paradise Road.

Bluebird sells tea, coffee, sandwiches and salads. It also hosts a separate lounge typically open only to card-carrying medical marijuana users. During the First Friday book signing, the lounge's doors will be open to all.

Send in Crystal Bookmark picks

Nominate an individual or organization working to advance the cause of literature in the Las Vegas Valley for the Vegas Valley Book Festival's Crystal Bookmark Award.

The festival will accept nominations at vegasvalleybookfestival.org through Thursday.

The award recipient will be announced in October and honored at the festival's closing keynote address, scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road.

HENDERSON WRITERS GROUP TO SPONSOR STUDENT COMPETITION

The Henderson Writers Group is sponsoring a writing contest for students of middle school through college age. Awards include cash prizes and scholarships for the 2011 Las Vegas Writers Conference. Visit henderson writersgroup.com for guidelines.

SHORT STORY PROJECT UNDER WAY

Participants in the Las Vegas Writes project are at work on a short story compilation inspired by iconic Las Vegas photos to be launched at a Vegas Valley Book Festival event set for 7 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road.

The book will feature works by authors Megan Edwards, K.W. Jeter, Dayvid Figler, P Moss, Juan Martinez, Alissa Nutting and Oksana Marafioti.

Titled "The Perpetual Engine of Hope," the project is to be serialized at vegasvalleybookfestival.org and sold in book form at the festival.

The first story, Martinez's "On Paradise," can be found by selecting "Las Vegas Writes: the Perpetual Engine of Hope" on the website.

LIBRARY CARD CAMPAIGN PLANNED

Sign up for a free library card at any Las Vegas-Clark County Library District branch during September and be automatically entered for a chance to win a family pack of tickets to "CSI: The Experience" in the MGM Grand.

Existing library cardholders can receive 25 percent off admission to the exhibit through Nov. 30. Visit lvccld.org or call 734-7323 for details.

'EATING LAS VEGAS' RELEASE DATE SET

John Curtas, Max Jacobsen and Al Mancini have combined skills honed on KNPR's public air waves, Seven magazine and Citylife, respectively, to write "Eating Las Vegas: The 50 Essential Restaurants."

Las Vegas-based publisher Huntington Press announced that the book will be out Nov. 15. The list of dining spots to make the cut is to remain under wraps until the release date.

First chapters in comic compilation are ready online for readers

"Tales from the Boneyard," a group graphic novel, is scheduled to be released one chapter at a time online leading up to a printed publication to be sold at the Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival, set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road.

The first chapters, writer/illustrator Barret Thomson's "Mr. O'Lucky," Pj Perez's "No Place Like Home" and Deryl Skelton's "This Boneyard ... This Battlefield!," can be read online at talesfromtheboneyard.com.

The tales are to be followed by chapters contributed by comic industry veterans and newcomers, including Jarret Keene, Victor Moya, Warren Wucinich and F. Andrew Taylor, all to be wrapped in a cover designed by artist Danny Roberts.

Proceeds from sales of the collection, edited and compiled by Perez, will benefit the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Foundation's support of the festival.

SISTERS IN CRIME WELCOMES ATTORNEY AUTHOR

Los Angeles corporate attorney Pamela Samuels Young was tired of the lack of women of color depicted as top talent in legal thrillers, so she set out to create her own heroines in "Buying Time," "Murder on the Down Low," "In Firm Pursuit" and "Every Reasonable Doubt."

Young is set to present a program titled "Writing a Novel Despite Your Day Job" for Sisters in Crime of Southern Nevada. Part of a national organization of authors, editors, publishers and readers of the mystery genre, Sisters in Crime meets at 3 p.m. Oct. 10 in the 3860 S. Maryland Parkway Barnes & Noble.

For more information, visit sistersincrimesnv.com.

LIBRARY TO WELCOME LAYNA SPAZIANO

Adults are welcome to meet Layna Spaziano, author of "Shane and Molly's Magical Journey," from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway.

ROMANCE WRITERS TO TALK ABOUT TRENDS

Linda Cutler-Smith will discuss trends in romance fiction and share information from the Romance Writers of America national conference during the Las Vegas Romance Writers meeting set for 10 a.m. Oct. 16 in the Wengert room at NV Energy, 6226 W. Sahara Ave. For more information, visit meetup.com/writers-1024.

'DUCK AND COVER' AUTHOR TO SPEAK AT PASEO VERDE LIBRARY

Max the Duck series author/illustrator Jackie Urbanovic is set to speak and sign books from 7 to 8 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. All ages are welcome. Register online at mypubliclibrary.com.

WRITER TO SHARE TIPS FOR A PERFECT RESUME

"Ten Easy Steps to a Perfect Resume" author Carolyn Thompson is set to speak from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. To register for the free, public class visit www.mypubliclibrary.com or call 207-4261.

TRUE CRIME JOURNALIST TO SPEAK TO WRITERS GROUP

Cathy Scott, best known for her true-crime books "The Killing of Tupac Shakur" and "The Murder of Biggie Smalls," is scheduled to speak to the Las Vegas Writers Group at 7 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd. The event fee is $5. For more information, visit www.meetup.com/Las-Vegas-Writers/.

HENDERSON WRITERS GROUP MEETS MONDAYS

The Henderson Writers Group meets from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. Mondays. Meetings are at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at 4550 S. Maryland Parkway on the second and fourth Mondays and at Saxby's Coffee Lounge, 72 Horizon Ridge Parkway, the first, third and occasional fifth Mondays.

Visit hendersonwritersgroup.com for details.

Meetings are open to the public.

CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITERS, ILLUSTRATORS PLAN CRAFT SERIES

The Nevada Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators is sponsoring a Fall-Winter 2010 Craft Series for Illustrators and Writers.

The next workshop in the series, featuring picture book and magazine writer Alexis O'Neill, is set for Nov. 13. Picture book writer and novelist Susan Taylor Brown is set to present at the final workshop in the series scheduled for Jan. 29.

Workshops run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Las Vegas Day School, 3275 Red Rock St.

The fee for each workshop is $35 for members or $40 for nonmembers.

For more information, visit nevadascbwi.org, call 290-3190 or e-mail lvscbwi@gmail.com.

'BENEATH THE NEON' AUTHOR BACK WITH A SECOND BOOK

Matthew O'Brien, author of "Beneath the Neon: Life and Death in the Tunnels of Las Vegas," is scheduled to release his newest title, "My Week at the Blue Angel: And Other Stories from the Storm Drains, Strip Clubs, and Trailer Parks of Las Vegas," on Oct. 25, through Las Vegas-based Huntington Press. O'Brien already has gained recognition for one of the stories in the collection, "Another Day on Paradise," in the form of a fellowship from the Nevada Arts Council.

O'Brien is founder of Shine a Light, an organization that teams with HELP of Southern Nevada to aid the men and women living in the flood channels of Las Vegas. For more information about O'Brien and his books, visit beneaththeneon.com.

SHARE POEMS AT 'HUMAN EXPERIENCE'

Polish up a poem or two and try them out live at "Human Experience," a free spoken word event, from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays in The Beat coffee shop at 520 Fremont St. inside Emergency Arts.

For more information or to view the events online as they happen, visit lasvegaspoets.org.

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 Cafe in Emergency Arts, 520 Fremont St.

The library is still small, 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.

NORTHWEST-AREA BORDERS OFFERS WRITERS GROUP ON TUESDAYS

Borders bookstore hosts a free writers group at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at 2190 N. Rainbow Blvd.

SUNRISE COFFEE CO. ON SUNSET ROAD HOSTS OPEN MIC NIGHT

Sunrise Coffee Co. welcomes poets and poetry fans to participate in its open mic night starting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday at 3130 E. Sunset Road.

UNIVERSITY FORUM LECTURE SERIES TO WELCOME VISITING AUTHORS

The UNLV University Forum Lecture Series schedule has been released and includes visits from several authors.

Stanley Finger, who wrote "Doctor Franklin's Medicine," is scheduled to speak at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11. Richard Burgin, editor of Boulevard literary magazine, plans to read from his new novel, "Rivers Last Longer," at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17. The free public lectures are scheduled to take place at the Barrick Museum Auditorium at 4505 S. Maryland Parkway.

For more information about the University Forum Lecture schedule, visit liberalarts.unlv.edu/calendar.

LAS VEGAS-RAISED AUTHOR RELEASES NEW BOOKS

Bishop Gorman High School graduate Bunny Hull is preparing to release three new "Little Wisdom" books in her "Young Masters" series.

The books "Heart of a Lion," "The Invisible Power" and "This Little Light" are illustrated by Kye Fleming and accompanied by CDs with audio books, original music and media files for PC, Mac, iPod and iPad.

For more information about the series, visit dreamaworld.com.

FRANK MARINO HOPES TO GRANT WISHES WITH PROCEEDS FROM COOKBOOK

A portion of proceeds from entertainer Frank Marino's new cookbook, "Dining with the Diva," go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada. The collection of more than 120 photos and recipes is available for purchase at the Imperial Palace box office for $20.