Halloween is nearly here, and several events will feature local authors who write tales and poems ranging from the spooky to the downright horrifying.
Simsbury Public Library will host a free talk on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. called “Stephen King: The Art of Darkness.” Best-selling author Stephen Spignesi, whom Entertainment Weekly has called “the world’s leading authority on Stephen King,” will give a slideshow on the American master of horror fiction’s life and work, from his earliest efforts to movie versions of his books to his current writing. Spignesi will display a scrapbook of rare King photos and memorabilia, and attendees will receive a free brochure listing King’s top-100 works from Spignesi’s book, “The Essential Stephen King.”
The library is at 725 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury. Registration: 860-658-7663 or simsburylibrary.info.
Poetry And Witchcraft
Poets Ginny Lowe Connors and Sherri Bedingfield will give a free talk and poetry reading about communities, such as Salem, Mass., and Old Forfarshire, Scotland, that were damaged by allegations of witchcraft on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. at the West Hartford library, 20 S. Main St., West Hartford. Connors’ latest collection is “Toward the Hanging Tree: Poems of Salem Village” (Amtrim House, $18). Bedingfield’s collection, “The Clattering: Voices from Old Forfarshire, Scotland” (Grayson Books, $15) tells the true story of a woman accused of witchcraft in 17th-century Scotland. Information: westhartfordlibrary.org or 860-561-6950.
Halloween Tales For Adults
Local writers will present free programs of readings from the anthology “Tricks and Treats: A Collection of Spooky Stories by Connecticut Authors” (Books & Boos Press, $12.99) at two events.
On Monday, Oct. 24, at 6:30 p.m. at Whiton Auditorium, 100 N. Main St., Manchester, there will be readings from the book, edited by Stacey Longo. It contains stories from famous authors and local writers Melissa Crandall, G. Elmer Munson, Kristi Petersen Schoonover, Dan Foley, John Valeri, Ryanne Strong and Longo. Information: 860-645-0821 or library.townofmanchester.org.
On Saturday, Oct. 29, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Crandall, Longo, Munson and Valeri will visit Book Club Bookstore & More, 100 Main St., in the Broad Brook section of East Windsor for a reading from “Tricks and Treats.” Information: 860-623-5100 or bookclubct.com.
Exploring Narcissism
We’ve heard a lot about narcissism as the presidential race continues to grow more vitriolic. On Sunday, Oct. 23, at 1:30 p.m., you can learn more about this condition when author Kristin Dombek gives a free talk at the West Hartford Public Library, 20 S. Main St., West Hartford.
Dombek is the author of “The Selfishness of Others: An Essay on the Fear of Narcissism” (FSG Originals, $13). Her book on the consequences of out of control self-regard was an Oprah Editors Pick.
Parking stubs from the nearby Isham Garage will be validated. Registration: 860-561-6990 or bit.ly/selfishness23oct.
Mishi-Maya-Gat Spoken Word & Music
The Mishi-maya-gat Spoken Word & Music Series will continue Thursday, Oct. 27, at Manchester Community College’s MCC on Main, 903 Main St., Manchester.
Poets David Giannini and Jayne Benjulian will read at 6:30 p.m., followed by the jazz trio Jonathan Barber and Triangle Offense at 8 p.m. Information: 860-512-2824 or manchestercc.edu/mmg.
‘Feminist Fight Club’
New York Times journalist Jessica Bennett will give a free talk titled “Feminist Fight Club” that will offer strategies and tips for women on surviving in a sexist workplace. Bennett will speak Thursday, Oct. 27, at 4:30 p.m. in the Washington Room in Mather Hall, on the Trinity College campus, 300 Summit St., Hartford. Information: laura.lockwood@trincoll.edu or 860-297-2408.
Avon Reads One Book
Avon Public Library, 281 Country Club Road, Avon, will sponsor a free Avon Reads One Book community reading project centering on “The Wright Brothers” by David McCullough (Simon & Schuster, $17.99), with events in October, November and December. Attendees are urged to read the book. To reserve a copy from the library, call 860-673-9712.
The kickoff talk, on “The Wright Brothers: From the Family Circle to the World” will be Saturday, Oct. 29, at 1 p.m., by Tom Crouch, senior curator of the Smithsonian National and Air Museum. Information: avonctlibrary.info.
Craig At Enfield Library
Geoffrey Craig, author of “Scudder’s Gorge” (Prolific Press, $16.95), a novel about man’s inhumanity to man and the struggle for dignity for all people from 18th-century Vermont to Hiroshima, will give a free talk Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. at Enfield Public Library, 104 Middle Road, Enfield.
Information: 860-763-7418 or enfieldpubliclibrary.org.
From Mobster To Mensch
The Jewish Historical Society will celebrate its 45th anniversary with a gala event with speakers Louis Ferrante and Rabbi Arthur D. Rulnick, on Sunday, Oct. 30, at 6 p.m. at Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford. The event includes a buffet dinner and auction to benefit the society, which works to preserve and document Jewish life in Greater Hartford.Information and tickets, which range from $136 to $250: 860-727-6170 or jhsgh.org/anniversarygala.html.
Book Launch At Museum
Paul Staiti, author of “Of Arms And Artists: The American Revolution Through Painters’ Eyes” (Bloomsbury Press, $30) will speak at a book launch at the New Britain Museum of American Art, 56 Lexington St., New Britain, on Sunday, Oct. 23, from 3 to 4:45 p.m. The book profiles five great American artists of the Revolutionary period. The event is free with museum admission and for museum members and holders of library cards from Avon Public Library, which is its co-sponsor. Information: 860-229-0257 or nbmaa.org.
Weiner At JCC
Jennifer Weiner, the Simsbury native who had a smash debut with “Good In Bed” and has published 14 best-selling books, will speak Sunday, Oct. 23, at 1 p.m. at the Jewish Book Festival at Mandell Jewish Community Center, 335 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford. Tickets are $40 and include a copy of the book and a reception with Weiner. Tickets: 860-231-6316 or mandelljcc.org.
Nyberg On Hepburn
Ann Nyberg, the WTNV-TV anchor/reporter and author, will launch her new book, “Remembering Katharine Hepburn: Stories of Wit and Wisdom About America’s Leading Lady” (Globe Pequot, $16.95) at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook, on Sunday, Oct. 23, at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $40, which includes a copy of the book, a reception, a reading and conversation and a book signing. The event will benefit the arts center.Tickets and information: katharinehepburntheater.org.
Authors At R.J. Julia
A memoir, a cookbook and the story of a beloved dog will be discussed at R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison. The free events require reservations: 203-2245-3959 or rjjulia.com.
On Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m., Elissa Altman will discuss her memoir, “Treyf: My Life as an Unorthodox Outlaw” (New American Library, $26). Altman is the James Beard Award-winning author of “Poor Man’s Feast.” Her memoir – the title refers to foods forbidden to Jews in the Old Testament as well as things that are offensive, improper and illicit – chronicles the traditions and contradictions of her family’s life in Queens and how they affected her life from the 1940s to today. Altman writes the Washington Post column, “Feeding My Mother,” and has been widely published.
On Thursday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m., Dorie Greenspan, author of “Dorie’s Cookies” (Rux Martin/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $35), will talk about baking cookies.
On Saturday, Oct. 29, at 10:30 a.m., Dana Perino will discuss her book, “Let Me Tell You about Jasper…: How My Best Friend Became America’s Dog” (Twelve, $27). Perino, a host on Fox’s “The Five,” was the first Republican woman to serve as the White House press secretary and served in the George W. Bush administration.
Words That Matter
Poet and writer Kate Rushin will present “Words That Matter: Courageous Conversations,” a poetry reading, talk and interactive workshop on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 219 N. Granby Road, Granby, sponsored by the United Church of Christ congregation of Granby. The event is free, but donations are welcome. Information: 860-653-4537.
Hip Hop Nation
MK Asante will discuss his best-selling memoir, “Buck” (Spiegel & Grau, $16) at Hartford Public Library, 500 Main St., on Tuesday, Oct. 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., in the Center for Contemporary Culture, as part of the library’s free Hip Hop Nation programming. The book is about Asante’s youth in Philadelphia, Pa., which he refers to as Killadelphia, Pistolvania. Information: hplct.org.
![By JAKE COYLE (AP Film Writer) NEW YORK (AP) — “The Fall Guy,” the Ryan Gosling-led, action-comedy ode to stunt performers, opened below expectations with $28.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday, providing a lukewarm start to a summer movie season that’s very much to be determined for Hollywood. The Universal Pictures release opened on […]](https://www.courant.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Film_-_The_Fall_Guy_54148.jpg?w=620 "By JAKE COYLE (AP Film Writer) NEW YORK (AP) — “The Fall Guy,” the Ryan Gosling-led, action-comedy ode to stunt performers, opened below expectations with $28.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday, providing a lukewarm start to a summer movie season that’s very much to be determined for Hollywood. The Universal Pictures release opened on […]")
