The free Local Author Festival presented by Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Road, Avon, will continue Tuesday, July 25, at 6:30 p.m. with a Biography/Memoir Author Panel featuring Shawn Flynn, Wendy Rosenberg, Sherry Horton, Sonya Huber, Jack Sheedy, Jeremy Joyell and D. Margaret Hoffman.
The festival’s theme is “Conversations,” and the authors will discuss writing, creativity, editing, various literary categories and more. 860-673-9712, ext. 4, or avonctlibrary.info.
Flynn, whose book, “The Kitty: Who Rescued Me After I Rescued Him” (Abbe Road, $9.95), is about a stray cat that provided love, companionship and healing when Flynn’s life took an unexpected turn, also will appear Saturday, July 29, at 2 p.m. at the Blue Back Square Barnes & Noble, 60 Isham Road, West Hartford. 860-236-9900 or shawnpflynn@yahoo.com.
Authors At R.J. Julia
Several authors will give free talks at R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison. All require reservations: 203-245-3959 or rjjulia.com.
On Tuesday, July 25, at 7 p.m., Meg Mitchell Moore will discuss her novel, “The Captain’s Daughter” (Doubleday Books, $25.95), about a woman who goes back to her Maine hometown to help her injured father and reconnects with an old love. Moore is a journalist and author of three previous novels.
On Wednesday, July 26, at 7 p.m., Alisyn Camerota will discuss her debut book, “Amanda Wakes Up” (Viking, $26), a comic novel about a young reporter who gets a glamorous job at a national cable TV network but encounters personal and professional problems she never expected. Camerota is a TV journalist and co-host of CNN’s morning show New Day and co-hosted Fox News Channel’s Fox + Friends Weekend.
On Thursday, July 27, at 7 p.m., former Chicago Cubs player Adam Greenberg, an All-State native of Connecticut, will talk about his inspirational book, “Get Up: The Art of Perseverance” (Mackenzie Daniel, $20). In 2005, Greenberg was seriously injured by a 92 mile-an-hour fastball in his first at-bat with the Cubs, which effectively ended his career. The book, co-written with Ben Biddick, tells how he overcame this adversity. He later signed a one-day contract with the Miami Marlins in 2012 and was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.
At the new Wesleyan R.J. Julia Bookstore, 413 Main St., Middletown, on Wednesday, July 26, at 7 p.m., author and sports columnist Steve Rushin will talk about his “Sting-Ray Afternoons: A Memoir” (Little Brown and Company, $27), a humorous and poignant account of growing up in the 1970s. Rushin, an award-winning novelist and Sports Illustrated writer, was named 2006 National Sportswriter of the Year and has published four nonfiction books and a novel. He lives in Connecticut, with his wife, Rebecca Lobo, and their children. Information and reservations: wesleyan.edu/rjjuliabookstore or 860-685-3939.
History Of The CCC
Hartford Public Library will present a free talk by author and historian Martin Podskoch, of East Hampton, about his book, “Connecticut Civilian Conservation Corps Camps: Their History, Memories and Legacy” (North Country Books, $24.95) on Tuesday, July 25, at 5:30 p.m., in the Hartford History Center of the library, 500 Main St., Hartford. The book tells how the corps, a Depression-era public works program begun in 1933 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to create jobs, resulted in many projects in state towns, parks and forests. Information: hplct.org or 860-695-6300.
Book Club Bookstore
Book Club Bookstore & More, 869 Sullivan Ave. South Windsor, will host a free conversation with author Benjamin Thomas and reviewer John Valeri on Saturday, July 29, from 1 to 2 p.m. Thomas’s thriller, “Jack Be Quick” (Owl Hollow Press, 14.95): is about someone who tries to emulate the killer Jack the Ripper by involving a paramedic in re-enactments of the murders. 860-432-7411 or bookclubct.com.
Connecticut Author’s Trail
The ninth annual Connecticut Authors Trail, a series of free author talks presented by a consortium of Eastern Connecticut libraries, continues with three programs. The trail will end Sept. 14, at 6:15 p.m., at Mohegan Sun Casino’s Cabaret Theatre with a talk by Connecticut novelist Beatriz Williams.
On Tuesday, July 25, at 6 p.m. at Slater Library, 26 Main St. Jewett City, co-authors and sisters Dory Herman-Sample and Kate Zapadka will discuss their novel, “Poison Patty” (CreateSpace, $10.99), about a tour company for adventurous travelers that encounters a nasty client and a murder. Information: 860-376-0024.
On Wednesday, July 26, at 7 p.m., at Groton Public Library, 52 Newtown Road, Groton, author Susan Kietzman will discuss her fourth novel, “Every Other Wednesday,” (Kensington, $15), about three wives and mothers brought together by a tragedy who help each other redefine themselves. Information: 860-441-6750.
On Thursday, July 27, at 6:30 p.m. at Aldrich Free Public Library, 299 Main St., Moosup, Katherine Hauswirth, of Deep River, author of a compilation of essays, “The Book of Noticing: Collections and Connections on the Trail”(Homebound Publications, $16.89) will speak. Her writing is inspired by the natural world. Information: 860-564-8760. Trail information: 860-642-6207 or connecticutauthorstrail.org.
Golden Wings, Hairy Toes
Hagaman Memorial Library, 227 Main St., East Haven, will present a free talk on Wednesday, July 26, at 6:30 p.m. by natural history writer and author Todd McLeish, about 14 endangered animals and plants in New England, based on his book, “Golden Wings and Hairy Toes: Encounters with New England’s Most Imperiled Wildlife” (UPNE). It and his previous book, “Narwhals: Arctic Whales in a Melting World” (University of Washington Press) also will be available for $20 (cash or check) at the event. Registration: at the library or 203-468-3890.
