Much has been published about Donald J. Trump and his quest for the presidency. Now, bestselling author and comedian Michael Ian Black, who lives in Connecticut, has one for those who love political parodies: “A Child’s First Book of Trump” (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $15.99) with illustrations by Marc Rosenthal.
Black will give a free talk on Thursday, July 28, at 7 p.m. at R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison, about his book.
Black is an author, stand-up comedian and actor who appears on TV in “The Jim Gaffigan Show” and other programs. His books include “My Custom Van (and 50 Other Mind-Blowing Essays That Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face)”, the memoir “You’re Not Doing It Right,” and the children’s books “Chicken Cheeks,” “The Purple Kangaroo,” and “A Pig Parade Is a Terrible Idea.” All R.J. Julia events require reservations: 203-245-3959 or rjjulia.com.
“Icarus Also Flew”
A group of poets who studied with Edwina Trentham at her 11th annual summer workshop, called “Icarus Also Flew: Myths, Fairy Tales and the Sacred as Poetic Inspiration,” will give a free reading on Sunday, July 24, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Two Wrasslin’ Cats Coffee House, 374 Town St., East Haddam.
The poets are Pat Barone, Suellyn Callaghan, Meghan DePeau, Debbie Gilbert, Thomasina Levy, Srinivas Mandavilli, Kathleen McIntosh, Lana Orphanides, Kim Perschmann, Lara Slavtcheff, Jay Thumar, Karen Torop and Trentham. Information: 860-873-1472 or 860-891 -8446.
Local Author Festival
The free Local Author Festival presented by Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Road., Avon, will conclude with two programs.
Tuesday, July 26, is Travel Authors Night. Taking part in the 7 p.m. program will be Denis Horgan, author of “The Bangkok World” (Bluefoot Books, $19.95); Timothy Kenny, author of “Far Country: Stories From Abroad and Other Places” (Bottom Dog Press, $18); Glenn Maynard, author of “Strapped Into an American Dream” (Strategic Book Publishing, $16.99); Laura Noe, author of “Traveling with My Son: Journeys of the Heart” (Laura Noe Communications, $19.95) and Bob Wyss, author of “The Man Who Built the Sierra Club, A Life of David Brower” (Columbia University Press, $35).
Mystery Authors Night, on Thursday, July 28, at 7 p.m., will feature Sadie Hartwell, author of “Yarned and Dangerous” (Kensington, $15); Chris Knopf, author of “Cop Job” (The Permanent Press, $29); Edith Maxwell, author of “Delivering the Truth” (Midnight Ink, $14); Kathryn Orzech, author of “Asylum: A Dark Suspense Saga” (Kathryn Orzech, $14.60); and Marian Lanouette, author of “Burn in Hell” (Painted Lady Press, $13.95). Information: 860-673-9712 or avonctlibrary.info.
Connecticut Authors Trail
The 8th Annual Connecticut Authors Trail, a series of free talks at 20 eastern Connecticut libraries, from Mansfield to Mystic, continues with three events and will have its finale on Sept. 15 at Mohegan Sun with romance writer Kristan Higgins.
Martin Herman, a business consultant and author, will speak about his historical thriller, “The Jefferson Files” (194 Rodney Press, $15.95), on Tuesday, July 26, at 7 p.m. at Willington Public Library, 7 Ruby Road, (860-429-3854). The plot involves a murder in 1806, a secret society, a challenge to President Thomas Jefferson and a hidden diary.
John Banks will discuss “Connecticut Yankees at Antietam (The History Press, $19.99), on Thursday, July 28, at 6:30 p.m. at Voluntown Public Library 107 Main St. (860-376-048). More than 200 Union soldiers from the state died at the battle in Maryland on the single bloodiest day of the Civil War. Banks works for ESPN.
Richard J. King, an author, cartoonist and illustrator, will talk about his book, “The Devil’s Cormorant: A Natural History” (ForeEdge, $40), on Saturday, July 30, at 1 p.m. at Bill Memorial Library, 240 Monument St., Groton (860-445-0392). It was named a top five science book of 2013 by Library Journal. King also is the author and illustrator of the comic memoir “Meeting Tom Brady.” He is a lecturer in Literature of the Sea with the Williams College at Mystic Seaport Maritime Studies Program. Information: connecticutauthorstrail.org.
Thread City Poets
Thread City Poets will give a free reading at Julia de Burgos Park at Jackson Street and Terry Avenue in Willimantic on Thursday, July 28, at 6 p.m., followed by an open mike. The informal group of Willimantic-area poets, originally led by Sandy Taylor of the award-winning Curbstone Press, is now led by Edmund Chibeau of Eastern Connecticut State University.
The reading is part of a summer poetry series begun in 2002 and hosted by the Curbstone Foundation, which grew out of Curbstone Press, founded by Taylor and Judy Doyle. Curbstone now is part of Northwestern University Press. Information: 860-287-8056.
Authors At Hickory Stick
The Hickory Stick Bookshop, 2 Green Hill Road, Washington, will host several events.
Author, blogger and historian Peter C. Vermilya will sign copies of “Wicked Litchfield County” (The History Press, $21.99), an account of various criminals and unsavory events in Litchfield’s history, on Sunday, July 24 at 2 p.m.
The bookshop will host a wine-and-cheese Author at 4 reception and discussion on Thursday, July 28, at 4 p.m., featuring bestselling novelist Nan Rossiter, whose latest is “Firefly Summer” (Kensington, $15). Admission is the purchase at the store of the book, which is about four sisters who return to their childhood vacation home on Cape Cod and discover the truth of a past drowning.
Rossiter, the author-illustrator of children’s books and adult novels, lives in rural Connecticut.
She also will give a free talk at R.J. Julia Booksellers on Tuesday, July 26, at 7 p.m. (Reservations: 203-45-3959). Information on Hickory Stick events: 860-868-0525 or hickorystickbookshop.com.
Vietnam Experiences
John Henningson, a former first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, will give a free talk about his book, “Where The Flowers Went: In Poetry and Pictures” (Mira Digital, $20) on Wednesday, July 27, at 2 p.m. at Hagaman Memorial Library, 227 Main Street, East Haven. Henningson’s poetry, paintings and images were inspired by his military experiences in Vietnam. He advocates for rehabilitation programs for veterans and for resources to help restore their self-esteem and productivity. Information: 203-468-3890.
![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 […]")