Humorist and memoirist David Sedaris will appear at the Shubert Theatre, 247 College St., New Haven on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7:30 p.m., in a program presented by WSHU National Public Radio. Sedaris is admired for his sardonic views and recollections of his quirky family. His best-selling collections of personal essays include “Me Talk Pretty One Day” and “Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls.” At the event, he will read from his work and answer audience questions. Tickets are $49.50 to $59.50 at shubert.com/presentations/current-season/david-sedaris.
One Book One Bloomfield
The Bloomfield Public Libraries will present its fifth annual One Book One Bloomfield program, a community discussion centering on “The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates” (Spiegel & Grau, $26). Written by Wes Moore, it is the true story of two boys in Baltimore with the same name who lived near one another. Both were fatherless and had early run-ins with the law, but the author became a Rhodes scholar, decorated veteran, White House fellow and business leader; the other a murderer serving a life sentence. The book seeks to explain why.
The opening event will be a screening of a video of Moore discussing the book and his life, on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 6:30 p.m. at Prosser Public Library, 1 Tunxis Ave., Bloomfield.
A program of personal stories about being mentored will be held Oct. 10 at Prosser Library. Stories can be emailed to librarian Carol Lennig at clennig@libraryconnection.info. Some will be presented by the senders or read to the audience at the event. Book discussions will follow on Oct. 13 and Oct. 19 at McMahon Winterbury and Prosser libraries and a grand finale will take place Oct. 25 at Prosser Library.
Information: 860-243-9721 or prosserlibrary.info.
Mystery Writers Conference
A Mystery Writers Conference called Mysterium will be held at Wesleyan University’s Usdan University Center, 45 Wyllys Ave., Middletown, on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Award-winning and best-selling writers, as well as an agent, editor, publisher, detective and writing program director, will speak or lead master classes for mystery fans and aspiring writers, and a cocktail party will close the event. Best-selling author and Wesleyan professor Amy Bloom will host, and among the many authors taking part are Laura Lippman, Stephen Carter, Barbara Ross, Roberta Isleib (who also writes as Lucy Burdette), Ann Hood, Chris Knopf and Hirsh Sawhney. The cost is $100 and includes lunch.
Information: mysterium.conference.wesleyan.edu.
‘A Splendid Savage’
Steve Kemper, an author and journalist who lives in West Hartford, will give a free “The Trouble Begins at 5:30” program about his latest book, “A Splendid Savage: The Restless Life of Frederick Russell Burnham” (Norton, $27.95) on Thursday, Oct. 6, following a 5 p.m. reception at the Mark Twain House & Museum Center, 351 Farmington Ave., Hartford.
Information and reservations: 860-247-0998 or marktwainhouse.org.
Vonn At R.J. Julia
On Thursday, Oct. 6, at 6 p.m., R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison, will host a book signing by champion skier and Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn. Her book is “Strong Is the New Beautiful: Embrace Your Natural Beauty, Eat Clean, and Harness Your Power” (Dey Street Books, $27.99).
The book offers advice about improving strength and fitness, eating a healthy diet and maintaining a positive attitude. Admission to the signing line and a copy of the book is $30. Registration is required: 203-245-3959 or rjjulia.com.
Hot Buzz About Books
The annual Jewish Book Festival at Mandell Jewish Community Center, 335 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, opens Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. with Hot Buzz about Books, a panel discussion presenting information on new books from Roxanne Coady, president of R.J. Julia Booksellers; Jennifer Black and Michael Kindness of Penguin/Random House publishers; and author Matthew Dicks.
The event includes dessert, book shopping, giveaways and a Community Book Swap at which guests who donate three books may choose three to take home.
Tickets are $5 in advance or $10 at the door. Information and tickets: 860-231-6316, tickets@mandelljcc.org and mandelljcc.org.
Cooper At Westminster School
Rand Richards Cooper, a writer, reviewer, essayist and author of two novels, will open Westminster School’s free series of fall readings on Thursday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m. The event will be held in Armour Academic Center at the school, 995 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury. The student reader will be senior Sarah Minella.
Information: 860-408-3053.
Choosing Clean Food
Best-selling author Terry Walters presents a free program on “Debunking Clean Food,” which explores conflicting advice on how to “eat clean” and which foods to avoid, on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 6:30 p.m. at Simsbury Public Library, 725 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury.
Walters is the author of two best-selling cookbooks, “Clean Food” and “Clean Start” and has won Nautilus Gold and Silver Book Awards. She runs the blog Eat Clean Live Well. Registration: 860-658-7663 or simsburylibrary.info.
Indie Author Day
Manchester Public Library, 586 Main St., Manchester, will present a free Indie Author Day program on Saturday, Oct. 8.
At 12:30 p.m. a panel of local indie authors, including Dan Foley, John Valeri, Christine Church, Christopher Gay and David Garnes, will discuss finding inspiration, the process of writing, getting published and marketing yourself and your work.
At 2 p.m., a virtual conference will take place with a panel of publishing industry professionals and participating U.S. and Canadian libraries. Information: Rob or Ashley at 860-645-0821 or library.townofmanchester.org.
Mystery Book Discussions
Carole Shmurak, of Farmington, who writes the Susan Lombardi mystery novels, will lead a free discussion on Wednesday, Oct. 5, at 3 p.m., for the Wallingford Mystery Group: An Inspector Calls Series, Part 2, on “Help the Poor Struggler” by Martha Grimes at Wallingford Public Library, 200 N Main St., Wallingford. Information: 203-265-6754.
Books Set In Italy
Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Road, Avon, will conclude its free discussions focusing books set in Italy on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m., with “Beautiful Ruins” by Jess Walter. Copies are available at the library. Information: 860-673-9712, ext. 225 or clarsen@libraryconnection.info.
