The Ninth Annual Connecticut Authors Trail, a series of free author talks presented by Eastern Connecticut libraries, will continue with three programs. The trail will end Sept. 14, at 6:15 p.m., at Mohegan Sun Casino’s Cabaret Theatre, with a program with Connecticut novelist Beatriz Williams.
On Monday, Aug. 7, at 6:30 p.m., at Chaplin Public Library, 130 Chaplin St., Chaplin, author and historian Martin Podskoch will talk about his book, “Connecticut Civilian Conservation Corps Camps: Their History, Memories and Legacy” (North Country Books, $24.95). It tells how the Depression-era public works program begun in 1933 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to create jobs led to many projects in state towns, parks and forests. 860-455-9424.
On Tuesday, Aug. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at Guilford Smith Memorial Library, 17 Main St., South Windham, Susan Strecker, author of “Night Blindness” and “Nowhere Girl,” a murder mystery, will speak. 860-423-5159.
On Wednesday, Aug. 9, at 6:30 p.m., at Waterford Public Library, 49 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford, Christine Whitehead, a lawyer and author, will speak. Her latest is the mystery thriller “A Rage of Plum Blossoms” (CreateSpace, $9.99), and she is at work on “Hemingway’s Daughter,” a novel about the fictional Finn Hemingway, who is both blessed and blighted by her father’s fame. 860-444-5805. Trail information: 860-642-6207 or connecticutauthorstrail.org.
Goduti In Avon
Avon Public Library, 281 Country Club Road, Avon, will host a talk by Connecticut author Philip A. Goduti on Thursday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m.
His latest book is “Robert F. Kennedy and the Shaping of Civil Rights, 1960-1964” (McFarland, $45). It explores the importance of President John F. Kennedy and his brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, to the civil rights movement, along with leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr., John Lewis and James Meredith.
A former reporter, Goduti is an adjunct assistant professor of history at Quinnipiac University and also teaches at Somers High School, where he was named 2017 Somers Public Schools Teacher of the Year. 860-673-9712 or avonctlibrary.info.
‘Bagel Beach’
The author of a novel set at a Woodmont beach colony popular with Jewish families known as Bagel Beach will give a talk sponsored by the Jewish Historical Society on Tuesday, Aug. 8, at 6 p.m. at the Community Services Building, 333 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford.
Elizabeth Poliner’s novel, “As Close to Us As Breathing” (Lee Boudreaux Books, $27), is about three sisters who spend their summers at the family’s beach house while their husbands remain at home to work. While observing Jewish traditions, some are tempted by forbidden romances and a tragedy affects the family’s relationships and future.
The cost to attend is $5, and attendees are asked to bring a dairy picnic dinner. Ice cream sundaes will be provided. Reservations: lnewman@jewishhartford.org, jhsgh.org or 860-727-6170.
Avon Local Authors Festival
The free Local Author Festival hosted by Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Road, Avon, whose theme is “Conversations,” will continue with a panel discussion by mystery writers on Tuesday, Aug. 8, at 6:30 p.m. Chris Knopf, Dawn Leger, Carole Shmurak, Penny Goetjen, Steve Liskow, and Martin Herman will speak. 860-673-9712, ext. 4, or avonctlibrary.info.
Authors At RJ Julia
War stories and noir stories will be discussed at R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison. Reservations are required: 203-245-3959 or rjjulia.com.
On Wednesday at 7 p.m., Kenneth E. Miller, a psychologist and the author of “War Torn: Stories of Courage, Love, and Resilience” (Larson Publications, $17.95), will give a free talk. His book is about civilians in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Guatemala and Sri Lanka caught up in the horrors unleashed by armed conflict.
On Thursday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m., Amy Bloom, editor of the anthology “New Haven Noir” (Akashic Books, $15.95),and contributors Alice Mattison, Roxana Robinson, Stephen L. Carter, and Hirsh Sawhney will speak. The book, the latest in Akashic’s “noir” series, offers 15 original stories, each set in a neighborhood in or near New Haven.
Also on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. at the Wesleyan R.J. Julia Bookstore, 413 Main St., Middletown, Erik Ofgang, author of “Gillette Castle: A History” (History Press, $21.99), will give a free talk.
Ofgang is an award-winning writer, musician and magician. His book explores the 24-room medieval castle-style home built by William Gillette, the actor who portrayed Sherlock Holmes. It is now a landmark and state park. wesleyan.edu/rjjuliabookstore or 860-685-3939.
Bank Square Books
Bank Square Books, 53 W. Main St., Mystic, will host two authors for a free reading on Wednesday, Aug. 9 at 6 p.m. Suzanne Palmieri, of North Branford, will discuss “The Witch House of Persimmon Point” (St. Martin’s Griffin, $16.99). The story traces a family history of hauntings, magical powers and a woman who overcomes tremendous odds to build a new life. Alice Kaltman will talk about “Staggerwing” (Tortoise Books, $14.99), her story collection about such characters as “misfit trophy wives, psychic hotel maids, jilted bridegrooms, show tune-singing security guards and assorted other oddballs.”
On Thursday, Aug. 10, at 6:30 p.m., the bookstore will host a talk with wine and beer by Rick Campbell and Liz Michalski. Campbell’s novel, “Blackmail,” (St. Martin’s Press, $25.99), is a thriller about possible world domination by an ascendant Russia. Campbell is a retired Navy Commander who served on four nuclear-powered submarines and has written several thrillers with naval themes. Michalski has been a reporter and editor. Her 2011 novel, “Evenfall,” was published by Berkley. In it, a ghost with regrets about the woman he should have married reaches out from the beyond to right some past wrongs. Reservations: 860-536-3795 or banksquarebks@msn.com.
Book Club Bookstore
The author of a LGBTQ history book for young adults will give a free talk at Book Club Bookstore & More, 869 Sullivan Ave. Ste. 6, South Windsor.
On Thursday, Aug. 10, at 6 p.m., Sarah Prager, an activist and author of “Queer, There, and Everywhere : 23 People Who Changed the World” (HarperCollins, $17.99), will discuss her stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals who made world history. South Windsor Alliance for Progress is co-sponsoring the event.
On Saturday, Aug. 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the bookstore will have a booth at an Authors at the Market event at the South Windsor Farmers’ Market, 150 Nevers Road, South Windsor. Maria Carvalho, Liz Delton, R. C. Goodwin, Donna Marie Merritt and Benjamin Thomas will chat and sign books for visitors to the booth. 860-432-7411 or bookclubct.com.
