Best-selling author Nathaniel Philbrick, whose books include “Mayflower” “Bunker Hill” and “In the Heart of the Sea,” will discuss his memoir “Second Wind: A Sunfish Sailor, an Island, and the Voyage That Brought a Family Together,” at Mystic Congregational Church, 43 E. Main St., Mystic, on Monday, March 12, at 6 p.m.
The book tells how Philbrick, in his late 30s, tried to regain a national sailing championship he had won at 22 and discovered much about the natural world on Nantucket and himself.
His talk is free. Doors will open at 5:30; seating is first come, first served. 860-536-3795 or bsb@mysticbooksinc.com.
Bank Square Books
Bank Square Books, 53 W. Main St., Mystic, will present a signing with local author Richard Shriver, whose book is “Glimpses of an Uncharted Life,” on Saturday, March 17, from 1 to 3 p.m. The book recounts Shriver’s experiences during the Cold War as director of telecommunications and command-and-control systems in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and what he and his wife learned about life and people recovering from the collapse of tyrannies. 860-536-3795 or bsb@mysticbooksinc.com.
Authors At R.J. Julia
Three authors will give free talks about their novels at R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison. Reservations are required: 203-245-3959 or rjjulia.com.
On Monday, March 12, at 7 p.m., Chloe Benjamin and Jill Santopolo will speak. Benjamin is the author of “The Immortalists,” about four siblings who have heard predictions of the day of their death from a psychic and how that knowledge affects their lives. Santopolo’s novel, “The Light We Lost,” is a romantic story of a couple that meets in college and how their relationship changes over 13 years.
On Thursday, March 15, at 7 p.m., Marie Benedict will discuss her novel, “Carnegie’s Maid,” about an Irish immigrant who becomes a servant in the home of wealthy industrialist Andrew Carnegie and helps convert him from a ruthless businessman to a world-famous philanthropist.
Spoken Word & Music
The free Mishi-maya-gat Spoken Word & Music Series returns Thursday, March 15, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., at Manchester Community College’s Dehn Gallery (formerly MCC on Main, now called WORK-SPACE), 903 Main St., Manchester.
At 6:30 p.m., poet and short story writer and essayist DeMisty D. Bellinger, will read. Bellinger is professor of creative writing, women’s studies, and African-American studies at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts.
Chat Noir, a gypsy jazz quartet, will play tunes from the Great American Songbook and European traditions at 8 p.m. manchestercc.edu/mmg, or 860-512-2824.
“The Age Of the Child”
Kristen J. Tsetsi, a Manchester resident and author of “The Age of the Child,” a novel about a world in which contraception is outlawed, abortions result in prison sentences and miscarriages are investigated, will give a free talk Monday, March 12, at 7 p.m. at Manchester Public Library, 586 Main St., Manchester.
Tsetsi also used the pen name Chris Jane to publish the novels “The Year of Dan Palace” and “Pretty Much True” and the short fiction collection “20 Short Stories.” She has been a cab driver, a reporter and columnist and editor of the literary journal “American Fiction,” among other positions. 860-645-0821 or library.townofmanchester.org.
Jane Austen Tea Party
On Tuesday, March 13, at 2 p.m., the Cottage will host a Jane Austen Tea Party with British tea sandwiches, scones and pastries, a reading of classic passages from Austen’s best novels and a discussion of the relative merits of her male protagonists. Wear your loveliest hat. The cost is $20.
Information and registration: 860-877-6099 or StorytellersCottage.com/book-online.
Jane Austen’s World
Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Road, Avon, will host a free Shades of Jane Austen Series: the World of Jane Austen Through Paintings of the Period with Patricia Carr on Tuesday, March 13, at 2 p.m.
The talk, illustrated with slides that include paintings of the time, will explore Austen’s world and the life of country gentry at that time. clarsen@avonctlibrary.info or 860-673-9712, ext. 225.
Wintonbury Poetry Series
The Wintonbury Poetry Series will continue Thursday, March 15, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., at McMahon-Wintonbury Library, 1015 Blue Hills Ave., Bloomfield.
“Poets from East of the River and West of the River” will present Mary Elizabeth Lang, of Bozrah, who will read from her book, “Under Red Cedars,” and other poems. Tarn Granucci, Poet Laureate of Wallingford, will offer a wide variety of themes from his poems. An open mic will follow. Tom Nicotera will host the program. 860-243-9721 or tnicotera@libraryconnection.info.
Chat & Chew
Book Club Bookstore & More, 869 Sullivan Ave., South Windsor, will continue its Chat & Chew Book Club on Tuesday, March 13, at 6 p.m. Participants should read the memoir, “The Cookie Cure” by Susan Stachler and bring favorite cookies to share. 860-432-7411 bookclubct.com.
“The Kitty”
Shawn P. Flynn, author “The Kitty Who Rescued Me After I Rescued Him,” about the pet who helped him through personal difficulties, will give a free talk at Kent Memorial Library, 61 Ffyler Place, Suffield on Wednesday, March 14, at 7 p.m. suffield-library.org or 860-668-3896.
Mystery Book Discussion
Carole Shmurak, of Farmington, who writes the Susan Lombardi mystery novels, will lead a free discussion at Simsbury Public Library, 725 Hopmeadow St., on Monday, March 12, at noon, for the Simsbury Mystery Group’s series, Crime-Solving Clergy, Part 2. The book to be discussed is “In the Bleak Midwinter” by Julia Spencer-Fleming. 860-658-7663.
