Authors will give free talks about their latest books at R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison. Registration is required: 203-245-3959 or rjjulia.com.
On Tuesday, May 8, at 6 p.m., best-selling and award-winning author Brendan Kiely will discuss his novel, “Tradition,” about an elite private school whose sterling reputation masks some dark and dangerous behaviors.
On Wednesday, May 9, at 7 p.m., thriller author Jenny Milchman will give a talk on “Wicked River,” about a newlywed couple honeymooning in an isolated area and being secretly watched by a man with evil intent.
On Thursday, May 10, at 7 p.m., Blanche McCrary Boyd will discuss her first novel in 20 years, “Tomb of the Unknown Racist.” This book by the Connecticut college professor and award-winning author of “The Revolution of Little Girls” and “Terminal Velocity” is the third in a trilogy that continues her exploration of political activism, the white supremacy movement and the life of her character, Ellen Burns.
At Wesleyan R.J. Julia, 413 Main St., Middletown (860-685-3939), Abby Fabiaschi, author of “I Liked My Life,” will give a free talk on Tuesday, May 8, at 7 p.m. Fabiaschi’s debut novel is about an apparently happy wife and mother who commits suicide. When, from the beyond, she sees her husband and teenage daughter struggling, she tries to help, going so far as to find him a possible new love.
On Wednesday, May 9, at 7 p.m., Victoria Smolkin will discuss her nonfiction book, “A Sacred Space Is Never Empty: A History of Soviet Atheism,” which follows the Soviet attempt to replace religion with state-sponsored atheism from 1917 to 1991.
“Map Of Salt And Stars”
Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar, the Syrian-American author of “The Map of Salt and Stars,” will give free talks on Tuesday, May 8, at 7 p.m. at R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison (203-245-3959) and on Wednesday, May 9, at 6 p.m. at Bank Square Books, 53 W. Main St., Mystic (860-536-3795).
Joukhadar’s debut novel is the story of two girls who lived 800 years apart: a modern-day Syrian refugee and a medieval adventurer apprenticed to a mapmaker, both driven by circumstance into exile and a journey across the Middle East.
“Lady Killers”
Tori Telfer’s online Jezebel column,”Lady Killers,” inspired her book, “Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History,” which Telfer will discuss in a free talk on Thursday, May 10, at 7 p.m. at Wesleyan R.J. Julia Booksellers, 413 Main St., Middletown (860-685-3939). She also will speak on Wednesday, May 9, at noon at a luncheon at Breakwater, 66 Water St., Stonington. Tickets are $45 and include a meal and signed copy. Information and registration: banksquarebooks.com.
The book is a history of female serial killers written with a feminist angle and a darkly humorous tone that dismisses stereotypes and sexist clichés.
Bank Square Books
Bank Square Books, 53 W. Main St., Mystic, will host book signings and free talks.
On Sunday, May 6, from 1 to 3 p.m., Connecticut young adult author Steven Parlato will sign copies of “The Precious Dreadful,” which combines romance and humor with the paranormal.
On Saturday, May 12, from 4 to 6 p.m., Mystic author Bette MacGregor Collins will sign copies of “Meditations on the Stained Glasses of Calvary.”
On Thursday, May 10, at 6:30 p.m., local author Karen C. L. Anderson’s will talk about her book, “Difficult Mothers, Adult Daughters,” a guide to separating from an emotionally difficult relationship without guilt and distress. Anderson is an author, storyteller and master-certified life coach.
On Saturday, May 12, at 1 p.m., local author Marc Youngquist will discuss “The 143rd in Iraq: Training the Iraqi Police, In Spite of It All.” He tells how a Connecticut National Guard Military Police Company made the difficult and dangerous attempt to recruit and train an Iraqi Police Force in 2003 and 2004.
Information: 860-536-3795 or banksquarebooks.com.
Where’s Your Walden?
Robert Thorson, professor of geology at UConn and author of “The Guide to Walden Pond,” will give a free talk at Wallingford Public Library, 200 North Main St., Wallingford, at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8.
“Where’s Your Walden? Using Thoreau’s Technique for Enhancing Your Own Local Refuge in Nature,” will explore how 19th century author and philosopher Henry David Thoreau found a personal refuge at Walden Pond in Concord, Mass., and how readers can find their own. 203-265-6754 or wallingford.lioninc.org.
Book Club Bookstore
Lucy Anne Hurston, niece of Harlem Renaissance author Zora Neale Hurston, will take part in a celebration of the release of the previously unpublished novel, “Barracoon,” on Tuesday, May 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Book Club Bookstore & More, 869 Sullivan Ave., South Windsor.
Zora Neale Hurston’s most famous work was “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” Her “Barracoon” details the horror and injustice of slavery through the true story of a survivor of the Atlantic slave trade who was kidnapped in Africa and sent to America on the last “Black Cargo” ship. Reservations: 860-432-7411 or bookclubct.com.
Storyteller’s Cottage
Newington author Steve Liskow will discuss his 13th novel, “Before You accuse Me,” which is the fourth in his Chris “Woody” Guthrie series of mysteries, at a Murder in the Library event at the Storyteller’s Cottage, 750 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, on Sunday, May 6, at 3 p.m. Cost: $5.
On Thursday, May 10, at 7 p.m., a free Author Night will feature poems, both traditional and unconventional, about love by award-winning poet Joan Kantor. 860-877-6099.
Riverwood Poetry Series
Riverwood Poetry Series will present a free poetry performance by Sean Thomas Dougherty called “Suturing Words: Labor, Love and Long Term Illness,” followed by a discussion, on Thursday, May 10, at 7 p.m. at The Universalist Church of West Hartford, 433 Fern St., West Hartford. Doors will open at 6:45 p.m., and donations will be gratefully accepted.
Dougherty is the author or editor of 15 books. He lives in Pennsylvania and is a medical technician and caregiver for people with traumatic brain injury. riverwoodpoetry.net
Charter Oak Readings
On Sunday, May 6, at 3 p.m., poets Donna Fleischer and Leslie McGrath will give a free reading at Charter Oak Cultural Center, 21 Charter Oak Ave. Hartford, following an open mic. Fleischer is widely published in small independent press chapbooks, anthologies and journals. McGrath won the Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry and has published three poetry collections. charteroakreadings.blogspot.com or 860-508-2810.
Hickory Stick Bookshop
Author Susan Buckley and illustrator Dana Catharine will discuss their book, “Eating with Peter: A Gastronomic Journey” on Sunday, May 6, at 2 p.m. at The Hickory Stick Bookshop, 2 Green Hill Road, Washington Depot. The book chronicles Susan and Peter Buckley’s world travel seeking the delights of haute cuisine. The book includes 28 recipes. 860-868-0525 or hickorystickbookshop.com.
Wintonbury Poetry Workshops
Maria Sassi, a former West Hartford Poet Laureate, will lead two free workshops at McMahon-Wintonbury Library, 1015 Blue Hills Ave., Bloomfield.
On Thursday, May 10, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., a flying with Words workshop will teach how to give free verse more rhythm and flow. On Thursday, May 17, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., a workshop on ekphrasis poetry will teach how artwork can inspire a poem. Registration: 860-242-0041 or prosserlibrary.info.
Mystery Book Discussion
Carole Shmurak, of Farmington, will lead a free discussion on Tuesday, May 8, at 3 p.m., at Southington Public Library, 255 Main St., for the Southington Mystery Group: City of Angels, Part 2: of “Devil in a Blue Dress” by Walter Mosley. 860-628-0947.
Cantor In Avon
On Thursday, May 10, at 6:30 p.m., at Avon Library, 281 Country Club Road, Avon, author Joanna Cantor will be interviewed about her debut novel, “Alternative Remedies for Loss,” a coming-of-age story about losing a parent and finding a life. 860-673-9712 or avonctlibrary.info.
Roar Reading Series
The Roar Reading Series, presented by Elephant Rocks Books on the first Monday of each month at the UConn Barnes & Noble Bookstore, 1 Royce, Circle, 101 Storrs Center, Storrs, will offer a free reading on Monday, May 7, at 7 p.m. with Aimee Pozorski, a professor of English at CCSU who directs its MA Program in Literature; Gerda Walz-Michaels, who has taught at colleges in Connecticut and published several poetry collections; and Daniel Donaghy, a professor of English at ECSU and author of four poetry collections. roarreadingseries.com.
