The Tenth Annual Connecticut Authors Trail, a series of free talks by local authors presented by a group of Eastern Connecticut libraries, will conclude with two events.
On Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 6:30 p.m. at Norwich Free Academy, 305 Broadway, Norwich (860-887-2505), Mark and Sheri Dursin will discuss their novel, “Labors of an Epic Punk,” a young adult fantasy set in ancient Greece that mirrors the myth of Odysseus.
On Thursday, Sept. 20, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre, 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, the Trail finale will present a free talk by Amy Bloom, a psychotherapist and Distinguished University Writer-in-Residence at Wesleyan University. The latest from the bestselling author of four novels, three story collections, a nonfiction book and a children’s book is the novel “White Houses,” a fictionalized account of the little-known affair that First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt had with journalist Lorena Hickok during her marriage to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Authors featured in the series will sign books at the event.
Information: 1-888-226-7711 or connecticutauthorstrail.org.
Zeldis At Mohegan Sun
Otis Library in Norwich and Bank Square Books of Mystic will present a Delicious Discussions luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 20, at noon, with author Kitty Zeldis, whose latest book is “Not Our Kind.” Tickets are $45 and include her talk, a signed copy of the book and a buffet lunch at Michael Jordan’s Steak House at Mohegan Sun, 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville. Zeldis is the pseudonym used by a novelist and non-fiction writer.
Her new novel, set in post-World War II New York, is about a Jewish woman and a Protestant woman whose friendship sets in motion unexpected consequences. Pre-registration is required: banksquarebooks.com.
Twain Writers Weekend
Registration is open for the Mark Twain House & Museum’s 2018 Writers Weekend, to be held Sept. 29 and Sept. 30 at the Twain Museum, 351 Farmington Ave., Hartford.
The Writers Weekend offers talks by two best-selling authors, Gary Shteyngart and Jodi Picoult, as well as workshops, panel discussions, author talks and book signings. Presenters include author Mary Ann Tirone-Smith, storyteller Matthew Dicks, humor writer Gina Barreca, poet Bessy Reyna, children’s book author Dana Rau, young-adult author CD Bell, theater critic Frank Rizzo, playwright Jacques Lamarre, mystery writer Chris Knopf, travel writer Kim Knox Beckius and novelist Amity Gage, among others.
The cost for the weekend is $250, which includes the Sept. 29 keynote address by Shteyngart and a copy of his new novel, “Lake Success” and Picoult’s Sept. 30 talk and a signed copy of her new book, “A Spark Of Light.” Tickets for Shteyngart’s Mark My Words talk alone are $30; $45 for Picoult’s talk at Immanuel Congregatinal Church, 10 Woodland St., Hartford. Reservations and information: marktwainhoouse.org.
Storyteller’s Cottage
The Storyteller’s Cottage, 750 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, will host Avon author Marilyn Simon Rothstein on Thursday, Sept. 20, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Rothstein will read from her novel, “Husbands and Other Sharp Objects,” the sequel to her debut novel. “Lift and Separate.” The cost is $5. 860-877-6099 or StorytellersCottage.com.
Writers At UConn
Award-Winning TV journalist and author Jack Ford will read from his historical novel, “Chariot on the Mountain,” on Monday, Sept. 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the UConn Barnes & Noble bookstore, 1 Royce Circle, Storrs Center. Ford’s story is based on an unusual alliance between a young slave, her mistress and a socialite in the pre-Civil War South.
Ford, a Yale graduate and former trial attorney, became an anchor/correspondent for Court TV, NBC News, ABC News, and CBS News. He has received two Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, an American Radio and Television Award, a National Headliner Award, and the March of Dimes FDR Award. 860-486-8525.
UConn’s Creative Writing Program will present a free reading by author Brian Sneeden on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m. at the UConn Barnes & Noble Bookstore. ASL interpreters and live captions will be available.
Sneeden’s work includes the poetry collection “Last City” and his poems and translations have appeared in many literary journals. At UConn, he is senior editor of “New Poetry in Translation.” 860-486-8525 or creativewriting.uconn.edu.
R.J. Julia
Authors of a scary mystery based on real events, a horror thriller and a frightening look at fascism in America will give free talks at R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison. All require reservations: 203-245-3959.
On Monday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m., Josepth Olshan will discuss his mystery novel, “Black Diamond Fall,” which is based on two real events: the disappearance Middlebury College student and vandalism of the Robert Frost homestead on one of its campuses. Olshan is the award-winning author of 10 novels and Publisher of Delphinium Books [Harper Collins].
On Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 6:30 p.m., Kerri Maniscalco, author of the bestselling “Stalking Jack the Ripper” series will talk about her latest thriller, “Escaping From Houdini,” involving murders on an opulent ocean liner.
On Thursday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m., Jason Stanley will discuss “How Fascism Works,” a look at the 10 pillars of fascist politics and their effect on American political life. Stanley is Jacob Urowsky Professor of Philosophy at Yale University, author of several books, including “How Propaganda Works,” and a frequent contributor to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Review and other publications.
On Thursday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m. at Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore, 413 Main St., Middletown, Murray Moss and Franklin Getchell will discuss “Please Do Not Touch,” a memoir of the high design art movement of the mid-1990s as exemplified by their SoHo design gallery, MOSS. 860-685-3939 or books@wesleyan.edu.
Hickory Stick Bookshop
he Hickory Stick Bookshop, 2 Green Hill Road, Washington Depot, will host a discussion by author Charles McNair, M.D. of his book, “Soldiers of a Foreign War: A Novel of Vietnam,” on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 2 p.m. It is a story of two American infantry platoons, a three-man North Vietnamese Army combat cell and the staff of a small surgical hospital. McNair was an operating room technician from June, 1969 to June, 1970 in the Tay Ninh province of South Vietnam. 860-868 0525 or hickorystickbookshop.com.
Beeching’s “Hopes and Expectations”
Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, 77 Forest St., Hartford, will present a free talk on Thursday Sept. 20, at 5:30 p.m. by Hartford author Barbara J. Beeching, whose book, “Hopes and Expectations,” explores the origins of the black middle class in Hartford. It is based on more than 200 letters from the 1860s and is the story of three young African Americans who lived in the North. Information: 860-522-9258 or info@stowecenter.org.
Beeching also will discuss her book on Saturday, Sept. 22, at 1 p.m. at Book Club Bookstore & More, 869 Sullivan Ave., South Windsor. Information: 860-432-7411 or bookclubct.com.
Tirone-Smith In Hartford
Mary Ann Tirone-Smith, who captivated readers with her memoir, “Girls of Tender Age,” about growing up in the South End with an autistic brother and experiencing the murder of a schoolmate, will visit the Barnes & Noble/UCONN Bookstore, 18 Front St., Hartford, on Saturday, Sept. 22, at 2 p.m.
In her free “Return to Hartford talk, Tirone-Smith will read from “Girls” and her novel about the Hartford Circus fire, “Masters of Illusion,” and will talk about how the city of Hartford has influenced her writing. 860-263-2270 or Laurie.bompart@uconn.edu.
“The Ancient Nine”
Danbury native and bestselling author, Dr. Ian Smith, will speak Monday, Sept. 17, at 5:45 p.m., at Danbury Library, 170 Main S., Danbury, about his latest thriller, “The Ancient Nine,” a novel about the secret societies at some elite colleges. Smith is a graduate of Yale, Harvard and the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine, a TV personality and author of diet books and fiction.
This event will raise funds for the Hord Foundation, which offers college scholarships to African American students in Danbury. Ten percent of proceeds from book sales will be donated by Byrd’s Books of Bethel, and Smith will match their donation.
Registration is required: 203-797-4505, opt. 3 or http://danburylibrary.org/the-ancient-nine-bestselling-author-danbury-native-dr-ian-smith.
Andersen’s “Auger”
Jonathan Andersen, a Connecticut educator and writer, willgive a free reading from his second collection of poems, “Augur,” on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. at Mansfield Public Library, 54 Warrenville Road (Route 89), Mansfield Center.
“Augur” won the 2017 David Martinson-Meadowhawk PrizeAndersen is a professor of English at Quinebaug Valley Community College. 860-423-2501 or stompsing@gmail.com.
Mystery Discussion
Carole Shmurak, a mystery writer from Farmington, will lead a free talk on Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 3 p.m. at Southington Public Library, 255 Main St., for the Southington Mystery Group: The City by the Bay, Part 1. The book to be discussed is “Listen to the Silence” by Marcia Muller. 860-628-0947.
Pet Rescue
Connecticut author Shawn Flynn will visit The Author’s Table at Hartford Public Library, 500 Main St., Hartford, on Saturday, Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Flynn is the author of the inspirational story, “The Kitty Who Rescued Me After I Rescued Him.” shawnpflynn@yahoo.com or 860-695-6300.
