The R.J. Julia bookstores in Madison and Middletown will present free talks, except as noted, by authors of novels and books about sports.
At R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison, on Tuesday, March 27, at 7 p.m., Amy Bass, author of “One Goal: A Coach, a Team, and the Game That Brought a Divided Town Together,” will discuss her book, which recounts how conflicts spurred by Somali refugees settling in Lewiston, Me., were reduced when the high school soccer team recruited Somalis.
On Thursday, March 29, at 7 p.m., author Brock Clarke discuss his absurdist and satirical story collection, “The Price of the Haircut.” Clarke is the author of two previous collections and four novels.
Reservations: 203-245-3959 or rjjulia.com.
At Wesleyan R.J. Julia Bookstore, 413 Main St., Middletown, a Local and Independent Author Event will take place Sunday, Mar. 25, at 3 p.m. The writers are Dan Blanchard, author of “The Storm,” about a struggling teenager; Michael Milardo, author of “Bobby Stitch,” the story of a boxer; and Jason Romano, author of the memoir, “Live to Forgive.”
On Monday, March 26 7 p.m., Pat Thomas, author of “Did It! From Yippie to Yuppie: Jerry Rubin, An American Revolutionary,” will discuss his art book/biography of the radical anti-Vietnam activist and Chicago 8 defendant.
On Thursday, March 29, at 7 p.m., former UConn and NBA star Ray Allen will sign copies of his memoir, “From the Outside.” Tickets are $27.99 and include a copy of the book, about Allen’s work ethic, friendships and rivalries, great teams and how to achieve a successful career.
An “It’s (Almost) Opening Day!” discussion on Tuesday, March 27, at 7 p.m. will present two authors. Paul Hensler’s “The New Boys of Summer: Baseball’s Radical Transformation in the Late Sixties,” tells how the sport handled the challenges of the Civil Rights Movement, political assassinations, war, drugs and other social upheavals. Hensler is a baseball historian and member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). William Ryczek’s “Baseball on the Brink: The Crisis of 1968,” describes how Major League Baseball was losing popularity in the late 1960s, but made changes and began a comeback. Ryczek, a finance professional from Wallingford, writes about early baseball, football, the Yankees and the Mets.
Information and tickets: 860-685-3939 or wesleyan.edu/rjjuliabookstore.
Winning Authors Event
On Wednesday, March 28, at 7 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville, best-selling author Elizabeth George will discuss her new crime thriller about British detectives Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers, “The Punishment She Deserves.” George is the author of 20 psychological suspense novels, three young adult novels, a book of nonfiction and two story collections. Admission is free with the purchase of a copy through Bank Square Books before or at the event, or $5 without a purchase. 860-536-3795 or banksquarebooks.com.
Far Right Rising
Vegas Tenold, author of “Everything You Love Will Burn: Inside the Rebirth of White Nationalism in America,” will speak Thursday, March 29, at 6 p.m. at La Grua Center, 32 Water St. Stonington, presented by the Center and Bank Square Books. A $5 donation to the Center is suggested.
Tenold, who writes about the far right in America, human rights issues in Russia and conflicts in Africa and the Middle East, lived among white nationalists to report on their ideology. His book shows how racially motivated violence is rising as some American politicians validate the perceived grievances of these movements. 860-536-3795 or banksquarebooks.com.
Twain Talk
Kerry Driscoll, a noted Twain scholar, will give a free “The Trouble Begins at 5:30” talk, following a 5 p.m. reception, on Wednesday, March 28, at the Mark Twain House & Museum, 351 Farmington Ave., Hartford.
Her talk, “‘My Love and Patriarchal Blessing:’ Mark Twain and the Saturday Morning Club of Hartford” is about Twain’s support of this group of upperclass young single women.
Driscoll is professor of English at the University of Saint Joseph and a Scholar in Residence at Elmira College Center for Mark Twain Studies. Registration: marktwainhouse.org or 860-247-0998.
Book Award Nominations
The Connecticut Book Awards, presented annually by the Connecticut Center for the Book at Connecticut Humanities, is accepting submissions through April 20 for its 2018 competition.
The awards go to authors and illustrators who have published books in 2017 in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and young readers. Finalists will be named in September, and winners will be honored in October.
The Center is Connecticut’s affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. ctbook@cthumanities or ctcenterforthebook.org/submission-guidelines.
UConn Hartford Bookstore
The Barnes & Noble UConn Hartford Bookstore, 18 Front St., Hartford, will host two free events.
On Tuesday, March 27, at 6 p.m., Keith Stavely and Kathleen Fitzgerald will discuss their book, “United Tastes: The Making of The First American Cookbook.”
On Thursday, March 29, at 5:30 p.m., Mary Collins and Donald Collins will talk about “At the Broken Places: A Mother and Trans Son Pick Up the Pieces.” 860-263-2270 or Laurie.bompart@uconn.edu.
“Soil And Shul”
A talk by the author of “Soil and Shul in the Berkshires, The Untold Story of Sandisfield’s Jewish Farm Colony,” will take place Sunday, March 25, at 2 p.m. at the Connecticut Spring Antiques Show at the Hartford Armory, 360 Broad St., Hartford. There is free parking in the Legislative Office Building garage.
Lorraine German, who owns Mad River Antiques in East Granby with her husband, Steve, will discuss her book about Jewish families who settled in Sandisfield, Mass., in 1902 in a Jewish Agricultural and Industrial Aid Society of New York plan to create a Jewish agricultural colony in the Berkshires. Show admission of $15 is required. A $5 off coupon is available at ctspringantiquesshow.com. 860-345-2400.
Celebrating Richard Wilbur
A celebration of former U.S. Poet Laureate Richard Wilbur will be held Tuesday, March 27, at 7 p.m., at Wesleyan University’s Memorial Chapel, 221 High St, Middletown. Wilbur won a National Book Award and two Pulitzer Prizes and taught at Wesleyan for 25 years.
Speakers are Robert and Mary Bagg, authors of a Wilbur biography; Suzanna Tamminen, editor of the Wesleyan University Press; former Wilbur student William Blakemore; former state poet laureate Marilyn Nelson; and poet Clare Rossini. agreene@wesleyan.edu or rmcquil@comcast.net.
Poetry Book Launch
A free poetry book launch and mini-exhibition will take place Sunday, March 25, at 2 p.m., at Canton Gallery on the Green, 5 Canton Green, Canton.
Joan Hofmann, poet laureate of Canton, will read from her chapbook, “Alive,” illustrated by Canton artist Walter Kendra, whose oil monotypes will be on exhibit. Poets John Surowiecki and Tony Fusco also will read. jhofmann@usj.edu.
Stevens Poetry Program
The 55th Wallace Stevens Poetry Program will present free readings by poet, memoirist and musician Joy Harjo, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, at Konover Auditorium, Dodd Center, 405 Babbidge Road on the UConn Storrs campus, and on Thursday, March 29 at 1:30 p.m. at Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, 162-170 Huyshope Ave., Hartford.
Harjo has published eight poetry collections and a memoir. She won the 2015 Wallace Stevens Award from the Academy of American Poets, among other honors, has released five award-winning CDs of her saxophone music and is professor of English and creative writing at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. wallacestevens.uconn.edu.
Storyteller’s Cottage
At the Storyteller’s Cottage, 750 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, three local authors, Fredericka Close, Elizabeth Gibbs and Janet Verney, will give a free talk on Wednesday, March 28, at 7 p.m. Cost: $5. Registration: 860-877-6099 or StorytellersCottage.com.
Poets On Poetry
Hartford Public Library and Connecticut Poetry Society will continue the free monthly discussion of a famous poet’s work at the library, 500 Main St., Hartford, from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31.
Former West Hartford Poet Laureate Christine Beck will host a discussion by poet Kate Rushin on the work of Claudia Rankine. 860-695-6300 or hplct.org or ctpoetry.net.
Hickory Stick Bookshop
Tovah Martin will sign copies of “The Garden in Every Sense and Season” at The Hickory Stick Bookshop, 2 Green Hill Road, Washington Depot, on Saturday, March 31, at 2 p.m. The book’s 100 essays offer advice and reflections on Martin’s garden. 860-868-0525 or hickorystickbookshop.com.
Central Authors
Central Authors, free talks about books by CCSU faculty, staff members or alumni, continues Wednesday, March 28, at 12:15 p.m., in the Student Center Bookstore on the campus at 1615 Stanley St., New Britain.
Lynda Valerie and Ernest Pancsofar will discuss their books, “Promoting Social Emotional Learning in the Classroom: Creativity, Connections, and Engagement” and “Impacting Literacy through Home and Community Connections.” 860-832-2759 or gigliotti@ccsu.ed.
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