Steven G. Smith, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, will give a free talk at Tolland Public Library, 21 Tolland Green, on Tuesday, May 15, at 6:30 p.m., about his book, “Under the Dark Sky: Life in the Thames River Basin.”
Smith’s book, published by Wesleyan Press, has many color photos showing rural life in eastern Connecticut and southern Massachusetts. Its foreword is by Steve Grant, who wrote about nature and adventure travel for the Courant for 29 years.
Smith is an associate professor of visual journalism at UConn whose photos have appeared in The New York Times, CNN and USA Today. He shared in a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of wildfires in Colorado in 2003 for the Rocky Mountain News.
His talk is part of the Eaton-Dimock-King Authors Series sponsored by the Tolland Public Library Foundation. Registration is required: 860-871-3620 or at tolland.org/library.
R.J. Julia Events
Novelists of books for young readers and adults, a champion fisherman and an ESPN host will give free talks about their books at R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison. Reservations are required: 203-245-3959 or rjjulia.com.
On Tuesday, May 15, at 7 p.m., Connecticut author Chandra Prasad will discuss her debut young adult novel, “Damselfly,” a contemporary, girl-focused story inspired by “The Lord of the Flies.” Prasad also will speak Thursday, May 17, at 7 p.m., at North Haven Barnes & Noble, 470 Universal Drive North, North Haven. 203-234-1805
On Wednesday, May 16, at 7 p.m., R.J. Julia will host a talk by Heather Abel about her novel, “The Optimistic Decade,” which follows five characters with ties to some land in the far West that changes their lives. Abel is a former political reporter and editor.
On Thursday, May 17, at 7 p.m., Greg Myerson and Tim Gallagher, authors of “Born to Fish: How an Obsessed Angler Became the World’s Greatest Striped Bass Fisherman.” Myerson, who grew up in Wallingford, overcame learning disabilities, drug abuse and mob influence on his family to become a record-holding striped bass fisherman, authority on the life cycles of the bass and inventor of the RattleSinker lure, and then an advocate for no-kill catch-and-release tournaments. Gallagher is the award-winning author of “the Grail Bird.”
On Saturday, May 19, at 3 p.m., best-selling author and ESPN television personality Mike Greenberg and his wife Stacy Steponate Greenberg will talk about their book, “Most Valuable Puppy.” Their Australian Labradoodle, Phoebe, will accompany them. All the authors’ proceeds will go to the Heidi’s Angels Foundation, which fights pediatric cancer through its support of the V Foundation for Cancer Research.
At Wesleyan R.J. Julia Bookstore, 413 Main St., Middletown, on Saturday, May 19, at 5 p.m., Women of the NAACP will present a free talk by Gloria F. Perry, a Connecticut dentist and author of novels with romantic themes.
Information: Wesleyan.edu/rjjuliabookstore or 860-685-3939.
Nicaraguan Poems
Hartford/Ocotal Sister City Project and Hartford Public Library will sponsor a free reading and discussion of poetry written by seven Nicaraguan women at the library, 500 Main St., at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16, for the library’s Bridging Cultures Series.
The poems are from the Spanish/English anthology. “IXOK AMAR*GO: Central American Women’s Poetry for Peace.” Attendees may bring a brown bag lunch, and light refreshments will be available. 860-695-6337 or hplct.org
Spoken Word & Music
The Mishi-maya-gat Spoken Word & Music Series will continue Thursday, May 17, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., in Manchester Community College’s Dehn Gallery at WORK-SPACE, 903 Main St., Manchester.
At 6:30 p.m. poets Joan Hofmann and Elaine Zimmerman will read. Hofmann is poet laureate of Canton, and her poems have been published in many journals and anthologies, as well as two chapbooks, including “Alive” in 2017. Zimmerman also is widely published in literary journals and anthologies.
Internationally acclaimed chamber string quartet Cuatro Puntos will perform at 8 p.m. manchestercc.edu/mmg or 860-512-2824.
Bank Square Books
Bank Square Books, 53 W. Main St., Mystic, will offer free talks and signings by Connecticut authors of novels and nonfiction books.
On Tuesday, May 15, at 6:30 p.m., Connecticut native Joanna Cantor will discuss her debut novel, “Alternative Remedies for Loss,” an amusing coming-of-age story about losing a parent and finding a life.
On Thursday, May 17, at 6:30 p.m., the bookstore’s Self-Improvement Series will host author Michelle Jacobik, who will discuss her guidebook, “Prosperity After Divorce: Take charge of your finances & create the life you really want using Lifestyle Re-Design Planning.” Jacobik is a budget coach who offers financial advice and divorce support programs.
On Saturday, May 19, from 1 to 3 p.m., Melissa Verdier will sign copies of her debut novel, “Fences and Walls, a coming of age story about a family coping with a crisis and facing the exposure of a deep secret. Verdier is a retired art teacher.
Information: 860-536-3795 or banksquarebks.com
Henson Film And Book
On Thursday, May 17, at 7 p.m., Kent Memorial Library of Suffield will host a free showing at the Suffield Senior Center, 145 Bridge St. Suffield of “Josiah,” a documentary film on the journey of Josiah Henson from 41 years as a slave to freedom in Canada, where he became a preacher and orator. Jared Brock, the film’s maker, will speak about it and his book, “The Road to Dawn: Josiah Henson and the Story That Sparked the Civil War.” Reservations: 860-668-3896 or suffield-library.org.
Storyteller’s Cottage
The Storyteller’s Cottage, 750 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, will host a Murder in the Library program with local author Dawn Leger in its Jules Verne Steampunk Library. The cost is $5.
On Sunday, May 13, from 3 to 4 p.m., Leger will read from her mystery novel, “Embracing the Fool.” Reservations: 860-877-6099 or StorytellersCottage.com.
Avon Library Events
Avon author Marilyn Simon Rothstein has published a second novel. “Husbands and Other Sharp Objects,” a sequel to her funny and poignant “Lift and Separate.” The book continues the story of Marcy Hammer, a midlife wife and mother whose brassiere manufacturer husband left her for a shapely and younger model. Now Marcy is coping with a new romance, her regretful ex, the wedding of her daughter and difficult future in-laws. Rothstein will give a free talk on Thursday, May 17, at 7 p.m. at Avon Public Library, 281 Country Club Road, Avon.
The library’s free monthly Morning Book Club will meet Wednesday, May 16, at 10:15 a.m. to discuss “Ice Bound” by Dr. Jerri Nielsen, a true story of her self-discovery through her extraordinary struggle for survival at the South Pole.
Information: 860-673-9712, ext. 4, or avonctlibrary.info.
Mystery Book Discussion
Carole Shmurak, of Farmington, will lead a free discussion at Simsbury Public Library, 725 Hopmeadow St., on Monday, May 14, at noon, for the Simsbury Mystery Group’s series, Crime-Solving Clergy, Part 4. The book is “The Rosary Murders” by William Kienzle. 860-658-7663
Portland Authors
A free talk by author Frank Connolly will continue the Spring Portland Authors Series, featuring writers who live in the town, on Tuesday, May 15, at 7 p.m. at Portland Library, 20 Freestone Ave., Portland.
Connolly will discuss his latest novel, “Hidden Agendas: Inside Town Hall,” a book about small-town politics based on his long experience working in local government. He was town manager of North Branford, Newington and Coventry, and was Coventry’s first town planner. 860-342-6770
Sports Activism
Historian Amy Bass, author of “One Goal,” the story of a high school soccer team that united a racially divided town, and “Not the Triumph, But the Struggle:1968 Olympics and the Making of the Black Athlete” will discuss the role of athletes in cultural and political issues on Monday, May 17, at 5:30 p.m. at a free Salons at Stowe program at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, 77 Forest St., Hartford. harrietbeecherstowecenter.org
Samia At B&N
Avon author Lisa Samia, whose books include “The Man with the Ice Blue Eyes” and “The Nameless and the Faceless of the Civil War,” will appear Saturday, May 19, from 3 to 4 p.m.. at Barnes & Noble UConn Hartford Bookstore, 18 Front St., Hartford. 860-263-2270 or Laurie.bompart@uconn.edu
