Meet James Hall, author of The Big Finish, at Wednesday, Jan. 14, 7 p.m., at Inkwood Books.
University of Tampa’s Lectores series continues with Steve Kistulentz, director of UT’s MFA creative writing program, and author Richard Bausch reading Wednesday, Jan. 14, 7:30 to 9 p.m. Kyle Minor, Amina Gautier and Michael Garriga will read Thursday, Jan. 15, 7:30 to 9 p.m. All readings, which are free and open to the public, will take place in UT’s Reeves Theater.
Author Liz Coursen presents the history of segregation in Florida Thursday, Jan. 15, 11 a.m. at the North Greenwood Library in Clearwater. She’ll alternate first-person remembrances and real-life visual images of the time. Later that day, she’ll head to the Clearwater Main Library from 3 to 5 p.m. to explore Florida’s history from the early 1900s through its transformation as a vacation paradise in the 1950s using vintage postcards to illustrate the story.
Meet children’s authors Cathy Finch White (Scary Bully) and Melinda Rabin (Mad Maggie’s Adventures) Thursday, Jan. 15, 5:30 p.m., at the Brandon Square Barnes & Noble.
Inkwood’s official book club meets Thursday, Jan. 15, 7 p.m. This month’s selection is Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.
Join Michael Garriga, author of The Book of Duels, for Happy Hour Friday, Jan. 16, 5 to 7 p.m., at Inkwood Books.
Margo Hammond, book critic and author, will interview Nicole Hollander, cartoonist and writer, at the Salvador Dali Museum Friday, Jan. 16, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Hollander’s daily comic strip, Sylvia, was syndicated to newspapers nationally by Tribune Media Services and also can be seen on her blog, BadGirl Chats. Cost is $5; museum members get in free.
The Florida Writer’s Association writing group meets at the Carrollwood Barnes & Noble Saturday, Jan. 17, 10 a.m. Aspiring writers and published authors are welcome.
Sports agent Sean Stellato will sign copies of his book No Backing Down Saturday, Jan. 17, 11:30 a.m., at the Tyrone Square Barnes & Noble. No Backing Down is a story about Salem High School’s 1994 teachers’ strike that resulted in head football coach Ken Perrone’s decision to defy an order to cease and desist coaching his team. Stellato will be joined by Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Andrew DePaolo.
Become a hometown tourist with local author Kristen Hare. Hare will discuss her book 100 Things to Do in Tampa Bay Before You Die at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library Saturday, Jan. 17, 1 to 2 p.m. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.
Improbable Anthenaeum presents a script-in-hand presentation of scenes from Zora Neal Hurston’s Polk County Saturday, Jan. 17, 2 to 4 p.m., at the Seminole Heights Branch Library. The show will feature powerhouse performer Tia Jemison, Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay “Best Actress” winner last year.
Celebrate the birthday of everyone’s favorite macabre poet. The Venture Compound will host the third annual Edgar Allen Poe Birthday Bash Saturday, Jan. 17, 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Featured poets Wayne S. Williams, Figment The’emcee, Michael Couling, Maureen McDole and C. Abraham Bellamy will read their own work as well as pieces by Poe. The evening will also include music from Direwood, Whitey Alabastard, Dogs in Reverse, Hell Garbage, Tired Kingdom, LILITH and Figment The’emcee. Cost is $5 per person.
Join best-selling author Jess Walter (Beautiful Ruins) as he kicks off the reading series at the 11th annual Eckerd College Writers' Conference: Writers in Paradise Saturday, Jan. 17. His reading will be followed by a Q&A with Laura Lippman. David Yoo and Les Standiford will read Sunday, Jan. 18. Readings start at 8 p.m. and will be held in Eckerd’s Miller Auditorium. A wine and cheese reception will take place at 7:30 p.m. These readings are free and open to the public.
This article appears in Jan 8-14, 2015.