Las Vegas Book Briefs for Dec. 11-17, 2014

The Writer's Block co-owner Scott Seeley talks about the back-of-house meeting space at The Writer's Block. Once it is complete, he plans to offer after-school writing programs for children and a meeting and studio space for writers and writing groups in the flexible space. (Ginger Meurer/View)

Patrons browse the collection at The Writer's Block during a preview day Nov. 29. (Ginger Meurer/View)

The Writer's Block co-owner Scott Seeley stands in the soon-to-be-completed bookmaking section of the shop during an opening preview Nov. 29. The vintage letterpress is still in need of repair, but Seeley has hopes that it will soon be up and running at the 1020 Fremont St. store. (Ginger Meurer/View)

A painter works on the sign outside The Writer's Block on the stores preview opening day Nov. 29. (Ginger Meurer/View)

STORE TO HOST HOLIDAY AUTHORFEST

A Holiday Authorfest featuring more than 15 authors, including Heather Graham, Lance Taubold, Adam Fenner, Penelope Douglas, Harley Jane Kozak, Richard Devin, Crystal Perkins, Tera Lynn Childs, Beverly Preston and Christene Ann Houston, is scheduled at from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 13 at the 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble.

THE WRITER’S BLOCK IS OPEN

The downtown indie bookstore The Writer’s Block opened for previews in time for Small Business Saturday, Nov. 29. While the outdoor signage was still being painted and much of the finishing work was yet to come, owners Scott Seeley and Drew Cohen were determined to launch the store before the holidays.

The team plans to finish construction on a flexible studio workspace in the back to accommodate after-school classes for young writers and writing and book groups. For updates on hours and programs, visit thewritersblock.org or facebook.com/thewritersblocklv.

Cohen and store social media manager Kristen Zory King are set to present a program titled Self-publishing, The Indie Bookstore and Me during a meeting of the Las Vegas Romance Writers scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 17 in the Findlay Chevrolet Community Room, 6800 S. Torrey Pines Drive. For more on the event, visit lvrwa.org.

TONY SACCA TO SIGN BOOKS DURING HAPPY HOUR

Entertainer Tony Sacca plans to sign his as-told-to biography “Tony Sacca: Las Vegas Ambassador of Entertainment” at 5:30 pm. Dec. 12 during happy hour at McCormick & Schmick’s, 335 Hughes Center Drive. The book, written by local biographer Arlene Krieger, traces Sacca’s life from childhood to success in show business. For more on the book, visit tonysacca.com.

SIGNING SET FOR ‘WOLFSAYER’

Local author Hannah R. Smith is set to sign her books “Wolfsayer” and “Heart and Soul of Srielrian”at 4 p.m. Dec. 13 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

ANNIE MEADOWS PLANS SIGNING

Local author, singer, songwriter Annie Meadows is set to speak about her book “The Lonely Little Rabbit: A Christmas Story” and meet with readers from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 14 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

POETS CAN SEEK FEEDBACK AT 5/5+

Poets are invited to share original work for five minutes followed by attendees offering comments for five minutes during 5/5+, a workshop series put on by Nick Marco, Lana Hanson and Lee Mallory, scheduled every two weeks at BooksorBooks, 3460 E. Sunset Road, Suite R. The next session is planned from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 20. For more information, call 702-754-5971, email jtjmarco@live.com, raisewomenup@gmail.com or leewmallory3@gmail.com or search for 5/5+ on Facebook.

HALF-PRICE BOOK SALE TO BENEFIT LIBRARY

New Scholastic children’s books are to be offered at half price at a book sale scheduled during regular library hours Dec. 11-13 at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. A portion of the funds raised is set to help support the Henderson Libraries’ Summer Reading Program. For more information, visit hdplfriends.org or call 702-492-6592.

SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY GROUP TO LAUNCH IN LIBRARY

Readers, writers and editors of science fiction and fantasy are invited to check out a new group scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. Saturdays in meeting room two at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. For more information, call 702-334-0204.

WYKED WOMEN WHO WRITE WORKSHOP OFFERED

A Wyked Women Who Write Workshop, featuring “Universal Alien” author Gini Koch, “Defending Hippotigris” author T.L. Smith and “Mirabella & the Faded Phantom” author Sharon Skinner, is scheduled at 1 p.m. Dec. 13 at the 567 N. Stephanie St. Barnes & Noble.

LAS VEGAS WRITERS GROUP TO FEATURE LAURA MCBRIDE

Laura McBride is scheduled to speak on using setting as a character during a meeting of the Las Vegas Writers Group scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd. A $5 meeting fee is charged. McBride’s debute novel “We Are Called To Rise” is set away from the neon lights in contemporary Las Vegas. For more information, visit meetup.com/las-vegas-writers.

BANK TO MATCH BOOK DONATIONS

Donations of books at area Barnes & Noble bookstores will be matched by City National Bank during a holiday book drive. For more information on the drive and the bank’s ongoing literacy efforts, visit readingisthewayup.org.

UNLV WRITERS WELCOME ALL TO NEON LIT

Neon Lit, a public reading featuring writers from UNLV’s master of fine arts and Ph.D. writing programs, is scheduled the last Friday of most months in the Trifecta Gallery in The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd. Doors open at 6 p.m. and readings are set to begin at 7 p.m. For more information, visit neonlit.org.

BARNES & NOBLE TO HOST WRITING GROUP

The 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. Barnes & Noble plans to host a writing critique group at 5:15 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month. The group is limited to the first 20 participants per meeting. Sign up at meetup.com/las-vegas-creative-writing-class.

ALIANTE LIBRARY TO HOST WRITERS CLUB

The Aliante Library Writers Club is scheduled to meet from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Aliante Library, 2400 W. Deer Springs Way. For more information, email facilitator Glory Wade at glorywadewriter@gmail.com.

SHARE POEMS AT HUMAN EXPERIENCE

Polish up a poem or two and try them out at Human Experience, a free spoken word event scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays in The Beat Coffeehouse inside Emergency Arts, 520 Fremont St. For more information, visit lasvegaspoets.org.

ART CENTER TO HOST POETS CORNER

The West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd., plans to host poets corner readings with Keith Brantley at 7 p.m. the first and third Friday of each month. For more information, call the center at 702-229-4800.

FREE READ TO ME PROGRAM OFFERED

Celebrity storytellers Oscar Goodman, Rita Rudner, Clint Holmes, Terry Fator, Carrot Top, The Scintas and others have donated their talents to the Clark County Education Association Community Foundation’s Read To Me program. Children can view more than 15 videos of celebrities reading books on the website at readtomelv.com. Stories also can be accessed by calling 702-240-2665. Both databases are frequently updated with fresh stories. Parents and teachers can download lesson plans for each book on the website.

ZINE LIBRARY OPEN IN EMERGENCY ARTS

Grab a cup of coffee and check out the independently crafted magazines at the Las Vegas Zine Library inside The Beat Coffeehouse in Emergency Arts, 520 Fremont St. The library is more of a collection on display for reference and on-site reading than a checkout repository. Contributions of zines are appreciated. For more information, visit lvzinelibrary.blogspot.com.

HENDERSON WRITERS GROUP MEETINGS SET

The Henderson Writers Group plans to meet from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. Mondays in Room C-2 at Community Lutheran Church, 3720 E. Tropicana Ave. Meetings are typically canceled on holidays. For more information, visit hendersonwritersgroup.

MEMOIR-WRITING WORKSHOPS SLATED

An ongoing series of free four-week memoir-writing workshops is scheduled at noon Wednesdays and 10 a.m. Fridays at the Las Vegas FamilySearch Library, 509 S. Ninth St. Four-week sessions are set to begin the first week of every month. For more information, call 702-382-9695.

FREE STORYCORPS TOOLKIT HELPS COLLECT MEMORIES

The national StoryCorps’ Memory Loss Initiative encourages people with memory loss to share their stories with loved ones and future generations. To make that task easier, a free step-by-step toolkit is available to download at storycorps.org/mli. The Commemorate toolkit offers an individual reminiscence program that family members can initiate or memory loss care facilities can add to activities. The initiative has collected more than 1,800 interviews with 180 partner organizations. For more information, visit storycorps.org or call 646-723-7027.

ACCESS RECORDED BOOK PROGRAMS ONLINE

Too busy to get out to book programs? The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District posts videos and podcasts of many of its programs online. Selections available include: “An Afternoon with Tony Curtis,” John L. Smith’s presentation “Amelia’s Long Journey: The Challenge of Writing What You Know,” “Batman” movie producer Michael Uslan’s presentation at the 2009 Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival, Jami Carpenter’s “ABCs of Editing” workshop and Brian Rouff’s “Getting Published: A Long Strange Trip.” To access the programs, visit lvccld.org, select “Books, Movies & More” and then “Video and Podcasts.”

The Black Mountain Institute has offered recordings of its programming since 2006. To access recordings of a gamut of writers from E.L. Doctorow to Alissa Nutting, visit blackmountaininstitute.org and select “multimedia.”

BOOK LAUNCH PLANNED AT TUSCANY GRILL

Anthem author Robert Stern plans to launch his newest book “HOA Wars: What Happens in Vegas Can Happen Anywhere” with a party with hors d’oeuvres and a no-host bar from 5 to 8 p.m. Jan. 28 at Tuscany Grill, 11105 S. Eastern Ave.

AUTHOR JENNIFER DEBS PLANS SESSION

Jennifer Debs plans an author session at 2:30 p.m. March 8 at the Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive.

Debs is the author of author of “Back in Two Weeks,” about her experiences in the Air Force and being deployed overseas.

For more information, call Marcela Chiarandini at 702-507-3631.