Vegas Valley Books Festival Schedule of Events

All events are free and open to the public, with most taking place at the historic Fifth Street School downtown.

For more information, visit www.vegasvalleybookfestival.org.

Nov.5

7 p.m. Keynote address by Kay Ryan. Ryan (Flamingo Watching, The Niagara River) is the sixteenth Poet Laureate of the United States and opens the Vegas Valley Book Festival with a keynote speech and reading. Fifth Street School Auditorium, 401 S. Fourth St. 229-6469.

Nov. 6

6-10 p.m. First Friday and the Book Festival join for "The Sin City Sonneteer Spectacle" featuring Jarret Keene (A Boy's Guide To Arson) and Claudia Keelan (The Secularist) and other poets. They host a spoken-word event while Mayor Oscar B. Goodman and Dayvid Figler open the evening with their own poetic renditions. Trolley leaves Casino Center Boulevard and Colorado Avenue, with reading stops at various Arts District locations.

Nov. 7

10 a.m "The Four Paths to Children's Publishing." Writer Ellen Hopkins explores the challenges of working in the children's book field with locals Daria Snadowsky, Kristin Venuti and illustrator Sharleen Collicott. Fifth Street School.

11 a.m-4 p.m. The Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival returns, featuring panels, portfolio reviews, and special guests Matt Wagner, Kim Deitch, Steve Englehart, Cecil Castelluci and more. Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Rd. 507-3400.

11:15 a.m. "Reader's Choice" Local book clubs select some of their favorite authors featuring Margaret Coel (Wind River mystery series), Vicki Pettersson (City of Souls, The Fourth Sign of the Zodiac) and Indu Sundaresan (The Twentieth Wife, The Splendor of Silence). Fifth Street School.

11:30 a.m. "So You Think You Want to Write (or Illustrate) For Children" explores the market of children's material with author Ellen Hopkins and Ann Kimborough, Las Vegas coordinator for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Recital Hall of the Fifth Street School.

12:30 p.m. "Sudden Orpheus" features puppets and poetry with puppeteer Ariel Goldberger and poet Leonard Schwartz as they explore the story of Orpheus . Recital Hall of the Fifth Street School.

1 p.m. "Beyond Twilight and True Blood." So you like Twilight, but you like the idea of making lots of money even more? Author Vicki Petterson teaches audience members how to write the next big romantic-horror fantasy novel. Fifth Street School.

1:45 p.m. "City of Second Chances." Panelist John L. Smith (Las Vegas Review-Journal), Douglas Unger (Looking for War), and Cheryll Glotfelty share stories of getting a sta`rt in Las Vegas. Recital Hall of the Fifth Street School.

1:45 p.m. Poetry in the courtyard with local authors. Frank Wright Fountain Courtyard at the Fifth Street School.

3 p.m. "Working with Literary Journals." Red Rock Review founders Richard Logsdon, Tina Eliopulous, H. Lee Barnes and Todd Moffet teach you how to submit work to literary journals and publications. Recital Hall of the Fifth Street School.

4 p.m. Las Vegas Writes presents Restless City. Vu Tran reads the final chapter of the online collaborative serial novel that features H. Lee Barnes, John Irsfeld, Brian Rouff, Leah Bailly, John L. Smith, and Constance Ford. Before the reading, authors will discuss the process of writing the book. Fifth Street School.

7 p.m. "Amelia's Long Journey: The Challenge of Writing What You Know." Review-Journal columnist John L. Smith shows you how to write from the heart as he discusses his personal journey raising a child with a life-threatening disease.

Nov. 8

10 a.m. "Education in the Neon Shadow." Jami Carpenter, Kay Carl, Julie Newberry, John Gallifent and Rick Watson take a look back at the Clark County School District on its 50th anniversary. Fifth Street School.

11:15 a.m. "Great Characters from Las Vegas History." Geoff Schumacher, Michael Green and Jack Sheehan explore the history behind some of Las Vegas' most enigmatic characters ranging from the mob to hotel moguls. Fifth Street School.

2 p.m. Ragtime screening. One of closing keynote speaker E.L. Doctorow's most renowned works is translated into film. Clark County Library.

7 p.m. Closing keynote with E.L. Doctorow (Ragtime, Loon Lake). Clark County Library.

Exhibits

The "Illustrated Word" art exhibitions on display at the historic Fifth Street School during the festival:

"A Passion for Cookbooks: A Culinary and Cultural Tour from the Private Collection of Pamela Grogan, 1930s-1960s." Looks at cookbooks throughout the decades as they evolved from simple recipes to enthusiastic productions. Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St. 229-6469.

"50 Books/50 Covers." A "best of the best" for quality designed books in 2008.

"Inscribed/Messages." Thirteen local artists show off their works inspired by books and the spoken word. Opening reception 6 p.m. Nov. 6. Clark County Government Center Rotunda Gallery, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway. Through Nov. 20.

"Drunk." The locally produced graphic story anthology about drinking showcases original 14-inch by 20-inch pages. Atomic Todd Gallery, 1221 S. Main St. Through November.

"Art of the Super Hero and the Ordinary Joe." Featuring the private collection of writer/film producer Michael Uslan, this gallery features comic strips, covers, and paintings. Sahara West Library Art Gallery, 9600 W. Sahara Ave. Through Jan. 5.

"Altered States: Artists Re-imagine the Book." Artist reconfigure the meaning of a book as they explore its social, political, cultural and racial facets. Reed Whipple Cultural Center, 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Through Jan. 2.