A&E

Read up: Helping to plan your Las Vegas Book Fest itinerary

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Daniel Handler will read at Inspire.
Photo: Katy Winn / AP

Las Vegas Writes Book Launch This pre-festival event introduces this year’s Las Vegas Writes anthology, whose theme is “Back to Where You Once Belonged: Las Vegas Writers Weigh the Power of the Past.” Published by Huntington Press, the book features essays by 10 Las Vegas-based writers. Participants include historian Michael Green, poets Noah Cicero and Heather Lang, novelist H. Lee Barnes and more. October 19, 7 p.m, Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road.

Let’s Get Political A number of panels that address today’s civic upheavals, like “Race & Justice in America” (noon, auditorium); “Writing in the Age of Trump” (1 p.m., room 125) and “Essays as Activism” (11 a.m., room 125). If you’re sick of hearing about “fake news,” check out “Journalism in the 21st Century” with UNLV journalism lecturer Michael Easter and Washington Post law and justice reporter Wesley Lowery (2 p.m., room 140).

Locals Love Las Vegas authors make a strong showing this year. Witness “The Las Vegas Novel” (noon, room 140), “Las Vegas Myths & Mysteries” (3 p.m., room 125) or “Writing the Mojave Desert” (11 a.m., room 140). For insight into the Strip’s glitz and glamour, check out “Celebrity and a Starstruck Culture” (3 p.m., room 140). And if you’re into the quirky side of Nevada, try the “Atlas Obscura” discussion by creator Dylan Thuras (1 p.m., Room 140).

Poetry Fans of poetry have it easy. Simply find a good seat in the poetry tent and enjoy a day’s worth of words. “Las Vegas Battleborn Poetry” (11 a.m.) and “Clark: Poetry from Clark County, Nevada” (2 p.m.) bookend the day.

Women’s Voices Don’t miss “Women of the Essay” (poetry tent, noon), “Triple Consciousness: To Be Young Gifted and Black Women Writing” (auditorium, 2 p.m.) or award-winning author and educator Sharon Draper’s reading (auditorium, 11 a.m.).

After Dark This new addition to the festival lineup launched last year, and it was an instant hit. The lights turn down low and the party moves to Inspire Theatre. Changing tone after his 3 p.m. keynote conversation, author Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket, author of kids’ favorite A Series of Unfortunate Events) will excerpt from his novel All the Dirty Parts. Authors Brit Bennett and Kevin Young will also read. 5:30 p.m., 107 Las Vegas Boulevard S.

Las Vegas Book Festival All events October 21, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. at Historic Fifth Street School unless otherwise noted; free; vegasvalleybookfestival.org.

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