Today's Featured Books— Events

Free online: Evergreen - The History of Little Tokyo. Join Edgar Award–winning author Naomi Hirahara for a dive into the history of Little Tokyo through her newest book, Evergreen, the story of a Japanese American nurse’s aide who navigates the dangers of post–World War II as she attempts to find justice for a broken family. Sponsored by the Japanese American National Museum. Saturday, September 9, 2 PM PDT. 

"In a time of destruction, create something." ~Maxine Hong Kingston

Free online: A Royal Rendezvous: Unveiling the Secrets of Windsor. Join Colin Mustful, the founder and editor of History Through Fiction, and acclaimed authors Christine Wells and Bryn Turnbull for a conversation that will revolve around Christine's highly anticipated historical novel, The Royal Windsor Secret, a story that imagines the life of a young woman who believes she is the secret daughter of the Prince of Wales, Edward VIII. They will also discuss a second scandalous chapter in Edward VIII’s life through Bryn’s bestselling debut novel, The Woman Before Wallis, about the life of Viscountess Thelma Furness, Edward VIII’s mistress who fatefully introduced him to Wallis Simpson and lit the flame of the abdication crisis. Thursday, September 7, 4 PM CDT. 

"All kings is mostly rapscallions." ~Mark Twain

Online art experiment: Kinetic Sculptures. This free online class is great for all ages and abilities. Youth 12 and under should be accompanied by an adult. Recommended materials: wire (bendable but sturdy), jewelry jump rings, assorted cardstock papers, pliers. Presented by the Dunlop Art Gallery of Regina, Saskatchewan. Tuesday, Sept. 5, 8 PM CDT.

“I want, of course, peace, grace, and beauty. How do you do that? You work for it.” ~Studs Terkel

Free online: Literature and Lapdogs presents Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, an introduction to her life and works. In this 10-part series, readers will explore Virginia Woolf's (1882-1941) most famous works. Led by noted Woolf scholar Charlotte Fiehn, these discussions will offer a great opportunity to read (or revisit) Woolf's work and learn more about her life and impact. Begins Sunday, September 3, 3 PM CDT.

“I don’t believe in aging. I believe in forever altering one’s aspect to the sun.” ~Virginia Woolf, from her diary (October 2, 1932)

Free online Friday: Larksong Writers Place Book Talk and Reading. Author Jessica Hendry Nelson will read from her upcoming memoir, Joy Rides through the Tunnel of Grief, winner of the AWP Sue William Silverman Prize in Creative Nonfiction. September 1, 12 PM Central Time.

Free online today: Our Featured Books for August 30 include several freebies! See all of today's Featured Books at LitNuts.com.

“When you deal with nonfiction you deal with human characters.” ~Marya Hornbacher

Free online: Book Buzz. Librarians from the Santa Clara (California) Library will share the adult fiction and nonfiction titles they are most excited to read during the next few months. Attendees will have the chance to win free advance copies of some of the upcoming season's most anticipated books. Tuesday, August 29, 8 PM CDT. 

"Google can bring you back 100,000 answers, a librarian can bring you back the right one." ~Neil Gaiman

Free online: Join Able Muse Press for a book launch reading with critically acclaimed authors William Baer, Daniel Galef, and Katie Hartsock. Saturday, August 26, 3 PM - 4:30 PM EDT. 

"Every time I travel / I meet myself a little more." ~from "coordinates" by Yrsa Daley-Ward

Giveaway: Historical Romance. Win a bundle of 20 historical romance novels plus a new e-reader ($250 value!). Deadline for entry: August 30.

"History tells us what people do; historical fiction helps us imagine how they felt." ~Guy Vanderhaeghe

Free online: The Back Room - Cocktails and Conversation with Your Favorite Authors. Join authors Brian Andrews & Jeff Wilson, Naomi Hirahara, Ken Jaworowski, and Sarah Pekkanen for an evening of great conversation. Sunday, August 20, 6-8 p.m. CDT.

"Breathe the sweetness that hovers in August." ~Denise Levertov

Free online literary event: Strong Women, Strange Worlds presents Third Thursday QuickReads of Sci Fi, Fantasy, and Horror. Thursday, August 17, 7 p.m. EDT.

“If you don’t see a clear path for what you want, sometimes you have to make it yourself.” ~Mindy Kaling

Free online: The Somerset Libraries (located in the southwest of England) present An Evening With Author Helen Paris, author of The Invisible Women's Club, "a story of friendship, female lives post-menopause, community spirit, and the importance of connection and finding your voice." Tuesday, August 14, 7:30 p.m. British Summer Time, 1:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time. 

“Aging is not ‘lost youth’ but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” ~Betty Friedan

The Edinburgh International Book Festival brings 500 leading and emerging international, British, and Scottish authors and thinkers together to inspire each other and audiences in an extensive program of public events. Can't make it to Edinburgh? No problem! There are 6-8 online events each day. Tip: On the festival home page, scroll down to "Explore the Programme" and then search for "Watch online only" events. August 12 - 28.

"Perhaps we've got so involved in the false selves we project on social media that we've forgotten that our real selves, our private selves, are different, are worth saving." ~Frankie Boyle

Free online tonight: The Four Agreements. No, it's not a rock music group. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz is a book intended to help people achieve personal freedom and happiness by focusing on four things: being impeccable with our word, not taking anything personally, not making assumptions, and always doing our best. Wednesday, August 9, 8 PM CDT.

"Letting go of the past means you can enjoy the dream that is happening right now." ~Don Miguel Ruiz

Free online: The New York Public Library invites you to join them for coffee and a discussion of the short story "Bliss" by Katherine Mansfield. You can read the short story ahead of time HERE. Tuesday, August 8, 12 PM EDT. 

"It is of immense importance to learn to laugh at ourselves." ~Katherine Mansfield

Free online: The Back Room. Join authors Don Bentley, Tosca Lee, Kathy Reichs, and Polly Stewart for an evening of great conversation. Each online event starts with a short introduction to a panel of four authors. The audience is then divided into breakout rooms, and the authors visit each room, allowing for informal, face-to-face discussion. Sunday, August 6, 6 PM CDT. 

"Every human society possesses a mythology which is inherited, transmitted and diversified by literature." ~Northrop Frye

Today: Get three free books, two multi-volume sci-fi/fantasy series for 99 cents, and more in today's Featured Books. 

Free online Friday: Strong Women - Strange Worlds. A sampling of science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories written by six authors who will each have eight minutes to tempt and tantalize you with their reading. Friday, August 4, 11 AM CDT. 

“Home isn't where you're from, it's where you find light when all grows dark.” ~Pierce Brown, Golden Son

Free online tonight: Live from the Greene Space. This groundbreaking series presents acclaimed actors performing live dramatic readings of long-form journalism. Tonight, actors Jesse Eisenberg, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Chad Coleman, and David Strathairn will do a dramatic reading of “The System That Failed Jordan Neely" by Adam Iscoe, which appeared in The New Yorker earlier this year. Monday, July 31, 6-8 PM CDT.  

“We don’t feel connected to people with mental illness at all. It’s scary when we see someone who reminds us that it could happen to any of us.” ~Nancy Young, program director, Fountain House

Free online literary event: HVWC Published Student Reading with poets Ellen June Wright, Alice G. Waldert, Jill Michelle, and Donna Vorreyer, and prose writers Sara McLanahan Edlin, Lynne Reitman, and Misty Yarnall. Sunday, July 30, 4:00 - 5:30 PM EDT.

“Poetry is like a bird, it ignores all frontiers.” ~Yevgeny Yevtushenko

Free online: Ramp Up the Action, featuring authors Patricia Bradley, Lynette Eason, and Nancy Mehl. Dive into the heart-racing moments of their work, uncover their thought processes, and learn about the artistry of suspenseful storytelling in this look at the world of action literature. Presented by Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Thursday, July 27, 6 PM CDT. 

"Resistance and change often begin in art.” ~Ursula K. Le Guin

Free online: Feminist Futures - VERVE Books Autumn Showcase. Join Verve Books for an inspiring online event celebrating the power of feminist literature. This showcase brings together UK- and USA-based authors who are shaping the future of feminist writing. Get ready to dive into thought-provoking discussion, captivating readings, and an engaging Q&A session. Tuesday, July 25, 19:00 GMT+0100 (British Summer Time), 1 PM CDT.

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” ~Henry James

Free Online: Writing Deliciously. Join author Jane Wong for a discussion of how writing about food strengthens our communities and opens up our creative craft. Along with celebrating and exploring food writing by poets such Naomi Shihab Nye, Hanif Abdurraqib, Audre Lorde, and Chen Chen, this class will offer numerous delicious writing prompts and opportunities for feedback, connection, and sharing. Saturday, July 22, 12 PM CDT. 

“There is no friend as loyal as a book.” ~Ernest Hemingway

Free online: Strong Women, Strange Worlds. Enjoy a "book tasting" of science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories by women and non-binary writers. The event will feature six authors, and each author reads for eight minutes followed by Q&A. The event will be fast and fun, and there will be prizes/giveaways. Thursday, July 20, 7 PM EDT.

“We read books to find out who we are. What other people, real or imaginary, do and think and feel… is an essential guide to our understanding of what we ourselves are and may become.” ~Ursula K. Le Guin

Poet & Artist Reading: Black Sunflower Poetry Press invites you to an enchanted hour of art and poetry in the company of extraordinary black women poets and artists. Poet Harryette Mullen will read from Open Leaves - poems from earth. Artist Tiffanie Delune will present and discuss some of her artworks. Poet Morgan Christie will read from à genoux. And artist Virginia Chihota will present some of her artworks and ideas. Tickets from £5.00. (Note: Normally, LitNuts only recommends free online events, but this sounds like a wonderful event--and admission is free if you buy a copy of Open Leaves.) Tuesday, July 18, 12:00 CDT.

“There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” ~Amanda Gorman

New giveaway: Our friends at indie publisher Familius are partners in the Big Summer Reading Giveaway to help your family keep your summer reading going. Three lucky winners will each receive a bundle of 10 books. LEARN MORE.

“One benefit of Summer was that each day we had more light to read by.” ~Jeannette Walls, The Glass Castle

Free online: Join author Martin Boroson and Robert Gass for a free webinar as they use Marty's acclaimed story Becoming Me as a touchstone to help people see how even the most challenging moments are reminders to see the big picture and find the Great Big Love that is always here for you. Publisher's Weekly on Becoming Me: "Gentle yet thought-provoking, this will offer readers another way to contemplate the nature of the divine." Thursday, July 13, 9 AM Pacific, 16.00 UK. 

“Try to experience each step as if it were your only destination.” ~Martin Boroson