Author unearths ‘Nazi Titanic’ story

German ocean liner’s fate is subject of talk

One of the world’s worst maritime disasters claimed more lives than the Titanic catastrophe but was a lost piece of history until historian and political commentator Robert P. Watson chronicled the events in “The Nazi Titanic: The Incredible Untold Story of a Doomed Ship in World War II.” Watson will discuss his nonfiction book about the German ocean liner Cap Arcona at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19 as the Diane & Barry Wilen Jewish Book Festival continues at the David Posnack Jewish Community Center, 5850 S. Pine Island Road, Davie.

Betsy Lerner discusses her memoir “The Bridge Ladies,” the story of friendship, support and a few pot roasts among a group of women who participated in a 50-year bridge game at 7 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Stirling Road Library, 3151 Stirling Road, Davie.

Tickets for either event are $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Info: dpjcc.org/culturalarts, 954-434-0499, ext. 336.

The Mandel Jewish Community Center is off to a novel start for 2017 with discussions featuring authors at various venues. For information or to register, visit JCCOnline.com/bookfestival. Tickets are $12 for Literary Society Reader Level; $15 for nonmembers.

Jan. 17, 2 p.m. at a private home in Palm Beach Gardens: Alison Amend will discuss “Enchanted Islands,” the story of a woman and her husband, an undercover intelligence officer, who are sent to the Galápagos Islands at the brink of World War II.

Jan. 24, 10 a.m. at the JCC at 5221 Hood Road, Palm Beach Gardens: Betsy Lerner, talks about “The Bridge Ladies.”

Jan. 31, 10 a.m. at the Palm Beach Gardens JCC; and 10 a.m. Feb. 3 at the JCC at 500 Jog Road, Boynton Beach: Edward C. Bernstein discusses his “Love Finer Than Wine,” the story of Matthew Eisenfeld and Sara Duker, who were murdered on the Number 18 Bus in Jerusalem in 1996.

Andrew Gross at fund-raiser

The Palm Beach Library System’s Writers LIVE! series’ annual Wine and Words Fundraiser features author Andrew Gross beginning at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Main Library, 3650 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach. Gross will discuss his latest novel “The One Man,” the tale of a U.S. soldier trying to rescue a respected scientist from a concentration camp during WWII. Cost is $35 at any Palm Beach library. Online payments at pbclibrary.org/friends. Info: pbclibrary.org/writers-live-2017 or email writerslive@pbclibrary.org.

Poetry Festival gears up

Rhyme is in the air as the 13th annual Palm Beach Poetry Festival is set for Jan. 16-21 at Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. The festival will feature 15 top poets at numerous public events, including workshops, readings, talks, interviews, panel discussions and more. Special guest poet is Charles Simic, winner of the 1990 Pulitzer Prize and the U.S. Poet Laureate in 2007. Info: palmbeachpoetryfestival.org.

The free 11th annual Haiku U workshop, which teaches the Japanese literary form of zuihitsu, begins at 11 a.m. Jan. 12 at the Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens, 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach. Often translated as “miscellaneous essay,” zuihitsu consists of loosely connected prose and fragmented ideas.

20 years of mysteries

Murder on the Beach Mystery Bookstore is celebrating its 20th year with a party featuring bestselling authors, giveaways and refreshments from 6-9 p.m. Jan. 6 at the store, 273 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach, 561-279-7790, murdermb@gate.net. Charles and Caroline Todd, Hank Phillippi Ryan, P.J. Parrish and Andrew Gross will be among the authors on hand to sign books. Murder on the Beach is the only bookstore devoted to the mystery and thriller genre in Florida. The store was founded in 1996 in Sunny Isles Beach, moving to Delray Beach in 2002.

Murder on the Beach will hold a panel on Florida history at 7 p.m. Jan. 27 moderated by Eliot Kleinberg and featuring Seth Bramson, “The Greatest Railroad Story Ever Told”; James Clark, “The Hidden History of Florida”; and Elizabeth Randall, “Murder in St. Augustine.”

Writer Brad Meltzer honors Jim Henson

Best-selling author Brad Meltzer pays homage to one of his favorite performers with his latest children’s book “I Am Jim Henson,” which continues his “heroes” picture books that include “I Am Martin Luther King, Jr.” and “I Am Rosa Parks.”

Meltzer will discuss “I Am Jim Henson” at 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables, 305-442-4408.

A career in the skies

In her debut memoir “Aviatrix,” Mary Shipko looks at her career in aviation, from washing planes at her father’s operation at a South Florida airport to becoming the first female pilot hired by Hughes Airwest in 1976. Shipko will be the guest speaker at the Broward County Library Foundation gettogether at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 19 at ArtServe, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Free to foundation members at the $50 level and above; $25 for others. For reservations, call 954-357-7382 or email Pati Rice at price@bplfoundation.org

Author’s recovery leads to novel

Fort Lauderdale author Elaine Viets used her experiences recovering from a stroke in her latest mystery, “Brain Storm,” which introduced death investigator Angela Richman. Viets will discuss her first-person account, “Stroke Survival: Know the Signs and Save a Life,” and her novel at the Fort Lauderdale Rotary at noon Jan. 11 at the Global Grille at First Baptist Church, 301 E. Broward Blvd. The meeting is open to the public; lunch is $25 for nonmembers. Viets will donate $5 for each copy of “Brain Storm” sold at the lunch to the Rotary. For information email jayea@ArtServe.org.

Viets also will discuss “Brain Storm” at the Fort Lauderdale PEN Women meeting at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 12 at Cafe Vico, 1125 N. Federal Highway. Cost is $25 and open to the public. Reservations required by Jan. 9. For information email Lois Perdue, runner12@bellsouth.net.

Viets will talk about her book at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Boynton Beach City Library, 208 S. Seacrest Blvd., 561-742-6886; and at 1 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Broward County Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, contact bmiller@broward.org. Both library events are free.