David Sedaris at the Shubert, Beatriz Williams’ new release
On Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. at Hartford Stage, 50 Church St., Hartford, Jon Clinch, author of the novel, “Finn,” which imagines the life story of Huckleberry Finn’s father, will give a free talk about his latest novel, “Marley.”
The book explores the complicated relationship of Ebenezer
Scrooge and Jacob Marley from the Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol,” reimagining them as rival businessmen who scheme to destroy each other, no matter the cost. Michael Preston and Noble Shropshire, who portray Scrooge and Marley in Hartford Stage’s “A Christmas Carol–A Ghost Story of Christmas,” will read a scene and discuss the characters’ relationship.
This event is presented by Hartford Stage and The Mark Twain House & Museum. It is recommended for those age 16 and older. marktwainhouse.org.
The free Riverwood Poetry Series at
Real Art Ways, 56 Arbor St., Hartford, will continue Dec. 10 with a reading by Lisa Starr, author of three poetry collections, including the recent “Mad With Yellow.” Starr founded and directed the Block Island Poetry Project and was Rhode Island’s poet laureate from 2007 to 2013. She now is artistic director of the Arts Café Mystic. The program starts at 7 p.m. with an open mic for pieces no longer than one page. Signup is at 6:45 p.m. riverwoodpoetry.net or 860-232-1006.
RJ Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison, will host a free talk on Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. by Connecticut novelist Beatriz Williams, whose latest is “The Wicked Redhead.” It is a tale of two women, one from the Jazz Age and one from the 1990s, and how their lives intersect.
Williams is the best-selling author of “The Golden Hour,” “The Summer Wives,” “The Secret Life of Violet Grant,” “A Hundred Summers,” and other works of historical fiction.
She also will discuss the book at a free program on Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. with Deborah Goodrich Royce, author of “Finding Mrs. Ford,” at Bank Square Books, 53 West Main St., Mystic. Information: 860-536-3795 or banksquarebooks.com.
Connecticut author Charles Barber will be in conversation with William Outlaw on Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. at a free Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore event, 413 Main St., Middletown.
The book “Citizen Outlaw,” tells the true story of William Juneboy Outlaw III, a New Haven housingproject youth who became a gangland drug kingpin and then, after years in prisons, transformed into a respected community advocate who leads a team of former felons who help create truces between local gangs.
Barber is a writer-in-residence at Wesleyan University and a lecturer in psychiatry at Yale University. He has written widely on mental health and criminal justice issues, including for the New York Times, the Washington Post, Salon, The Nation and Scientific American Mind. 860-685-3939 or wesleyanrjjulia.com.
At RJ Julia on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m., Anthony T. Kronman, former dean of Yale Law School, will give a free talk at The Study at Yale, 1157 Chapel St., New Haven, about his latest book, “The Assault on American Excellence,” in conversation with Roxanne J. Coady, founder of the bookstore. The book says the egalitarianism currently prevalent on college campuses hampers the preparing of citizens for life in a vibrant democracy and threatens democracy.
Kronman was dean of Yale Law School from 1994 to
2004, and has taught at the university for 40 years. He is the author or coauthor of five books, including “Education’s End: Why Our Colleges and Universities Have Given Up on the Meaning of Life” and “Confessions of a Born-Again Pagan.”
Reservations are required for all RJ Julia events: 203-245-3959 or rjjulia.com.
Bank Square Books, 53 W, Main St., Mystic, will host Holiday Gift Guide Book Signings. On Dec. 8 from 1 to 3 p.m., Caroline Linden will sign copies of “When the Marquess Was Mine,” a romantic historical novel in her The Wagers of Sin series.
On Dec. 10 from 5 to 7 p.m., Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg, author of “The Nine,” will sign copies of her novel in which a mother enrolls her gifted son at a prestigious New England boarding school, but finds a corrupt and dangerous underworld there.
On Dec. 14 from 1 to 3 p.m., Tory Bilski will sign copies of “Wild Horses of the Summer Sun: A Memoir of Iceland.” Bilski, an author of short stories, works at Yale University, writes the blog Icelandica.net and travels to Iceland each June to meet women who leave their day-to-day lives behind to ride wild horses, pursue adventure and self-discovery and make lasting friendships.
Information: 860-536-3795 or banksquarebooks.com.
Eve Kahn, author of “Forever Seeing
New Beauties: The Forgotten Impressionist Mary Rogers Williams, 1857-1907,” will give a free talk about her book on Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Ferguson Library, DiMattia Building, 1 Public Library Plaza at Bedford and Broad streets, Stamford. 203-351-8231 or fergusonlibrary.org.
On Dec. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m., the Chat & Chew Book Club will meet at Red Heat Tavern, 400 Evergreen Way, Suite 466, South Windsor, to discuss “Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery” by Jenny Colgan.
The club reads books that feature food, and December attendees are encouraged to bring cookies to swap. You do not have to read the book to attend the free program and cookie swap.
Reservations: facebook.com/ events/402895017329981. Information: Book Club On the Go at bookclubct.com or 860-265-6077.
Carole Shmurak, a mystery writer from Farmington, will lead a free talk on Dec. 11 at 3 p.m. at Wallingford Public Library, 200 N Main St, Wallingford, for the Wallingford Mystery Group: Don’t Bury the Lede, Part 4. The book is “Rogue Island” by former Courant editor Bruce DeSilva. 203-2656754.