• WNC’s own mystery writer Vicki Lane puts in an appearance at Accent on Books on Friday, June 20. During the 6 p.m. event she’ll discuss her latest work, In A Dark Season (Dell, 2008). Wine and munchies are part of the festivities. Info: 252-6255.
• Local author Ann Wicker and Xpress staffer Kent Priestley read selections from Making Notes: Music of the Carolinas (Novello Festival Press, 2008). Friday, June 20 at Malaprop’s. 7 p.m. Info: 254-6734.
• On Thursday, June 26, actor Gene Hackman and author Dan Lenihan read from their Civil War novel, Escape from Andersonville (St. Martin’s Press. 2008). Purchase a $10 ticket to the reading and reception and receive a $5 coupon toward one of the authors’ books. Bring a date and share a ticket. Malaprop’s. 7 p.m. Info: 254-6734.
• Design expert Adrienne van Dooren is the author of The House That Faux Built: Transform Your Home Using Paints, Plasters & Creativity! (East Cambridge Press, 2007), which documents her work to flip a home and resell it for a $50,000 profit. Proceeds from the sale of the book go to charity. Van Dooren signs books and answers questions on Saturday, June 28 at the Asheville Barnes & Noble. 1-3 p.m. Info: 296-9330.
• Local graphic novelist Hope Larson is the author of Salamander Dream (named one of the best comics of 2005 by Publishers Weekly), Gray Horses and, most recently, Chiggers (Aladdin, 2008), for ages 9-14. She’ll sign books at Spellbound Children’s Bookshop on Saturday, June 28. 1-4 p.m. Info: 232-2228.
• On Sunday, June 29, local writer Jeanne Charters presents her new book, Funny, Isn’t It?:Twenty-nine fierce, female stories to tickle your funny bone and titillate your grey matter. Charters calls it, “a collection of twenty-nine humorous observations on everything from Erectile Dysfunction ads on TV to living with a sick husband.” Local artist Marie Hudson provided the illustrations. The 3 p.m. event is free.
• New York Times bestselling author Billie Letts’ new novel, Made in the U.S.A (Grand Central Publishing, 2008) was just released. She makes an early book tour stop at City Lights Bookstore on Monday, June 30, 7 p.m. Info:
• Prolific local novelist Charles F. Price has just published his newest work, Nor the Battle to the Strong: A Novel of the American Revolution in the South (Frederic C. Beil, 2008). A book release party takes place at Malaprop’s. on Friday, July 4 at 7 p.m. Info: 254-6734.
• Warren Wilson College MFA program alum Gary Lilley recently published his Africa-based Alpha Zulu through Ausable Press.
• Also set in Africa is Return to Africa: A Journal by Asheville-based author and former missionary Esther L. Megill. Culled from Megill’s journals, Africa covers the periods from 1968-80 and 1989-90. It’s available from AuthorHouse.
• Another book from AuthorHouse, Highlands, N.C.-based writer Matthew Eberz‘s Very Public Data deals with murder, corruption and the misuse of personal identity information.
—Alli Marshall, A&E reporter
