• Author Wayne Caldwell visits Accent on Books in Asheville on Friday, Aug. 8. The 6 p.m. event is in celebration of Caldwell’s new book, Cataloochee. This is the Appalachian-based post-Civil War saga of three generations of mountain settlers.
• Western N.C.-native author Mark de Castrique reads from his new novel, Blackman’s Coffin, on Friday, Aug. 8, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. The event begins at 7 p.m.
Coffin is a Sam Blackman mystery whose main character, a wounded Iraq War vet and talented investigator, is on the trail of a killer linked to the Vanderbilts and Thomas Wolfe.
• Comedy boutique A Sense of Humor hosts Asheville authors (and Xpress editors) Jon Elliston and Kent Priestley, who recently completed North Carolina Curiosities.The book is a guide to N.C.‘s wackiest sites. The reading kicks off at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9.
• Here’s a book event with perks: N.C. native Elizabeth Wiegand introduces her book, The Outer Banks Cookbook: Recipes & Traditions with not just a reading and signing, but a food tasting to really drive home her point. On her Web site, Wiegand reveals, “Eating well is my passion, whether cooking it myself or dining out. I love traveling about my state and eating, discovering foods unique to a particular area, such as ramps up in mountain coves or soft shell crabs from the coast.” Stop by Malaprop’s at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10.
• Because no one should judge a book by its cover (or the mere words on its pages), Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts offers up a book-making class at the Harvest House. The four-week session (beginning Tuesday, Aug. 12; held Tuesdays from noon-2 p.m.) instructs novice bookmakers in the art of folded, glued and sewn creations. Bring a pencil, ruler and scissors; other materials are provided. $16. Registration required: 350-2051.
• Local poet Glenis Redmond holds a book signing and reading of her new poetry collection, Under the Sun at Malaprop’s on Friday, Aug. 29. The reading (set, auspiciously, on Redmond’s 45th birthday) gets underway at 7 p.m.
• The Literacy Council celebrates International Literacy Day on Monday, Sept. 8. An international festival, held from 6 to 8 p.m., includes food, music, dance, door prizes and kids activities. Voter registration is available on site during the the festivities.
• On Friday, Sept. 12, the Literacy Council holds a Fall fundraiser featuring New York Times best selling author Elizabeth Kostova. Kostava was inspired to writer her novel, The Historian, while hiking near Asheville. She and her husband both attended Warren Wilson College.
The fundraiser, billed as An Evening in Eastern Europe, includes Kostova reading from Historian, a discussion with the author and a silent auction. The event is held at UNC-Asheville’s Reuters Center at 6 p.m. $75. Info: 254-3442.
• Mark your calendar: The Carolina Mountains Literary Festival is set for Friday, Sept. 12, and Saturday, Sept. 13, in Burnsville, N.C. More than 50 novelists, poets, playwrights, historians, and naturalists (including Fred Chappell, Anthony Grooms, Gary Carden, John Ehle, Myrtle Driver, Vicki Lane, Neal Thompson, Pamela Duncan, Alan Gratz, Georgann Eubanks, Dorianne Laux, Sarah Addison Allen, Robert Morgan and Jeff Biggers) will give readings, workshops, lead panel discussions and sign books. There are more than 75 free events, all open to the public. Three-hour writing workshops cost $25, and the finale banquet (with a reading by Fred Chappell) is $30. Register here.
— Alli Marshall, A&E reporter
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