Bookends

Author to discuss his research on forts

Nebraska author Jeff Barnes will discuss his travels to gather information for his 2008 book, “Forts of the Northern Plains: Guide to Historic Military Posts of the Plains Indians Wars” (Stackpole Books, $19.95), at 2 p.m. today at the John G. Neihardt State Historic Site in Bancroft, Neb.

Barnes documented 51 forts in the area from Fort Des Moines in Iowa to Fort C.F. Smith in Montana, and from Fort Union in North Dakota to Fort Sidney in Nebraska.

His presentation is free and open to the public.

Four writers will talk about publishing

Four successful area writers will lead a discussion on writing and publishing Wednesday at Metropolitan Community College's South Omaha Campus.

The program, part of the school's Writing Center Reading Series, is scheduled from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Connector Building Main Entrance Commons Area.

Participants are Timothy Schaffert, author of “Devils in the Sugar Shop” and “The Singing and Dancing Daughters of God”; James Reed, award-winning author of numerous short stories; Mary Helen Stefaniak, a Creighton University instructor who is the author of “The Turk and My Mother”; and John Price, an author and instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

The program is free and open to the public.

Curator plans talk on book scene miniatures

At 10:30 a.m. Saturday, curator DiAnna Hemsath will give a program about the “Little Nooks From Great Books” exhibit and the Kruger Collection miniatures at the Bennett Martin Public Library, 136 S. 14th St. in Lincoln.

The exhibit features scenes from the children's books “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,” “Little Women,” “Little House on the Prairie,” “Peter Pan and Wendy,” “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” and “Felicity Learns a Lesson: A School Story.”

Next in reading series is Amelia Montes

The John H. Ames Reading Series continues with Amelia Maria de la Luz Montes at 2 p.m. Sept. 20.

The Los Angeles native who teaches at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will discuss and read from her work.

The programs are presented in the third-floor Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors at the Bennett Martin Public Library in Lincoln.

Book signings

Amy Wendling, an assistant professor of philosophy at Creighton University, will sign copies of her new book, “Karl Marx on Technology and Alienation,” from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Creighton University Bookstore. Refreshments will be served.

Omaha writer Joy Johnson and Barney, her Bernese mountain dog, will be at the Bookworm in Countryside Village, 87th and Pacific Streets, from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Johnson will sign copies of her novel, “The BOOB Girls: The Burned Out Old Broads at Table 12” (Grief Illustrated Press, $12.95 paperback), which she calls a comic mystery.

Another book signing on Saturday will be at the Borders Express at Oak View Mall, 3001 S. 144th St. Lucas Starr will sign copies of his recent adventure novel, “Saro's Revenge,” from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Mystery writer William Kent Krueger will be at Lee Booksellers, 5500 S. 56th St. in Lincoln, on Sept. 20. He will promote “Heaven's Keep” (Atria, $25), the ninth book in his Cork O'Connor series, at 2 p.m.

Have an item for Bookends? Write to Carol Bicak, The World-Herald, 1314 Douglas St., Suite 700, Omaha, NE 68102, call 402-444-1279, or send an e-mail to carol.bicak@owh.com. Items must be received 14 days before the Sunday you wish them to run. There is no guarantee of publication.