Book may be a catalyst for family healing

Julie Bell reads from her new book, “Kepler’s Dream,” at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 19, at Bookworks, 4022 Rio Grande NW. In the story, 11-year-old Ella’s mother has to be hospitalized to undergo cancer treatment. So Ella spends the summer at Broken Family Camp with her eccentric grandmother, whom she’s never met. Ella is scared her mother may die, but her grandmother seems to care more about her library full of books than she does about her very own granddaughter. When a rare and beloved book is stolen from her grandmother’s library, Ella and her new friend Rosie make up their minds to find it. It could be the key to healing Ella’s family.

The bookstore at 4022 Rio Grande NW hosts these other author events. … Michael McGarrity, the best-selling Santa Fe-based crime fiction writer, mounts up to present his new epic Western novel, “Hard Country,” at 3 p.m. today. He’ll give a talk and sign copies of the book. It’s the first in a planned trilogy. … Joseph Badal of Sandia Park discusses his book “Evil Deeds,” the first suspense novel in the Bob Danforth series, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 15. The book is described as “an adrenaline-boosting story about revenge, love and the triumph of good over evil.” … Barbara Jean Ruther talks about her book “Saving Snowflakes in My Pocket: Love’s Survival Through Years of Deception” at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 17. … Terry Helwig discusses her new book, “Moonlight on Linoleum,” at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 19. The memoir explores a family’s hope, despair and redemption.

HISTORY TALK: Former state historian Robert Torrez gives a talk on “Law and Order in Territorial New Mexico” at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 19, in Botts Hall, Special Collections Library, 423 E. Central. The talk is part of the Centennial Speakers Series. Free.

AT PAGE ONE: Theresa Danley, a Montana-based author of archaeological mysteries, will be at Page One at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, to talk about her most recent mystery set in the Toltec ruins of Mexico, “Effigy.” In the novel, a serial killer is on the loose, depositing his victims’ hearts amid the ruins. Meanwhile, a priceless Mesoamerican artifact is stolen in Utah, sweeping two archaeologists on a desperate recovery mission south of the border.

IN SANTA FE: Collected Works, 202 Galisteo, hosts these events this week. … Bettina Hoerlin of Los Alamos chats about her new book, “Steps of Courage: My Parents’ Journey from Nazi Germany to America,” at 6 p.m. Monday, May 14. Hoerlin began writing the book when she found a set of old letters documenting her parents’ immigration. Her parents met in 1934. He was a handsome world record-holding mountaineer, aspiring physicist and staunch anti-fascist. She was part of Munich’s intellectual and musical elite. A beautiful widow, her first husband was murdered by the Nazis. … Cyrus Cassells and Kate Braid read from their poetry at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 17. Cassells wrote the collection “Soul Make a Path Through Shouting,” which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Among Braid’s poetry collections is “Turning Left to the Ladies,” which presents some of her experiences during 15 years working construction.

MORE POETRY IN SANTA FE: Nineteen poets will read from their work from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, at the Santa Fe Community Gallery. The reading is part of “Odes and Offerings,” a combination of poetry and visual art curated by Santa Fe poet laureate Joan Logghe. The show includes 38 poets and 38 artists. Each piece of art incorporates a poem. The gallery is in the Santa Fe Convention Center, 201 W. Marcy St. … And from 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 18, Award-winning Santa Fe poet Elizabeth Jacobson reads from her new book, “Her Knees Pulled In” in Suite W, Kruger Building, 227 E. Palace Ave.