Gymnast will share his path to Olympics

At age 8 Lance Ringnald was struck by a car while riding his bicycle. The accident could have short-circuited his dreams. But Ringnald bounced back. He enrolled in gymnastics classes, then moved to Albuquerque in 1985 to train with Ed Burch at Gold Cup Gymnastics School.

Ringnald continued to advance in the sport. He reached the National and World Championships and became a member of two United States Olympic gymnastic teams.

Ringnald, a part-time Albuquerque resident, and Albuquerque writer Stacey Lake discuss and sign copies of their book, “It’s Not Just Gymnastics,” at 2:30 today at Page One, 11018 Montgomery NE.

Page One also hosts author Kaya McLaren, who will talk about her new novel, “How I Came to Sparkle Again,” at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6. The novel looks at three women who must deal with heartbreak and healing. The women are Jill Anthony, who confronts a tragedy and the betrayal of her husband; Lisa Carlucci, who is waiting for true love; and Cassie Jones, whose only solace comes from the messages she believes her late mother is sending. The lives of these three women will change one winter in the Colorado ski town of Sparkle.

McLaren also wrote “On the Divinity of Second Chances” and “Church of the Dog.”

AT BARNES & NOBLE: The bookstore in Coronado Shopping Center hosts two events this week. Karen Baldwin signs copies of her book “Ruby’s World” at noon Saturday, Oct. 6. It’s described as a memoir that reads like a suspense thriller. She traveled to South Africa to teach Zulu children yet finds resistance to change from those who invited her. … At 2 p.m. on the same day, Cody Polston signs his book, “Ghosts of Old Town Albuquerque.” Polston has tracked spirits for 30 years, including those he claims are in the Bottger Mansion and the Casa de Ruiz.

AT BOOKWORKS: Francelle Alexander reads from her new book, “Among the Cottonwoods: The Enduring Rio Abajo Villages of Peralta & Los Pinos, New Mexico before 1940,” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2. The book’s back cover states that the New Mexico villages of the lower Rio Grande have not been studied as often as those of the upper Rio Grande. The book tries to fill a gap in scholarly studies and histories. The back cover says Los Pinos is now called Bosque Farms.

The store is at 4022 Rio Grande NW.

SOUTHWEST WRITERS EVENT: Harvey Stone gives a talk on “Engaging Readers: Seven Ways to Hold Attention” at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at New Life Presbyterian Church, 5540 Eubank NE. $5 general public.

IN OLD TOWN: Albuquerque’s Kirt Hickman autographs his new children’s book, “Purple,” and his own books from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at Treasure House Books & Gifts, 2012 South Plaza NW. The book is about a boy and his beloved blanket and teaches that love can be shared.

IN SANTA FE: Collected Works, 202 Galisteo, hosts these author events. Carolyn Kastner, the associate curator of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, discusses her book “Georgia O’Keeffe in New Mexico: Architecture, Katsinam and the Land” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2. … William Cobb talks about his new novel, “The Bird Saviors,” at 6 p.m. Oct. 4. … Jo-Ann Mapson discusses her new novel, “Finding Casey,” at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, in conversation with novelist-friend Judi Hendricks.