Atomic Books, 3260 Falls Road, (410) 662-4444, atomicbooks.com.

Joanna Angel reads from her first novel-length work of fiction, “Night Shift: A Choose-Your-Own Erotic Fantasy.” A surprise is in store for attendees, as Joanna will be bringing her own “Choose-Your-Own” aspect to the reading. The event will also feature a special acoustic performance by War On Women. Feb. 24, 7 p.m.

The Children’s Bookstore, 737 Deepdene Road, (410)532-2000, thecbstore.com.

The Children’s Bookstore will host Newbery Honor Award winning author and illustrator Victoria Jamieson in the store. Widely acclaimed for 2015’s “Roller Girl,” Jamieson’s latest book is “All’s Faire in Middle School.” Feb. 26, 3:40 p.m.

The Ivy Bookshop, 6080 Falls Road, (410) 377-2966, theivybookshop.com.

New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman launches her newest thriller, “Sunburn.” The Baltimore-based writer will follow the reading with a book signing; Feb. 23, 7 p.m.

Children’s author Casey Lyall will read from her latest book, “Inky’s Great Escape.” The book is inspired by the true-life story of “Inky the Octopus” who escaped from the National Aquarium of New Zealand in 2016; Feb. 24, 10 a.m.

The Red Canoe, 4337 Harford Road, (410) 444-4440, redcanoecafe.virb.com. 

Calling all YA readers! Local YA author Katelyn Brawn will read from her recently published novel, “Pumpkin Pie.” Feb. 25, 1-3 p.m.

Red Emma’s, 30 W. North Ave., (443) 602-7585, redemmas.org. 

What is harm reduction? What are Safer Consumption Spaces? These questions and more will be answered when Nurses for Justice and Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition come together to host a panel on Safer Consumption Spaces; Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m.

Cultural critic and American studies professor Noliwe Rooks, author of “Cutting School: Privatization, Segregation, and the End of Public Education,” will explore the challenges and tensions at play today in America’s “separate and unequal’ public school system; Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m.

National Book Award Finalist Nancy MacLean will discuss her book “Democracy in Chains,” a thoroughly researched narrative that follows Nobel Prize-winning political economist James McGill Buchanan and the operation he and his colleagues designed over six decades to alter every branch of government to disempower the democratic majority; Feb. 24, 6 p.m.

Stevenson University presents the Baltimore Speakers Series, Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., (410) 783-8000, baltimorespeakersseries.org. 

The popular travel guide author and host of the PBS series “Rick Steves’ Europe,” Rick Steves will speak to a Baltimore audience on the benefits of independent traveling, the joys of visiting small villages off the beaten path, and the virtues of being a “temporary local.” Feb. 27, 8 p.m.

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Atomic Books, 3260 Falls Road, (410) 662-4444, atomicbooks.com. At this book launch party, New York Times essayist Tim Kreider will discuss his latest essay collection, “I Wrote This Book Because I Love You”; Feb. 9, 7 p.m. To celebrate the release of the expanded edition of her classic book, “Deviant Desires: A Tour of the Erotic Edge,” author Katharine Gates will be presenting a slideshow about deviant desires; Feb. 10, 7 p.m.

Bird in Hand, 11 E. 33rd Street, (410) 814-0373, birdinhandcharlesvillage.com. Bird in Hand presents Baltimore-based author Timmy Reed in conversation with Jane Delury, chair of the Johns Hopkins School of Communication Design. The two will discuss Reed’s new novel, “Kill Me Now”; Feb. 8, 7 p.m. John Darnielle, frontman of The Mountain Goats and New York Times bestselling author, reads from and discusses his second novel, “Universal Harvester”; Feb. 10, 7 p.m.

The Children’s Bookstore, 737 Deepdene Road, (410)532-2000, thecbstore.com. Weekly storytime for children ages 4 and under; Feb. 9, 9:30 a.m.

Enoch Pratt Central Library – African American Department, 400 Cathedral St., (410)-361-9287, calendar.prattlibrary.org. Award-winning illustrator Floyd Cooper discusses his work in “Ira’s Shakespeare Dream,” a biography of African-American Shakespearean actor Ira Aldridge. Ages 7-12; Feb. 7, 6:30 p.m.

The Ivy Bookshop, 6080 Falls Road, (410) 377-2966, theivybookshop.com. Acclaimed journalist and veteran Elliot Ackerman discusses his latest novel, “Dark At The Crossing,” which was a finalist for the 2017 National Book Award; Feb. 7, 7 p.m. Raúl The Third, illustrator of the children’s graphic novel “Lowriders To The Center Of The Earth,” reads and leads a discussion for children aged 9-12; Feb. 12, 7 p.m.

The Red Canoe, 4337 Harford Road, (410) 444-4440, redcanoecafe.virb.com. Local artist and maker, Berber Poplin, owner of the Colorful Berry, will be hosting a Valentine’s workshop for kids aged 5-9. $5 per child; Feb. 11, 1-2 p.m. Tiny Dog Press will lead kids through a Valentine’s Day Card making workshop. Paper, stickers, markers, and stamps will be provided. In addition, The Red Canoe’s small letterpress will be made available for printing special love notes; Feb. 12, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Red Emma’s, 30 W. North Ave., (443) 602-7585, redemmas.org. Joined by the co-directors of Popular Resistance in leading a discussion on organizing strategies, author and activist Nick Licata will speak about how the organizing principles that are illustrated in his book “Becoming A Citizen Activist” can assist citizens in stopping Trumpism; Feb 7, 5 p.m. Jerry Z. Muller presents his latest book, “The Tyranny of Metrics,” which uncovers the damage our obsession with metrics is causing—and points to how we can begin to fix the problem; Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m. Matthew R.Pembleton gives a talk on his new book “Containing Addiction: The Federal Bureau of Narcotics and  the Origins of America’s Global Drug War”; Feb. 10, 6 p.m.

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Baltimore County Public Library Pikesville Branch, 1301 Reisterstown Road, (410) 887-1234, bcpl.info. Photographer Amy Davis discusses “Flickering Treasures: Rediscovering Baltimore’s Forgotten Movie Theaters” her book of historic movie theatre in Baltimore. Jan. 10, 2:30 p.m.

The Crown, 1910 N. Charles St., (410) 625-4848, facebook.com/TheCrownBaltimore. Celebrate the release of the third issue of “End of 83,” a literary magazine put together by Writing Hour, a writers workshop. Jan. 6, 7 p.m.

The Ivy Bookshop, 6080 Falls Road, (410) 377-2966, theivybookshop.com. Sujata Massey, author and former features reporter for the Baltimore Evening Sun, discusses her new book, “The Widows Of Malabar Hill.” Jan. 8, 7 p.m. Author Maud Casey talks “The Art Of Mystery: The Search For Questions” with Mark Durant. Jan. 9, 7 p.m.

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Atomic Books, 3620 Falls Road, (410) 662-4444, atomicbooks.com. Carolyn Turgeon, editor in chief of “Faerie Magazine” discusses the new book, “The Faerie Handbook: An Enchanting Compendium of Literature, Lore, Art, Recipes, and Projects.” Nov. 30, 6 p.m.

Baltimore County Public Library Pikesville Branch, 1301 Reisterstown Road, (410) 887-1234, bcpl.info. Kathleen Waters Sander shares her latest book about the United States’ first railroad, “John W. Garrett And The Baltimore And Ohio Railroad.” Nov. 29, 2:30 p.m. Robert Kanigel, author of “The Man Who Knew Infinity,” among other books, discusses his career. Dec. 6, 2:30 p.m.

Bird In Hand, 11 E. 33rd St. (410) 814-0373, birdinhandcharlesvilage.com. Readings With Ralphie, a reading series organized by noted Baltimore writer Rafael Alvarez with Gerry Shields, author of  “The Good of the Order: America’s Last 80 Years Through the Eyes of One Veterans Club.” Dec. 5., 7 p.m.

The Church of the Redeemer, 5603 N. Charles St., prattlibrary.org. Mark Bowden, author of the New York Times bestseller “Black Hawk Down,” discusses his latest, “Huế 1968,” about the centerpiece of the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War. Nov. 29, 7 p.m.

Johns Hopkins University, Gilman 50 (Bowman Drive), Homewood Campus, 3400 N. Charles St. New Yorker music critic Alex Ross discusses his 20th century music history book, “The Rest Is Noise: Listening To The Twentieth Century.” Dec. 5, 6 p.m.

Maryland State Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped (LBPH), 415 Park Ave. Education writer and reporter John Merrow discusses his book, “Addicted To Reform: A Twelve-Step Program To Rescue Public Education.” Dec. 5, 6:30 p.m.

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