Waldenbooks at Pinecrest Plaza will host a book signing with Susan Reinhardt, author of "Not Tonight Honey: Wait till I'm a Size 6," Saturday, Oct. 14, from 2 to 4 p.m.

Reinhardt is a syndicated columnist through the Asheville Citizen-Times. She and her husband, Stuart, reside in Asheville with their two children.

Connie Nelson and Floyd Harris, authors of "The Film Junkies' Guide to North Carolina," will sign copies of their book, Sunday, Oct. 15, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Elizabeth Weidle will sign copies of her book, "The Truth About Parenting: Navigating the Elementary Years," Sunday, Oct. 28, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

For information, call 692-4373.

Reading

Alex Grant of Chapel Hill, the winner of the 2006 Randall Jarrell/Harperprints Poetry Chapbook Competition for his collection, "Chains & Mirrors," will read from his prize-winning book at McIntyre's Fine Books and Bookends in Fearrington Village, on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 11 a.m.

Roy Jacobstein will read with Grant. Jacobstein, also of Chapel Hill, is an international public health physician whose poetry has been widely published and is included in "LITERATURE; Reading Fiction, Poetry & Drama" (McGraw-Hill, 2006).

Both will sign books after the reading.

Workshops

On Friday, Oct. 20, the Crystal Coast Book Festival will host "Workshops for Writers" in the Bryant Student Center of Carteret Community College in Morehead City.

Two workshops, led by Dr. Patrick Bizzaro, Director of University Writing Programs at East Carolina University, will stimulate your creative, visual, and writing skills.

Workshop fees are $25 respectively and can be paid at the door on the day of the event. For more information e-mail bjmountford.com.

Workshops are from 10 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Crime Festival

The Friends of the New Hanover County Public Library present the 6th Annual Cape Fear Crime Festival in downtown Wilmington, Oct. 26 to 28, with over 40 crime writers and many professional crime fighters speaking throughout the weekend.

Kathy Reichs headlines the Crime Festival on Thursday, Oct. 26, speaking from the Main Stage at Thalian Hall at 7 p.m.

Authors and law enforcement personnel will participate in panels, readings, signings, demos, and question- and-answer sessions scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 27 and 28.

Lunch speakers are "Rookie of the Year" Jesse Kellerman (son of bestselling authors Jonathan and Faye Kellerman) on Friday, and Michael Malone, a North Carolina favorite, on Saturday.

Advance registration for all events is recommended. Full conference registration is $125 through Oct. 15, and includes all events except the Partners in Crime dinner. Details for costs for separate events are available on the Web site.

Tickets for the Crime Festival are available through the website www.capefearcrimefestival.org.