TODAY

"The Last Lincoln Conspirator: John Surratt's Flight from the Gallows" by Andrew Jampoler -- Book talk, 2 p.m. at American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar, 490 Tredegar St. $10 or free with center admission. 780-1865.

"An Interruption That Lasted a Lifetime: My First Eighty Years" by former University of Richmond President E. Bruce Heilman -- Book signing, 3-4 p.m. at Book People, 356 Granite Ave. 288-4346.

TOMORROW

Bliss Broyard, fiction writer and memoirist in UR Writers' Series talk, 4 p.m. in the Brown-Alley Room, UR Weinstein Hall. 289-8287.

Poet Kelsea Habecker Smith in reading, talk and signing, 6:30 p.m. at Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary St. 788-1594.

"The Wrong Guys: Murder, False Confessions, and the Norfolk Four" by Tom Wells -- Book talk, 6 p.m. at Prince Books, 109 E. Main St., Norfolk. (757) 622-9223.

TUESDAY

"Best New Poets 2008: 50 Poems From Emerging Writers" -- Readings by eight contributors to the anthology, 6:30 p.m. at Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary St. 788-1594.

Kentucky poets Tony Krunk, Maurice Manning and Davis McCombs for "Poetry at Noon" readings at Library of Congress Whittall Pavilion, Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St., S.E., Washington. Free. (202) 707-5394.

WEDNESDAY

"Under the Clock: The Story of Miller & Rhoads" by George Bryson and Earle Dunford -- Book talk and signing at noon at Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St. 692-3592.

"Beach to Bluegrass: Places to Brake on Virginia's Longest Road" by Joe Tennis -- Book signing 5-7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble-Chesterfield Towne Center, 11500 Midlothian Turnpike. 794-4216.

"Rock Star Momma" by Skye Hoppus -- Meet-and-greet and book signing, 5-8 p.m. at It's Hip to Be Round, 3463 W. Cary St. 340-1700.

"Hammond's Choice: A Marty Fenton Mystery" by Bob Cohen -- Book talk and signing, 4:30 p.m. at VCU Barnes & Noble Bookstore, 1111 W. Broad St. 828-1678.

"Just Deceits" by Michael Schein -- Book signing, 7-8 p.m. at Book People, 356 Granite Ave. 288-4346.

THURSDAY

James River Writers' Writing Show: Authors Jeff Sypeck, Maggie Stiefvater, Phaedra Hise and Bill Blume in "Just the Facts, Ma'am," discussion on how to keep research focused, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Eureka Theatre, Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St. $10 in advance, $12 at door, $5 students. www.jamesriverwriters.com

"The Final Battles of the Petersburg Campaign: Breaking the Backbone of the Rebellion" by A. Wilson Greene -- Book talk by the author, 7 p.m. at Union Station, 103 River St., Petersburg. 732-2096 or 733-2400.

Poet-critic James Longenbach in lecture at 6:45 p.m. in the Library of Congress Mumford Room, James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington. Free. (202) 707-5394.

Novelist Allen Wier receives the 27th annual John Dos Passos Prize for Literature from Longwood University, 8 p.m. in Longwood's Wygal Auditorium, Farmville. Free. (434) 395-2159.

FRIDAY

Thriller writer Mary Burton in author appearance, 11 a.m. at Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary St. 788-1594.

"Dead Ringer" by Mary Burton -- Book signing, 6 p.m. at Barnes & Noble-Short Pump, 11604 W. Broad St. 360-0103.

SATURDAY

Satirist and comic strip writer David Rees, author of "Get Your War On: The Definitive Account of the War on Terror, 2001-2008," in a reading, 7 p.m. at Gallery5, 200 W. Marshall St. Co-sponsored by the gallery and Chop Suey Books. 422-8066.

"Flowers and Herbs of Early America" by Lawrence Griffith -- Book signing by Griffith and photographer Barbara Temple Lombardi 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Williamsburg Farmers Market, Merchants Square, Colonial Williamsburg. (800) 747-8679.

Submit book events to Pat Row, prow@timesdispatch.com, at least two weeks before publication.