Scott Bomar, "Southbound: An Illustrated History of Southern Rock." 6 p.m. Oct. 19. Reading, signing. Free. A Cappella Books, 208 Haralson Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-681-5128, acappellabooks.com/event/scott-bomar-book-signing. Focusing primarily on the 1970s, "Southbound" profiles the musicians, producers, record labels, and movers and shakers that defined Southern rock's golden age.
Ben Wynne, "In Tune: Charley Patton, Jimmie Rodgers and the Roots of American Music." 7 p.m. Oct. 20. Talk, signing. Free. Carter Presidential Library & Museum Theater, 441 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta. 404-865-7100, jimmycarterlibrary.gov/events. Wynne compares the careers of bluesman Patton and country music star Rodgers, exploring how they moved beyond their humble origins to change the face of American music and transcend racial boundaries.
Into the Heartland of the Ordinary: Seamus Heaney, Thomas Hardy and the Divided Tradition of Modern and Contemporary Poetry. 6:30 p.m., Oct. 21. Lecture. Free. Joseph W. Jones Room, Level 3, Robert W. Woodruff Library, Emory University, 540 Asbury Circle, Atlanta. 404-727-6861, arts.emory.edu/events. Emory English professor Ron Schuchard's lecture is part of the Heaney exhibition "The Music of What Happens," on display through Nov. 25.
Charlie Lovett, "First Impressions." 7:15 p.m., Oct. 22. Talk, signing. Free. Decatur Library Auditorium, 215 Sycamore St., Decatur. 404-370-8450, Ext. 2225, georgiacenterforthebook.org/Events/show.php?id=736. Lovett ("The Bookman's Tale") returns with a literary mystery pairing a book lover's quest to uncover the truth about an obscure book of allegories with young Jane Austen's friendship with an aging cleric.
Jodi Picoult, "Leaving Time." 7 p.m. Oct. 22. Talk, signing. $40, includes a copy of the book. Reservations required. Atlanta History Center, 130 W. Paces Ferry Road N.W., Atlanta. 404-814-4150, atlantahistorycenter.com/program/evening-jodi-picoult-leaving-time. Picoult's latest novel follows a 13-year-old girl's quest to find her mother, an accomplished scientist who disappeared 10 years earlier.
Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, "An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States." 7:30 p.m. Oct 22. Talk, signing. Suggested donation: $5. Charis Books & More, 1189 Euclid Ave N.E., Atlanta. 404-524-0304, charisbooksandmore.com/event/indigenous-peoples-history-united-states-roxanne-dunbar-ortiz. In the first history of the U.S. told from the perspective of indigenous peoples, historian-activist Dunbar-Ortiz challenges the founding myth and argues that genocidal imperialist policy was designed to crush the original inhabitants.
Small Stories, Big Ideas Series: Edward Humes, "Garbalogy: Our Dirty Love Affair With Trash." 7 p.m. Oct. 23. Talk, signing. $25. Atlanta History Center, 130 W. Paces Ferry Road N.W., Atlanta. 404-814-4150, HISpeakerseries.org. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Humes exposes how government conceals our trashy ways and how the consumer economy encourages our costly love affair with waste. Also speaking: Ann Daniels, polar explorer; Ben Foss, author of "The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan"; Alex West, co-founder of Atlanta-based WonderRoot; and Bailey Lyles, who works to help survivors of child sexual abuse and the sex trafficking trade.
Murray Farish, "Inappropriate Behavior," and Julia Elliot, "The Wilds." 7 p.m. Oct. 23. Reading, signing. Free. A Cappella Books, 208 Haralson Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-681-5128, acappellabooks.com/upcoming-events. Two writers debut their unconventional, darkly funny short-story collections.
Seth Michelson, "Eyes Like Broken Windows," and Ron Smith, "Its Ghostly Workshop." 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23. Poetry readings. Free. Kress Auditorium, Georgia Tech, 500 10th St., Atlanta. 404-894-2000, poetry.gatech.edu/events.html.
Delilah S. Dawson, Kevin Hearne, Cherie M. Priest and Molly Harper. 1 p.m. Oct. 25. Reading, Q&A, signing. Free. FoxTale Book Shoppe, 105 E. Main St., Woodstock. 770-516-9989, foxtalebookshoppe.com/events. Four writers of dark historical fantasy and the paranormal present the latest books in their series for young adults.
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