Canberra-based editor Duncan Felton has won the Small Press Network's fourth annual Most Underrated Book Award for the calendar-based anthology, The Grapple Annual No. 1. Grapple Annual is Grapple Publishing's flagship publication from the independent publisher, founded by Felton in 2013. The annual showcases more than 40 contributing writers and artists, in a bold anthology that celebrates an emerging arts community.

CRIME FICTION MASTERCLASS

A Crime Fiction Masterclass with Sulari Gentill is on December 5 from 10am to 2pm. Cost: $50 members, $35 concessional members, $115 non-members (includes 12 months of membership), $85 concessional non-members (includes 12 months of membership) The Meeting Room, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen. See: actwriters.org.au

WRITE YOUR BOOK ON A WEEKEND WITH JAN CORNALL

On December 5 and 6 from 10am to 4pm learn everything you need to know about how to write your novel, memoir or nonfiction book. Cost: $250 members, $180 concessional members, $315 non-members (includes 12 months of membership), $280 concessional non-members (includes 12 months of membership). Venue: E Block Seminar Room, Gorman Arts Centre (formerly ACT Writers Centre workshop room). See: actwriters.org.au

CALIBRE PRIZE

Australian Book Review seeks entries in the 10th Calibre Prize for an outstanding non-fiction essay. All essayists writing in English are eligible, regardless of where they live. Essays must be between 3000 and 7000 words and must be written in English. Deadline: January 18, 2016. First prize: $5000 and publication in ABR. See: australianbookreview.com.au

What's on

November 29: Hannie Rayson delivers the inaugural Harold White lecture, reflecting on the public role of the writer and the reality of having to blog, post, be liked and followed, while really being the head-marketer for the brand called You". National Library of Australia Theatre, 2pm. Cost $20 Friends of the NLA, $30 others. Bookings: nla.gov.au.

November 30: Inspiring Australians by Penelope Hanley tells the story of the first 50 years of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. It will be launched by Alex Sloan at the National Library of Australia bookshop at 6pm. Free. Bookings: nla.gov.au.

November 30: To mark the publication of The Conversation 2015 Yearbook: Politics, Policy & the Chance of Change, Michelle Grattan, Chief Political Correspondent at The Conversation, and Jack Waterford, formerly Editor-at-Large of The Canberra Times, will join the host of 666 ABC Canberra Mornings, Genevieve Jacobs, to discuss the new Turnbull era of politics. Muse Canberra, 7.30pm. Tickets $10 (includes a glass of wine or soft drink) Bookings: musecanberra.com.au.

December 1: Co-author of The Handbook: Surviving and Living with Climate Change, Jane Rawson, will be in conversation with deputy director of the National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, ANU Rod Lamberts. Muse Canberra, 8pm. Tickets $10 (includes a glass of wine or soft drink). Bookings: musecanberra.com.au.

December 3: Join author Jenny Horsfield and Professor Nicholas Brown of the School of History, ANU, for the launch of Building a City: CS Daley and the story of Canberra", a study of a man who played a decisive role in nurturing Canberra's cultural and community life, at the National Library Bookshop. 6pm. Bookings: 6262 1424 or nla.gov.au/bookings.

December 4: Writer Sulari Gentil will share the 10 things every writer needs to know about fiction and being published. Museum of Australian Democracy, at Old Parliament House. From 3-5pm. Free. RSVP: admin@actwriters.org.au

December 8: The final Poetry at the Gods reading features Beth Spencer from Terrigal and Kevin Brophy from Melbourne. Admission $10 waged, $5 unwaged. Bookings: 6248 5538 or thegodscafe@gmail.com. Dinner at 6pm. (optional). Reading at 7.30pm.

* Contributions to Litbits are welcome. Please email litbits@canberratimes.com.au by COB on the Monday prior to publication. Publication is not guaranteed.