The six novels selected are: Lost and Found (Brooke Davis); After the Fire, a Still Small Voice (Evie Wyld); A Fraction of the Whole (Steve Toltz); The Night Guest (Fiona McFarlane); The Strays (Emily Bitto); and After Darkness (Christine Piper). The winning book will be announced in November.

Clouston & Hall Booksellers closed their long-running Civic store recently but have reopened at a new location in East Row between the IGA and Bailey's Corner.

General manager Jack Clouston says, "We found some sympathetic landlords in Harry Notaras and his uncles, who believe it is important for a city to have independent bookshops in the CBD and that has enabled us to open in quite a good position.

"The shop is looking very nice and we will be able to put more books in than we had at Garema Place." The website is canberrabooks.com.au.

The Botanical Bookshop at the Australian National Botanic Gardens has been refurbished and expanded with $120,000 coming from Parks Australia and further investment from licensee Tom Butt. Find out more at botanicalbookshop.com.au or call the bookshop on 6257 3302

Award-winning author Sulari Gentill is the Eminent-Writer-in-Residency at the Museum of Australian Democracy in September. As a historical crime writer, she is looking forward to delving into the past – specifically Australia in 1934.

Her month-long stay will be dedicated to laying the foundations for her 11th novel, the eighth book in her Rowland Sinclair Mystery series.

She will be in residence until September 25 and hopes to interact with Canberra locals and visitors to the museum during her stay and to collaborate with her fellow artists at the Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres.

September 12: Join published poet Lizz Murphy on a poetry scavenge from 10.30am to 1.30pm at the Meeting Room, Belconnen Arts Centre. Rummage in your cupboards and sideboards, comb your streets and garage sales for trash or treasure you might turn into poems. Cost: $35, or $30 concessions or ACT Writers Centre members. Website: belconnenartscentre.com.au/whatson/poetry.html

September 13: At 2pm, hear readings from Deep in the Valley of Tea Bowls and other poems by award winning poet Kathy Kituai, with Hazel Hall and Kate King, members of Limestone Tanka Poets, during the Binalong Arts Group's inaugural Spring Art Show at the Mechanics Institute, Wellington Street, Binalong. Open mike. Admission free. Inquiries, 0428 005641.

September 13: The ACT Storytellers Guild and Mannyfesto will present an afternoon of stories and song on the Northside at 2.30pm at Kangara Waters Community Centre, 2 Joy Cummings Place, Belconnen. Come along with family and friends. $12 at the door includes light refreshments. Inquiries, Mary French on 6254 2349.

September 17: In a Canberra Times/ANU Meet the Author event, the 2007 Australian of the Year Tim Flannery will be speaking on his new book, Atmosphere of Hope: Searching for Solutions to the Climate Crisis at 6.30pm in Manning Clark 2, ANU. Bookings 6125 8415.

September 22: Australian author and poet Kate Llewellyn discusses her latest book, a collection of letters from her private correspondence with artists and writers. The selection, edited by Ruth Bacchus and Barbara Hill, brims with energy, humour and insights into Kate's life. National Library of Australia Conference Room Level 4, 6pm. Admission $10. Bookings nla.gov.au.

September 23: In a Canberra Times/ANU Meet the Author event, George Megalogenis will discuss his book Australia's Second Chance. With new economic data and interviews with former leaders, Megalogenis examines who we are as a nation and what we can become. 6.30pm, Manning Clark 3, ANU. Free, bookings 6125 8415.

September 25: Australian of the Year 2015 Rosie Batty reveals the grief, passion and purpose uncovered in her heartfelt memoir, A Mother's Story. In February 2014, her 11-year-old son, Luke, was murdered by his father, who was then shot dead by police. Since that event, Rosie has become an outspoken crusader against domestic violence. National Library of Australia, Theatre, Lower Ground 1. Admission $10, bookings nla.gov.au.

September 29: In a Canberra Times/ANU Meet the Author event, journalist David Marr will be in conversation with Laura Tingle on Marr's new Quarterly Essay, called Faction Man: Bill Shorten's Path to Power, at 6.30pm at Manning Clark 2, ANU. Free, bookings 6125 8415.

October 1: Duncan Lay will be signing copies of his fantasy novel The Last Quarrel at Dymocks in the Canberra Centre at 11am and Dymocks in the Tuggeranong Hyperdome at 2pm. On October 2, he will be at Dymocks Belconnen at 10am.

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