November 24: Head to Paperchain for the launch of The Ruby Red Slippers by Tianqing Fan. This book was awarded first place in the Year 3-4 Picture Book Award of the Make Your Own Book competition organised by the Children's Book Council of Australia (ACT Branch). Paper and pencils will be provided so that you too can make your own book. Paperchain, Manuka, 1.30pm. paperchainbookstore.com.au

November 25: Social affairs writer Rick Morton will discuss his autobiography, One Hundred Years of Dirt. A story of social mobility, class, childhood trauma, homophobia, mental illness and drug addiction. It is the story of Australia’s fringes: social and geographical. At Muse with Gabrielle Chan at 3pm. $12 includes a drink. musecanberra.com.au.

November 25: Final Brush with Poetry for 2018. Enjoy coffee, cake and conversation sprinkled with metaphors and sometimes music. Hear contemporary and traditional voices. Relax in the ambience of Café on Queen, on the banks of the Balgalal Creek, 15 Queen St, Binalong. MCs Lizz Murphy and Gregory Piko. Free open mike event. 1.30pm for 2pm. Details: 0401 289 178.

November 26: That Poetry Thing: Kent McCarter (VIC) and Vanessa Proctor (NSW): Writer and Cordite editor/publisher McCarter joins award-winning poet Proctor. $5 on the door, includes open mic. Smith's Alternative, 76 Alinga St Civic, 7-9pm.

November 28: Llewellyn Hall at 6pm. Former Monty Python member Eric Idle will be in conversation with Alex Sloan on Idle's new book, Always look on the bright side of life. A sortabiography. Tickets $50, including an autographed copy of the book. Bookings at anu.edu.au/events or 6125 4144.

November 29: At Muse at 5.30pm will be the Canberra launch of The Conversation Yearbook 2018, in which experts discuss the year. $12 includes a drink. musecanberra.com.au.

November 29: Join author Sean Costello and illustrator Juliette Dudley for a conversation led by the ACT Writers Centre's 2017 Lit-Blogger, Angharad Lodwick (Lost the Plot podcast), as they discuss all things Canberra and Costello and Dudley's new book Capital Yarns. Paperchain, Manuka, 6pm. paperchainbookstore.com.au

November 30: Jane Thomson, the founder and managing director of The Fabulous Ladies' Wine Society, will be talking about her new book The Fabulous Ladies' Guide To Wine, a book specifically for - and about - women who love wine and those who produce it. With special guest Natalie Pizzini from Pizzini Wines, who will host a wine tasting. Paperchain Manuka, 6pm. paperchainbookstore.com.au

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