November 17: In an ANU/Canberra Times meet the author virtual event from 6pm to 7pm, Malcolm Knox will be in conversation with Mark Kenny on Knox's new book, Truth is Trouble. The strange case of Israel Folau, or how free speech became so complicated.

November 20: The National Film and Sound Archive in association with the ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author series presents an author talk with Sue and Saroo Brierley in conversation with Alex Sloan followed by a screening of Lion (2016). Sue will talk about how the problems of her early life inspired her to adopt Saroo and his brother Mantosh from India. Arc Cinema at 6pm. Tickets $12/$10. nfsa.gov.au/events/lioness-conversation-sue-and-saroo-brierley-lion.

Registrations for all events except as noted are at anu.edu.au/events.

November 15: Local novelist Felicity Volk will be in conversation with Louise Maher about her second book, Desire Lines, about love and the lies set against the uneasy relationship society has with its own truth-telling in history, war and politics. Muse, 3pm. $10. musecanberra.com.au/events/2020/11/15/felicity-volk-desire-lines.

November 18: Professor Jenny Hocking will deliver the 2020 Dymphna Clark Lecture at 6pm via Zoom about her new book, The Palace Letters. Tickets: $10. Special ticket-plus-book price for Canberra-based MCH members $38.05, for Canberra-based non-MCH members $42. Bookings: trybooking.com/BMEEM.

November 25: At 4pm in a Friends-only event, Helen Ennis will speak about her award-winning book, Olive Cotton: A Life in Photography. To become a Friend of the National Library and for more information: nla.gov.au.

The $7500 Calibre Essay Prize is open until January 15 to all essayists writing in English. Entries must be essays of between 2000 and 5000 words on any subject and may be personal or political, traditional or experimental.The winner will receive $5000; the runner-up will receive $2500. More information and entries: australianbookreview.com.au.