April 14: In an ANU/The Canberra Times meet the author event from 6-7pm, former Secretary of PMC, Martin Parkinson will be in conversation with Katharine Murphy on Parkinson's new essay A Decade of Drift, a story of science and expertise ignored, short-termism, wasted opportunities and international disappointment over climate change policy. Cinema, Kambri Cultural Centre, ANU. Registrations at anu.edu.au/events

April 22: In an ANU/The Canberra Times meet the author event from 6-7pm, Stan Grant will be in conversation with Mark Kenny on Grant's new book With the Falling of the Dusk, a deeply powerful and compelling book on the challenges facing our world. Manning Clark Theatre, Kambri Cultural Centre, ANU. Registrations at anu.edu.au/events

April 18: A proud Kurnai woman, Veronica Gorrie grew up dauntless, full of cheek and with a fierce sense of justice. After watching her friends and family suffer under a deeply compromised law-enforcement system, Gorrie signed up for training to become one of a rare few Aboriginal police officers in Australia. She will launch her memoir, Black and Blue: A memoir of racism and violence, in conversation with Sarah Burr. 3pm. Muse, East Hotel, 69 Canberra Ave, Kingston. $10 general admission. Bookings at musecanberra.com.au

March 30: Babette Smith will launch her latest work, Defiant Voices, that investigates the 25,000 women transported to Australia between 1788 and 1853. In this new NLA Publishing title, Smith takes the reader beyond the traditional casting of convict women as depraved and promiscuous, and instead seeks evidence of their humanity and individuality. At the launch, Smith will be joined by Australian National University historian Melanie Nolan. National Library of Australia Foyer, 5.30 to 7pm. Free but bookings are essential. nla.gov.au

April 5: Geoff's Poetry at Smiths: David Musgrave (Sydney) and Sandra Renew (Canberra). Admission: $10 waged, $5 unwaged, paid with online booking - or collected in cash if venue not already full just before the reading starts at 7pm at Smiths Alternative Bookshop 76 Alinga Street, City. Max 48 people. Bookings with online payment via smithsalternative.com. Readings start at 7pm and will finish by 9pm at the latest. There is no open mic.

March 28: A Brush with Poetry Bonus: Room and Zoom. Hear contemporary and traditional voices at the free open mic soirée. Café on Queen, 15 Queen Street, Binalong, 1.30pm for 2pm. Link to Zoom on Binalong Arts Group Inc Facebook page or via email. Bookings essential. robynsykespoet@gmail.com / 0401 289 178. All welcome.

School Days

The Fellowship of Australian Writers, Canberra & Region is compiling an anthology of short stories and poetry titled School Days. It's inviting submissions from past and present ACT FAW members - up to 2500 words for prose and 50 lines for poetry. Free entry. Details from the president: email jenniferj.warren@bigpond.com or phone 0408 434 954 or 6293 2120 (please leave a message). The FAW meets at 2pm on the second Sunday of the month at the National Library. New members welcome.

The Canberra chapter of the Tough Guy Book Club will meet at 7pm at King O'Malley's, 131 City Walk, Canberra, on the following dates: April 7, May 5 and June 2. For more information, phone Darren Saffin on 0411 089 209.

For consideration for Litbits, email litbits@canberratimes.com.au by 5pm Monday.

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