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 27: In an ANU/Canberra Times meet the author event from 6pm to 7, Peter van Onselen will be in conversation with Mark Kenny on van Onselen's new book with Wayne Errington, How Good is Scott Morrison, which examines the trials and tribulations of our 30th Prime Minister. Cinema. Kambri Cultural Centre ANU. Registrations at anu.edu.au/events.

Canberra writer Gina M Newton has been shortlisted (with Tasmanian illustrator Rachel Tribout) for Hold On! Saving the Spotted Handfish by the Children's Book Council of Australia for this year's Eve Pownall Award. The category recognises books primarily intended to document factual material.

The organisers of Feminist Writers Festival (FWF) have announced its closure, saying that the resourcing required to push through an (ongoing) precarious situation is too much. Since 2016, FWF hosted more than 163 speakers at 56 events in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Geelong, Lismore, Melbourne and Sydney, provided podcasts of many of these events and created a standalone podcasting stream, FWFtalks, available to all. FWF also published original work by/about more than 70 feminist writers and thinkers.

April 18: Kurnai woman Veronica Gorrie, one of the few Aboriginal police officers in Australia, 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

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. There is no open mic.

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.

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.

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

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