August 2: In an ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author event from 6pm to 7pm, Julia Baird will be in conversation with Katharine Murphy on Baird's revised and updated version of Media Tarts, about how the media treats female politicians. Manning Clark Auditorium, Kambri Cultural Centre, ANU. Registrations at anu.edu.au/events.

August 10: In an ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author event from 6pm to 7pm, MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo will be in conversation with Alex Sloan on Zonfrillo's Last Shot, a coming-of-age memoir. Cinema. Kambri Cultural Centre, ANU. Registrations at anu.edu.au/events.

August 12: In an ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author event from 6pm to 7pm, Emma Shortis will be in conversation with Mark Kenny on Shortis's Exceptional Friend: Australia's Fatal Alliance with the United States. T2 Kambri Cultural Centr,e ANU. Registrations at anu.edu.au/events.

July 30: At the first Paperchain After Dark VIP Science Fiction and Fantasy Club at 7.30pm, limited to 30 people, those attending will get the featured book, which comes with a signed book plate and author letter, 10 per cent off all science-fiction and fantasy titles in store, and more. Tickets $30 from paperchain.com.au.

August 25: Christine Sykes' book Gough and Me: My Journey from Cabramatta to China and Beyond will be launched on Wednesday, August 25 at 5pm. RSVP info@paperchainbookstore.com.au or phone 6295 6723.

August 3: Historian and author Robert Macklin will give a talk to the Australia China Friendship Society titled Dragon and Kangaroo - a troubled history at 7.30pm in the Catchpoles Room of the Southern Cross Club Jamison. All welcome; $2 donation at the door.

August 2: At Smith's Alternative at 7pm, the readers are Jennifer Harrison via Zoom from Melbourne and Jen Webb live in Canberra. $10/$5, bookings at smithsalternative.com.

July 29: Join Alison Booth as her novel The Painting is launched by Professor Frank Bongiorno, with Dr Lucy Neave as MC. At the Street Theatre Foyer, 6pm to 7.30pm. This is a free event, but registrations with name and phone number is essential at rsvp@thestreet.org.au.

July 25: A Brush with Poetry: usually in Binalong, online only for July. Hear contemporary and traditional voices at the free open mic soirée. 1.30pm for 2pm. Link to event on Binalong Arts Group Inc Facebook page. Email robynsykespoet@gmail.com or call 0401 289 178. All welcome.

August 7: At 4pm, author and art historian Janine Burke will discuss her book My Forests: Travels with Trees with Inga Simpson. Tickets: $10. musecanberra.com.au.

August 8: At 3pm, ABC-TV 7.30 satirists Mark Humphries and Evan Williams will discuss their book On Politics and Stuff with James Jeffrey. Tickets: $10. musecanberra.com.au.

August 17: At 8pm, the Translations Book Club will discuss Jayant Kaikini's short story collection No Presents Please (trans. Tejaswini Niranjana). Registrations: musecanberra.com.au.

The Canberra chapter of the Tough Guy Book Club will meet at 7pm at King O'Malley's, 131 City Walk, Canberra, on August 4. For more information, phone Darren Saffin on 0411 089 209.

July 27: Irma Gold will be talking about her debut book, The Breaking, online at 4pm. Library Friends only. $10. nla.gov.au.

August 4: Glenda Korporaal will deliver a lecture, Marion Mahony Griffin: In her Own Right, at 6pm in the National Library of Australia theatre. $20 Friends & Australian Garden History Society members; $25 non-members (refreshments included). nla.gov.au.

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

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