Author events, Jan. 22-28

“The Portable Veblen,” by Elizabeth McKenzie.

“The Portable Veblen,” by Elizabeth McKenzie.

Frank Reddy, "Eyes on the Island." 3 p.m. Jan. 22. Talk, signing. Free. Tall Tales Book Shop, 2105 LaVista Road N.E., Atlanta. 404-636-2498, talltalesatlanta.com/events.html. Thomas Mullen ("Darktown") calls Reddy's novel, set on Georgia's barrier islands, "a twisty, spooky Southern tale of religion and loss."

Kimberly Belle, "The Marriage Lie." 2 p.m. Jan. 22. Tea, signing. Free. Bookmiser-Roswell, 4651 Sandy Plains Road, Roswell. 770-993-1555, bookmiser.net. Also appearing: 7 p.m. Jan. 24. Signing. Free. Eagle Eye Book Shop, 2076 N. Decatur Road, Decatur. 404-486-0307, eagleeyebooks.com. A grief-stricken woman whose husband is killed in a plane crash discovers that he lied about where he was going.

The Big Read: "Brother I'm Dying." 7 p.m. Jan. 25. Panel discussion. Free. Decatur Library Auditorium, 215 Sycamore St., Decatur. 404-370-3070, Ext. 2285; 7stages.org/shows-productions/special-programs/the-big-read. Atlanta authors, including Jessica Handler, Jamie Iredell, Soniah Kamal and Ajay Vishwanathan, will connect their writing processes to Edwidge Danticat's memoir, and discuss sharing your own story through memoir or fiction.

Jill Jonnes, "Urban Forests." 7 p.m. Jan. 25. Talk, signing. Free. Carter Presidential Library & Museum Theater, 441 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta. 404-865-7100, jimmycarterlibrary.gov/events. Jonnes offers a wide-ranging survey of trees in American cities.

Wendy Simonds, "Hospital Land USA: Adventures in Medicalization." 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26. Talk, signing. Suggested donation: $5. Charis Books & More, 1189 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-524-0304, charisbooksandmore.com. Local author Simonds urges critical thinking about conventional notions of care, health, embodiment, identity, suffering and mortality.

Elizabeth McKenzie, "The Portable Veblen." 7 p.m. Jan. 26. Talk, signing. Free. The Wrecking Bar, 292 Moreland Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-221-2600, acappellabooks.com/events.php. In McKenzie's novel, a young couple on the brink of marriage weathers everything from dysfunctional families to an intimate tête-à-tête with a squirrel.

Melissa Range, "Scriptorium." 6:30 p.m. Jan 26. Poetry reading. Free. A Cappella Books, 208 Haralson Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-681-5128, acappellabooks.com/events.php. Range's collection explores questions of religious and linguistic authority, from medieval England to contemporary Appalachia.

Michael Eric Dyson, "Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America." 7:30 p.m. Jan 26. Talk, signing. Free. $27-$37 for reserved seating includes a copy of the book. Carter Presidential Library & Museum Theater, 441 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta. 404-865-7100, jimmycarterlibrary.gov/events. Dyson argues that to make real racial progress we must face the ways black grievances have been ignored, dismissed or discounted.

The Crunk Feminist Collection: Susana M. Morris, Robin M. Boylorn and Brittney C. Cooper. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27. Release party. Suggested donation: $5. Charis Books & More, 1189 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-524-0304, charisbooksandmore.com. Members of the collective celebrate a new book and their blog, focused since 2010 on how race and gender politics intersect with pop culture and current events.

Curtis Bunn, "The Secret Lives of Cheating Wives." 1 p.m. Jan. 28. Talking, signing. Free. Atlanta Fulton County Library Wolf Creek Branch, 3100 Enon Road, Atlanta. 404-613-4255, afpls.org/wolf-creek-branch. In Bunn's latest novel, married women risk everything in the pursuit of pleasure.

Deanna Raybourn, "A Perilous Undertaking." 2 p.m. Jan. 28. Signing. Free. FoxTale Book Shoppe, 105 E. Main St., Woodstock. 770-516-9989, foxtalebookshoppe.com/events. The Lady Julia Grey mystery series returns with a Victorian London adventuress trying to save an innocent man accused of murdering his artist mistress.