Sharyn McCrumb, "The Unquiet Grave." McCrumb sets her latest Appalachian "ballad" novel in 1800s West Virginia to explore one of the strangest murder trials in American history. 3 p.m. Nov. 5. Talk, signing. Free. Norcross Cultural Arts & Community Center, 10 College St., Norcross, 770-978-5154, gwinnettpl.org
Hannah Palmer, "Flight Path." Palmer embarks on a quest to determine how three of her childhood homes were wiped out by the expansion of Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. 6 p.m. Nov. 6. Reading, reception. Free. Luchsinger Lounge, Alston Center, Agnes Scott College, 141 E. College Ave., Decatur, 404-471-6000, calendar.agnesscott.edu/
Daniel Mulhall, "To Sweeten Ireland's Wrong: W.B. Yeats in the 1890s." Mulhall, Irish ambassador to the U.S., is an author and avid scholar of Irish history and literature, particularly the work of Yeats. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6. Lecture, reading. Free. Emory University, Robert W. Woodruff Library, 540 Asbury Circle, Atlanta, 404-727-6861, emory.edu.
Java Monkey Slam. Twelve poets have three minutes each to deliver an original poem to be rated by five judges and the audience's response. (Sign-up list opens at 7 p.m.) 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8. Readings, contest. Free. Decatur Library Auditorium, 215 Sycamore St., Decatur, 404-370-3070, Ext. 2285, georgiacenterforthebook.org/
Marie Benedict, "The Other Einstein." In this rich portrait of the brilliant Serbian physicist Mileva Marić, Benedict ("The Map Thief") makes a strong case that she was integral to Albert Einstein's success. 6:30 p.m. Nov. 9. Signing. Free. FoxTale Book Shoppe, 105 E. Main St., Woodstock, 770-516-9989, foxtalebookshoppe.com/events/ Also appearing: With Jane Healey, "The Saturday Evening Girls Club," in conversation with Theresa Weaver. Noon, Nov. 10. Talk, signing. $15. Marcus Jewish Community Center, Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, 678-812-4000, atlantajcc.org
Scott Kelly, "Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery." The astronaut who spent a record-breaking year aboard the International Space Station offers a candid account of his remarkable voyage, of the journeys that preceded it, and of his colorful formative years. 7 p.m. Nov. 9. Talk, signing. $40. Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Road NW., Atlanta, 404-814-4150, atlantahistorycenter.com
Poetry Night: Clifford Brooks and Michael Walls. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9. Readings. $5. Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, 980 Briarcliff Road NE., Atlanta, 404-872-5338 ext. 228, callanwolde.freshtix.com/
2017 Milton Literary Festival. Highlights include keynote speakers Mary Kay Andrews and Bret Witter, plus local luminaries Ray Atkins, Trudy Nan Boyce, Joshilyn Jackson, Thomas Mullen, Lynn Hesse, Grant Jerkins, and many more. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 11. Readings, panel discussions, performances workshops, signings. Free. Milton's City Hall, 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, miltonliteraryfestival.weebly.com/
Larry Copeland, "The Moaning Bench." Set in 1980s Atlanta, Copeland's debut novel follows a former Missing and Murdered Children's task force detective whose investigation of the murder of a popular minister pits him against a diabolical killer. 2 p.m. Nov. 11. Talk, signing. Free. Tall Tales Book Shop, Toco Hill Shopping Center, 2105 LaVista Road NE., Atlanta, 404-636-2498, talltalesatlanta.com
