Robert Hicks, "The Orphan Mother." 7 p.m. Sept. 19. Talk, signing. $10, or free with purchase of the book from A Cappella. Margaret Mitchell House, 979 Crescent Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-249-7015, atlantahistorycenter.com/programs/richard-hicks-the-orphan-mother. Former slave Mariah Reddick (from Hicks' "Widow of the South") has built a new life for herself as a midwife in Reconstruction-era Franklin, Tenn. But, when her son is murdered, Mariah risks everything to find his killers.
Kerry Hamilton, "Trials of the Earth." 7:15 p.m. Sept. 20. Talk, reading. Free. Decatur Library Auditorium, 215 Sycamore St., Decatur. 404-370-3070, Ext. 2285; georgiacenterforthebook.org/Events/show.php?id=906. The great-grandson of Mississippi pioneer woman Mary Mann Hamilton marks the 20th anniversary of her autobiography.
Colson Whitehead, "The Underground Railroad." 7 p.m. Sept. 21. Lecture, signing. Free. Cecil B. Day Chapel, Carter Presidential Library & Museum, 441 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta. 404-865-7100, jimmycarterlibrary.gov/events. In Whitehead's novel, a young slave makes a desperate bid for freedom in the antebellum South.
Carl Hiaasen, "Razor Girl." 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22. Reading, talk, signing. $15. Marcus Jewish Community Center, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. 678-812-4000, atlantajcc.org. Hiaasen, author of "Bad Monkey" and "Hoot," will discuss his latest novel, the hilarious story of a crash scam artist.
Don Burris, "From Tragedy to Triumph." 7 p.m. Sept. 22. Lecture. Free. Carter Presidential Library & Museum Theater, 441 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta. 404-865-7100, jimmycarterlibrary.gov/events. Burris looks at worldwide efforts to recover artwork stolen by the Nazis during World War II.
Harlan Coben, "Home." 6 p.m. Sept. 23. Signing. Free. Infinite Energy Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 770-813-7500, infiniteenergycenter.com/events/detail/harlan-coben. A decade after the abduction of two boys, one is located. Where has he been? What does he remember about the day he was taken? What does he know about his still-missing friend?
Nisi Shawl, "Everfair." 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23. Talk, signing. Suggested donation: $5. Charis Books & More, 1189 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-524-0304, charisbooksandmore.com. In her neo-Victorian alternate-history novel, Shawl explores what might have come of Belgium's colonization of the Congo if native populations had known earlier about steam technology.
Paul Luikart, "Animal Heart." 7 p.m. Sept. 24. Talk, signing. Free. Tall Tales Book Shop, 2105 LaVista Road N.E., Atlanta. 404-636-2498, talltalesatlanta.com/events.html. A cabbie helps a murderer flee into the desert. A homeless woman teaches a businessman to dance. A bank robber encounters a band of wild horses. Luikart's first collection focuses on characters in need of redemption.
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