In honor of National Poetry Month, the...

In honor of National Poetry Month, the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation will present its first annual Poetry Festival at 7 p.m. Monday in the Newport Beach Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave.

Novelist Wilton Barnhardt, writer-in-residence at UC Irvine, and Costa Mesa novelist Jo-Ann Mapson, author of “Shadow Ranch,” will read and discuss works by poets ranging from Tennyson to Pablo Neruda to Maxine Kumin. They will be joined in the readings by eight graduate students in UCI’s Program in Writing. Admission is free.

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Author Linda Yablonsky will speak at the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation’s Manuscripts Series at 4 p.m. Friday at the Newport Beach Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave. Cost: $8 for nonmembers.

“The Story of Junk,” Yablonsky’s debut novel, has been described as “a fierce examination of a good suburban woman turned junkie and her ultimate redemption.” Yablonsky is the creator and host of Nightlight Readings, one of New York’s most prestigious reading series.

Also this week:

* Bonnie Zimmerman, author of “The New Lesbian Studies: Into the 21st Century,” will read and sign at 1 p.m. today at Different Drummer Books, 1294 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach.

* Stephen Greenleaf, author of “Past Tense,” will sign at 1 p.m. today at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin St., Orange. Greenleaf also will speak and sign at 3 p.m. today at Coffee, Tea & Mystery, 13232 Springdale St., Westminster.

* Don Bradley, author of “Angels in a Harsh World,” will sign at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barnes & Noble in the Irvine Spectrum, 31 Fortune Drive.

* Peter Gault, author of “Knucklehead: A Journey Out of the Mind,” will give a storytelling performance at 7 p.m. Friday at Barnes & Noble in Irvine Spectrum, 31 Fortune Drive.

* The Friends of the Huntington Beach Library will hold a book sale Friday and Saturday at the library, 7111 Talbert Ave.

* Sarah Andrews, author of “Mother Nature,” will sign at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin St., Orange.

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Send information about book-related events at least 10 days before event to: Dennis McLellan, O.C. Books & Authors, Life & Style, The Times, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.