Gwyn Cready — winner of an RITA award for romance novels, will talk about the risks and rewards of stealing from Jane Austen for her novel “Romancing Mister Darcy”, her take on the Austen classic “Pride and Prejudice”.
The talk will take place at at 1 PM on 14th February at Cross Lanes Branch Library.
She’ll also talk about her long and winding road to publication, and will sell and sign copies of all of her books, including her latest, “A Novel Seduction.”

Two digital photo workshops will be hosted by photographer Thorney Lieberman in February at his studio at 1514 Virginia Street.
“Introduction to Digital Photography” runs from 3 to 5 PM for three Sundays, beginning 12th February.
Meanwhile, “Introduction to Photoshop and Lightroom” will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 PM on Thursdays beginning 9th February.
Classes cost $150 and seats are limited. Call 304-342-1842 for inquiries or to sign up.

The Art Emporium will feature the recent works of T. Paige Dalporto in a show titled “Indelible,” opening Monday. An opening reception will be held from 5:30 to 8 PM Thursday.
The Art Emporium is open 10 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday, and 10 AM to 4 PM Saturday. The Art Emporium is located at 823 Quarrier Street.

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore will host a do-it-yourself workshop entitled “Creative Light Fixtures”. The event will he held this Saturday from 1 to 4 PM at the Homeowner Education and Community Center on 815 Court St.
The $25 fee covers electrical supplies and an assortment of creative items. Participants are encouraged to bring creative items from home.

The East End Family Resource Center will hold its annual Heart and Soup Dip Dinner from 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Charleston Armory on Coonskin Drive. All proceeds benefit after-school and senior programs at the East End Center. Tickets available at the door or at the center. Call 304-344-1656.
Covenant House presents Chef’s Challenge at 5:30 p.m. March 7 at the Clay Center. Four local chefs will create gourmet meals using only ingredients typically found at the Covenant House food pantry. Tickets are $100. Proceeds benefit Covenant House. …

The 2012 West Virginia Official State Travel Guide has arrived and is available free by request or at Welcome Centers statewide, courtesy of the West Virginia Division of Tourism.
Travelers will find all the information they need at their fingertips. Shopping, dining, lodging, outdoor recreation and entertainment is conveniently arranged by travel region. The guide also contains a 2012 calendar of events occurring statewide.
The guide’s compact size makes it easy to carry in a backpack, glove box or saddlebags. In addition, smart phone users can gain immediate access to online information …

The Kanawha County Public Library is holding a writing contest. Teens are asked to write a story or poem to express their feelings about Valentine’s Day.
The entries must be submitted during February at any library location or emailed to amy.a…@kanawhalibrary.org. A release form, available on the KCPL website at http://kanawhalibrary.org/pdfs/artwork_release_form.pdf, must be included.
A prize will be awarded to the top three entries chosen by library staff. Entries will be posted on the library’s website, and winners will be notified when their prize is ready to be picked up.

Google’s fifth annual Doodle 4 Google contest for students in kindergarten through 12th grade is now open. This year’s theme is “If I could travel in time, I’d visit…” The entry deadline is March 20, and only one entry is allowed per student.
The national winner receives a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology grant for his or her school, a Google Chromebook computer, a Wacom digital design tablet, a T-shirt featuring his or her doodle and a trip to New York for an awards ceremony May 17. Plus, his …

Charleston’s annual West Virginia Hunting and Fishing Show has seen upwards of 15,000 attendees every year, and keeps on growing. This year’s show opening 20th January will be a three-day event that will feature more than 230 outfitters and outdoor-equipment vendors.
Now in its 26th year, the show draws attendees from throughout the Kanawha Valley and much of southern West Virginia. Jarrell said that if always-unpredictable January weather is bad, attendance show suffers a little, but not much. In good weather, crows jam the Civic Center floor.
Outfitters and vendors are only …

Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus, and Joe Don Rooney — collectively known as Rascal Flatts, will be performing Thursday at the Charleston Civic Center, along with singers Sara Evans and Hunter Hayes.
They are also promoting their album “Nothing Like This” — which was a No. 1 country album in 2011, sold more than a million copies and spawned three Top 5 hits.
The band also plans to release an album of new material in April 2012.