The Dakota County Library will present local and award-winning authors at library events in January and February.

The writers will read from their books, talk about them and autograph them:

Jan 22: Brian Freeman, author of "Spilled Blood," from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Wentworth Library, 199 E. Wentworth Av., W. St. Paul.

Jan. 28: Fred Blanch will read from his memoir "Last Words: Frederick's Binary," 6 to 7 p.m. Pleasant Hill Library, 1490 S. Frontage Road, Hastings.

Feb. 2: Loretta Ellsworth and Janet Graber, award-winning authors of teen fiction, will discuss innovative ways to create full-fledged characters with authentic voices that readers will root for in the "Writing Fiction for Teens" program. Registration required. 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., at Heritage Library, 20085 Heritage Drive, Lakeville.

Feb. 5: Minnesota author Barbara Deese will discusses her book, "Murder at Spirit Falls," from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Farmington Library, 508 Third St., Farmington.

Feb. 19: Local author Steven Derfler will discuss his book, "Israel's Pharaoh," a nonfiction adventure story that begins with an alleged discovery in 1939 of a hieroglyphic fragment suggesting that one Egyptian pharaoh may have been an Israelite. 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Robert Trail Library, 14395 S. Robert Trail, Rosemount.

Feb. 19: Author Peter Geye will meet with the Burnhaven Book Discussion Group--and any interested others--to discuss his books "Safe from the Sea" and "The Lighthouse Road" from 7 to 8 p.m. at Burnhaven Library, 1101 W. County Road 42, Burnsville.

Feb. 26: Author Lorna Landvik will answer questions during a discussion by the Book Ends Book Group of her novel "Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons" from 7 to 8 p.m. at Wentworth Library, 199 E. Wentworth Av., West St. Paul.

For more information, visit www.dakotacounty.us/library or call 651-450-2943.

NORTHFIELD

Art from a parallel universeA Carleton College art professor and web content specialist have collaborated on a surreal exhibit opening next Friday at the Northfield Arts Guild.

"NRTHFLD: The Nirthfolde Visitor's Bureau" purports to chronicle a bucolic burg in a parallel universe that nearly overlaps Northfield.

The "Visitor's Bureau" exhibit includes "misinformation panels, ahistorical artifacts, and other displays guaranteed to perplex and amaze," according to a news release from the college. Visitors can learn about the Cowling Arboretum Contemplative Transit System, view Nirthfolde's mysterious Monoliths of Mystery and check out a scale model of a prehistoric beaver lodge metropolis from along the Canon River where downtown Nirthfolde now stands.

After the opening reception on Friday, the opening celebration continues at 9 p.m. with a special Nirthfolde-tinged concert and dance party featuring a Kinks cover band at the Chapel, 310 1/2 Division St.

The exhibit will remain on display through Feb. 8. The Northfield Arts Guild is at 304 Division St. For more information, see www.northfieldartsguild.org or call 507-645-8877.

FROM STAFF REPORTS

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