M.E. BAKOS >> In “Mortal Flip,” fifth Home Renovation Mystery by Mary Sebesta, writing as Bakos, house flipper/sleuth Katelyn Baxter buys a house to refurbish and resell, only to learn the seller is a person of interest in the murder of a friend who was promoted at their company instead of him. Kate finds a gun hidden in the house, and the nosy but friendly woman next door has tales about things that happened there. As Kate digs deeper into the company where the suspected killer and the dead man worked, she upsets someone who wants her dead. And she’s having second thoughts about marrying hunky Sheriff Don, hesitant about moving into his mansion instead of a house of their own. Coming and going is her first husband, Eddy, a nice guy who can’t seem to get his life together but still loves Kate. There isn’t too much remodeling in the plot, except for Kate working on a fireplace mantel (which saves her life) with a senior citizen friend and neighbor whose sleepwalking wife is arrested when she admits to poisoning her first husband. A satisfying, non-violent cozy with a lot going on and a likeable protagonist. 10 a.m.-noon Friday, Lake Country Booksellers, 4766 Washington Square, White Bear Lake.

BOOZY BOOK FAIR >> Valley Bookseller of Stillwater and Pamela Klinger-Horn host a fair with 10 Minnesota authors, games, books for sale — and booze. 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, King Coil Spirits, 550 Vandalia St., St. Paul. Single tickets at $20 include cocktail or highball and a coupon book to use at the event. Tickets at: valley-bookseller.com/event/2024-09-15/boozy-book-fair-featuring-local-authors.

KATHERINE PACKERT BURKE >> Launches “Still Life: A Novel,” in conversation with torrin a. greathouse, a “bookend” event of the October Twin Cities Book Festival. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.

MIDSTREAM READING SERIES >> Hosts poets Marcia Peck, Dougie Padilla, Mona Susan Power and Tish Jones reading from their work. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, Unity Church-Unitarian, 732 Holly Ave., St. Paul.

BEN ORLIN >> Introduces “Math for English Majors,” in conversation with Claire Wahmanholm. 7 p.m. Monday, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. s., Mpls.

ALEJANDRO PUYANA >> Discusses “Freedom is a Feast: A Novel,” with Nigar Alam. A “bookend” event of the October Twin Cities Book Festival . 7 p.m. Thursday, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.

DAWN QUIGLEY >> Presents “Jo Jo Makoons: Rule School,” fourth in her award-winning series about a 7-year-old Ojibwe who isn’t quite like anyone else on the reservation. She is helping choose contestants for the Elders Tribal Center talent show but can she follow instructions of the substitute teacher? Quigley is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe. 6 p.m. Tuesday, Red Balloon Bookshop, 891 Grand Ave., St. Paul.

PAUL ROUSSEAU >> Presents “Friendly Fire: a Fractured Memoir,” in conversation with Salvatore Pane. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.

ANDREA SWENSSON >> Introduces “Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs and Salvation of Cornbread Harris,” about the legendary musician James “Cornbread” Harris. 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Springboard for the Arts, 262 University Ave. W., St. Paul. Purchase tickets at rchs.com/event/history-revealed-deeper-blues/; 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, in conversation with author, journalist, writer and songwriter Jim Walsh, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls. Free, registration required at: magersandquinn.com/event/Andrea-Swensson-presents-Deeper-Blues/373.

What else is going on

Danny Klecko describes himself as “Minnesota’s Most Outrageous Poet” on a flier announcing his Sept. 14 one-man show in Sauk Centre. Klecko recently returned from New York where he sent emails about his time in the city to the New York Times editor who published four of his poems (just to be sure the guy didn’t forget him). He says his Sauk Centre gig is based partly on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” shows that seem loosely structured but the host never loses control. “It’s like ‘Prairie Home Companion’ on steroids,” Klecko says, adding that he’ll be standing by card tables full of odds and ends that inspire his stories, including baking from St. Paul to Siberia and legendary singer Pavarotti at the St. Paul Hotel.

For those of you who couldn’t get your hands on a hardcover edition of “A Council of Dolls” by PEN Award-winner Mona Susan Power of St. Paul, her widely praised novel will be available in paperback Nov. 5. She also hints at a forthcoming special edition. Power’s powerful and much-praised story spans three generations of Yanktonai women from the 19th century to the present, told in their relationships to their dolls.

— Mary Ann Grossmann