Local author Tyler Gillespie talks poetry and Florida in St. Petersburg

Novelist Hernan Diaz will discuss his bestselling novel “Trust,” winner of the Kirkus Prize, and celebrate its paperback release at 2:30 p.m. May 7 at the Oxford Exchange, 420 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Tickets $5 for admission, $17 for admission and a signed copy of the book at oxfordexchange.com/pages/calendar.

Tombolo Books hosts a launch event for local author Tyler Gillespie’s new poetry collection, “the nature machine!” He will be joined by poet Heather Sellers (”Field Notes From the Flood Zone”) and Print St. Pete owner Kaitlin Crockett at 7 p.m. May 10 at the bookstore, 2153 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Free; RSVP at tombolobooks.com/events.

Authors and former military officers Taylor Baldwin Kiland and Judy Silverstein Gray will discuss and sign their new book, “Unwavering: The True Story of the Women Who Waged an Epic Home Front Battle to Ensure Our Nation Leaves No Man Behind,” at 6:30 p.m. May 11 at the Oxford Exchange, 420 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Tickets $5 for admission, $30 for admission and a signed copy of the book at oxfordexchange.com/pages/calendar.

Keep St. Pete Lit and St. Pete Press present a SunLit After Dark Literary Evening, featuring talks, readings and music, with light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The event features the announcement of the winner of the annual Roy Peter Clark Award, in recognition of the recipient’s outstanding contribution to the greater St. Petersburg literary community. 6 p.m. May 12 at the Palladium Theater, 253 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Free; donations suggested. VIP package $100 at tinyurl.com/38v6xu87.

Book Talk is a listing of in-person author appearances in the Tampa Bay area in the coming week. To place an item in Book Talk, send author’s name, book title, appearance time, date, venue name and address, admission cost (if any) and a contact phone number to cbancroft@tampabay.com, with “Book Talk” in the subject line. Deadline is 14 days before publication.