Dolphins, Academia, Kid Lit and More 

Dove Joans, the local animal communicator and explorer – aka Dolphingirl – has published the second edition of Dolphin Talk, expanding on her personal stories and life experiences regarding “interspecies communications with dolphins.” Dolphingirl invites us all to experience nature and the animal kingdom in ways we might only have imagined. How? Via what Joans calls a natural language that’s designed in each of us, one we can all access – much like playing a musical instrument. Joans shares insights in a talk and book signing at Tecolote in Montecito at 3 pm on Saturday, January 20. Visit www.DolphinTalk.org. 

Meanwhile, Chaucer’s has some juicy choices in its trio of local author events this week at its location in Loreto Plaza. UCSB Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology professor Joshua Schimel’s latest offering for his colleagues in academia is called Your Future on the Faculty: How to Survive and Thrive in Academia. He’ll sign and talk about the book – aimed to help professors at all stages to navigate the complex mix of activities and institutional structures – beyond research and teaching – that scholars must master to find success as an academic; on January 18… Local kids author Gwen Dandridge, whose previous books include The Stone Lions, The Jinn’s Jest, and The Dragons’ Chosen, offers young readers a rise above Rapunzel’s tale with The Lady of the Tower, which she’ll read and sign on January 21… Dr. Bella DePaulo, the Harvard-educated professor and researcher whose TED Talk on the appeal of staying single has had more that 1.6 million views, expands upon her research with her latest, Single at Heart: The Power, Freedom, and Heart-Filling Joy of Single Life. At her January 23 signing, she’ll share groundbreaking, comprehensive confirmation – contrary to the dire warnings about the risks of living single – of how a powerful, healthy, happy life is possible; not in spite of being single, but because of it. Visit www.chaucersbooks.com.