By John Maruskin

Clark County Public Library

The 2018 Adult Summer Reading Program begins today and will continue until 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 31.

Come in, sign up, get a new free library bag and let summer reading joy begin.

You don’t need a beach to read in the summertime. All you really need is a Clark County Public Library card.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, The Mad Doctor of horror, James Gardner, leads you through dark, twisted genres of horror fiction during a thrilling program entitled “Scareeeeee Books!”

James is a published horror story author. He has stories in “The Asterisk Anthology” and “Appalachian Terror Trail.”

His next published work will be in the “Schlock! Horror! Anthology” and is titled “The Last VCR Made in Hell.”

The story is about a VCR that lets people experience movies, usually horror movies, at the price of human souls. (Is that the real reason studios switched to DVD format?)

James knows horror fiction as only a practitioner can. Check out his blog called “The Foreboding Home of the Scary Librarian” at bewarethescarylibrarian.blogspot.com). There, he reviews books and writes about horror novels.

Saturday, along with recommendations and readings, James will compliment and inspire discussion by serving spider cider and witch finger cookies. If you like, bring your own favorite books or stories to share with the group. Please register to attend.

Yoga on the library lawn continues Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. If you’d like to participate, dress in loose, comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat. In case of rain, the class will be held in the library’s Community Room.

At 7 p.m. Friday, June 15, Tripp Bratton returns for another drum circle. Last summer, Kentucky’s Premier Percussionist and his drum ensemble had everybody in the audience drumming away by the end of the performance (except for a few who were dancing). Tripp’s performance this summer will be just as, if not even more, exhilarating as last year’s.

Not to mention local djembe Djinn Wes Moody will be performing with Tripp.

Bring a lawn chair or a blanket to sit on. If you have a drum, please bring it along and join in. Everybody is encouraged to participate at a Tripp Bratton Drum Circle.

If you need more information about this or any other Adult Summer Reading Program event, call 859-744-5661, ext. 110 or email john.clarkbooks@gmail.com.

Other events this week:

— At 10 a.m. Tuesday, Internet 1. If you want to learn the basics of using a computer, come to Internet 1. Classes are limited to four so everyone gets personal attention. Participants use the computers at their own pace. There’s no need to hurry. This is a laid-back, friendly class,

— At 2 p.m. Wednesday, Kentucky Picture Show presents a great 2017 film about Thurgood Marshall, the crusading lawyer who became the first African-American Supreme Court justice, as he battles through one of his career-defining cases. Rated PG 13.

— At 7 p.m. Wednesday, reference librarian Jeff Gurnee has customers at the Engine House Pizza Pub so perplexed by his trivia challenges they burn their mouths with hot cheese. Take the challenge … if you dare!

— At 10 a.m. Friday, Write Local begins its seventh year. Write Local began in June 2011. It was only supposed to run through the Adult Summer Reading Program that year, but we just liked it.

There have been a boatload of stories, poems, essays and memoirs written at Write Local since then. Lucky seven. Let’s see what we can come up with this year.

Neil Gaiman said: “A book is a dream you hold in your hand.”

Have a dreamy summer.

John Maruskin is director of adult services at the Clark County Public Library. He can be reached at john.clarkbooks@gmail.com.