Marisha Pessl on ‘Bookwatch’

Asheville native and author Marisha Pessl will be the guest for today’s installment of UNC-TV’s literary series “North Carolina Bookwatch,” which will air at 5 p.m. Host D.G. Martin will interview Pessl on stage from Lenoir Rhyne University’s P.E. Monroe Auditorium in Hickory.

This episode will feature a discussion of Pessl’s 2006 novel, “Special Topics in Calamity Physics.”

Pessl made her literary debut with “Special Topics in Calamity Physics.” The novel features a precocious adolescent, Blue van Meer, and her widowed father, Gareth, a brilliant, charismatic professor. The two travel from college to college, driven by forces only revealed to Blue by the death of Hannah, a popular teacher at her school. The book is filled with literary references as well as illustrations by the author.

For more on this novel, and a look at Pessl’s drawings, visit www.calamityphysics.com/main.htm.

New series at The Regulator

DURHAM — Starting on Jan. 11, 2010 at 7 p.m., The Regulator Bookshop will begin a new series of storytelling for adults, Regulator Storytellers. The series, scheduled on the second Monday each month, is free and open to the public.

The series will be hosted by John Benedetto, an experienced storyteller, mime and workshop leader. Benedetto was one of the organizers of the Asheville Storytelling Circle, which has been active for more than 14 years.

The series will continue on the following second Mondays: February 8, March 8, and April 12.

The Regulator is at 720 Ninth St. For information, call 286-2700.