Betsy James, author of “Breathing Stone: Living Small in a Southwest Village,” is holding a meet-and-greet at Placitas Community Library on Aug. 12.

James is an Albuquerque resident who has written and illustrated 17 books. She used to live in Placitas, and she reflects on her time there in her novel “Breathing Stone.”

The novel is “a cache of warm, minute observations of nature and neighbors–the dogs and birds, cats and children, weather and weeds of rural New Mexico,” according to a press release.

Betsy James also leads writers’ workshops at the University of New Mexico, and will be signing copies of her books at the event in August. For more information, visit betsyjames.com or placitaslibrary.com