Hometown gal makes good department: Mystic's Susan Kietzman will launch her new novel, "The Good Life" (Kensington), with a reading and celebration today at 5 p.m. at Bank Square Books in Mystic.

She'll do an encore reading at 4 p.m. Saturday at Westerly's Other Tiger Bookstore.

In "The Good Life," Ann Barron's luxurious family life is interrupted when her elderly parents ask to temporarily move in. Perhaps to her surprise, her children and workaholic CEO husband seem to flourish in the new dynamic - but what will Ann learn about herself and what's truly important in life?

- RICK KOSTER

Susan Kietzman, 5 p.m. today, Bank Square Books, 53 W. Main St., Mystic; free; (860) 536-3795, banksquarebooks.com; also, 4 p.m. Saturday, Other Tiger Bookstore, 90 High St., Westerly; free; (401) 596-2200, othertiger.com.