Hyper-talented songwriter/author Jim Carpenter celebrates his latest short story compendium, “Love, Fidelity, or Lack Thereof,” with a reading Thursday in Mystic’s Bank Square Books.

To be clear, Carpenter WILL be in attendance. But those who’ve seen him with his bands The Hoolios or The CarLeans know that – for all of his success and thousands of hours onstage – he’s sort of a shy type. As such, special guests will read selected excerpts from the new collection. Seems odd, but, as with all-things-Carpenter, it’ll work out just fine.

The reading is in partnership with Hydropalooza Productions, which on Feb. 16 in Westerly’s Granite Theatre present “Love, Fidelity of Lack Thereof” as an evening of storytelling, art, comedy and music from the CarLeans.

Sounds like two must-attend events for fans of Carpenter Nation.

Jim Carpenter, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Bank Square Books, 53 West Main St., Mystic; free; banksquarebooks.com, (860) 536-3795.

Love, Fidelity, or Lack Thereof, 7-9 p.m. Feb. 16, Granite Theatre, 1 Granite St., Westerly; $30, $25 members; granitetheatre.org.