Actress/writer Denise Nicholas will read excerpts from her new novel, "Freshwater Road" during the ninth annual Afro-Centric Showcase Art Walk and Poetry Reading from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sat., Aug. 26 at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley.

The event is scheduled from noon to 4:30 p.m., with shopping and lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. Nicholas will remain at the center following her reading to sign books.

Local participating poets include Charles J. Howard, Craig Sperry, Rashun Aliuwani and Brittany Jenkins.

Collectible art, jewelry, affordable gifts and African-American sculpture will be offered for sale.

Nicholas is best known for her participation in two television series, "Room 222" and "In the Heat of the Night." She earned two Golden Globe nominations for "Room 222" and she also wrote six episodes of "In the Heat of the Night."

"Freshwater Road" is her first novel and tells the story of 19year-old Celeste Tyree, who in the summer of 1964 journeys to the small town of Pineyville, Miss. to help the organization One Man, One Vote register local "Negroes" to vote.

Nicholas grew up in Detroit and attended the University of Michigan. She took part in One Man, One Vote and performed throughout the South with the Free Southern Theater, often in small churches, from 1964-1966.

Nicholas's book has been called one of the best debut novels of 2005 and is recognized as one of the most important novels to be written about the Civil Rights Movement.

The Afro-Centric Art Walk and Poetry Reading is presented by the Afro-Centric Committee of Ventura County and Julia's Professional Services. Co-sponsors are the Ventura County Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and the Ventura Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

For more information about the event, call Mary at (805) 529-2674 or the Cultural Arts Center at (805) 583-7905.