Homer and Pueblo, Colo., writer Donna Mack reads from and does a signing of her first novel, “Whispered Secrets Whispered Prayers” at 6 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Homer Public Library. Mack also presents a brief history of the Germans from Russia (from an area now known as Ukraine) who settled the American Prairies at the turn of the century. Her novel is the story of one such family. Mack is a National Endowment for the Arts award winner with a master of fine arts from the University of Alaska Anchorage.  She splits her time between Homer and Pueblo, Colorado.