Writers Meet: The English department at Chapman...

Writers Meet: The English department at Chapman College will present its annual Writer’s Conference next Friday and Saturday.

Friday night will be devoted to workshops conducted by Pat Kubis (fiction), English professor Martin Nakell (poetry), English department chairman Paul Frizler (screen writing) and Orange Coast Magazine editors Janet Eastman and John Morrell (writing and selling nonfiction).

Sessions Nov. 5 will include screenwriter Terry Black on “How to Break Into Hollywood”; romance writer Joan Dial on “Romancing the Editors”; science fiction writer Jim Blaylock on “Writing From the Land of Dreams”; mystery writer Elizabeth George on British mysteries; writer-director Abby Mann on “Writing to Change the World” and literary agent Ben Kamsler on “Top Dollar for Your Words.”

Also Nov. 5, a panel discussion is planned with Delacorte book representative Susan Lewis, Lorraine Zimmerman of Fahrenheit 451 bookstore and literary attorney Louise Healey on “Life After Publication: The Fiction Marketplace.” Michael Chabon (“The Mysteries of Pittsburgh”) will read from his work in progress.

The registration fee is $45. For information, call (714) 997-6750.

Readers Theater: Steve Mellow’s Readers Theater will be presented from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Scribner Book Store in Crystal Court at South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa. The evening’s theme is “Outrageous Fiction: From the Sublime to the Surreal,” featuring the works of T.C. Boyle, Kurt Vonnegut and others. The performance is free.

Romance Writers: Ann Maxwell, who writes romance novels under the pen name Elizabeth Lowell, will lecture at a meeting sponsored by the county chapter of Romance Writers of America from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Fullerton Main Library, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave. The fee is $10. For information, call (714) 847-8771.

Book Signings: T. Jefferson Parker (“Little Saigon”) and two-time Edgar winner Jon L. Breen (“Touch of the Past”) will sign copies of their novels from 1 to 3 p.m. today at Book Carnival, 870 N. Tustin Ave., Orange. . . . Parker will also sign copies of “Little Saigon” at Upchurch-Brown Booksellers, 384 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday. . . . James Blaylock will sign his new fantasy novel “The Last Coin” from 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 5, at Book Carnival. . . . Robert Scheer, author and Los Angeles Times national correspondent, will sign “Thinking Tuna Fish, Talking Death,” a collection of his essays and articles, at 8 p.m. Nov. 5 at Upchurch-Brown Booksellers. . . . KUSC classical disc jockey Jim Svejda will sign copies of “The Record Shelf Guide to the Classical Repertoire” at a musical wine and cheese reception Nov. 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Scribner Book Store. . . . Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault will introduce their new book “Listen to the Rain” on Nov. 10 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., at the Children’s Bookshoppe, 1831 Westcliff Drive, Newport Beach.

Halloween Treat: Author Peter Neumeyer will read from “Phantom of the Opera” from 2 to 3 p.m. today at Scribner Book Store. The reading will include music from the Broadway show and a guest appearance by “the Phantom.”