WORDS AND IMAGES : Clear-Eyed Memoir : ‘Time Is All We Have,’ Barnaby Conrad’s intense book about his battle with drink, is out in a new edition.

For 30 years, Barnaby Conrad, writer, painter, bullfighter and former diplomat, was an alcoholic. “Time Is All We Have” first published in 1986, is his intensely personal account of the four weeks at the Betty Ford Center that changed and saved his life. Conrad, who lives with his wife Mary in a house on the Rincon that straddles the Ventura County line, achieved enormous success as a very young man with his second novel “Matador” published in 1952. His fame as a best-selling author catapulted him into a macho literary society with hard-drinking writers like Sinclair Lewis, John Steinbeck and Ernest Hemingway.

A new edition of “Time is All We Have,” with a cover created by Conrad himself and published by Robert Cameron of San Francisco, is now in the bookstores. Artie Shaw says, “It reads like a poignant novel”; KABC radio talk host Michael Jackson calls it: “Quite simply the best book ever written on alcohol addiction’, and Los Angeles Times columnist Charles Champlin finds the book “funny, honest, unsparing of self and a source of hope.”

*

If you’re fed up with movies depicting slithering, slashing psychopaths who toss bloody body parts in your face, you’ll welcome the French film “My Father’s Glory,” which kicks off the Ojai Film Society’s fall season Sunday at 4:30 p.m. “Glory” and its sequel “My Mother’s Castle,” which will be shown Sept. 13, were hailed by critics as “the most beguiling movies since charm went out of fashion.” The films are based on Marcel Pagnol’s novel, “Memories of Childhood.” Screenings are at the Ojai Playhouse, 145 E. Ojai Ave. Call 646-8946 for details.

*

Judith Ross Enderle and Stephanie Gordon Tessler, who have collaborated on 20 children’s books as Jeffie Ross Gordon, will address the Ventura County Writers Club Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The authors will focus on how they work together to create picture books and young adult novels. The meeting is scheduled at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 1101 Ponderosa (at Lantana), Camarillo. Non-member fee is $4. Call 495-8730.

*

Ross Thomas, the prolific author of mystery novels and president of Mystery Writers of America, will present the distinguished Edgar Awards to four Southland authors. Scott Frank, Wendy Hornsby, Ed Naha and Theodore Taylor will be honored at a dinner next Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. at Sportsmen’s Lodge, 12833 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. For reservations call Diane Bouchard at (818) 346-2248.

*

The Thousand Oaks Library is accepting donations for their biggest book sale of the year scheduled Sept. 18 and 19. Children’s books are especially needed. Call 497-6282 for details.

*

Mea Culpa. In writing about KVEN radio two weeks ago, I reported that the morning news/talk segment was hosted by Bob Adams and David Lowe. Got my Davids mixed up. It’s Dave Ciniero who does the show. Lowe is station manager.