WORDS AND IMAGES : Stuff of Dreams : Thousand Oaks resident Carol Heyer is the book illustrator in a new retelling of ‘Rapunzel,’ the classic Brothers Grimm tale.

How we love fairy tales about the handsome young prince who falls in love with a beautiful maiden. And now that the modern day romance between the Prince of Wales and Diana has soured, we must turn again to the storybooks to renew our dreams. Ideal Publishing has just released “Rapunzel,” a retelling of the classic 1882 Brothers Grimm tale of the lovely girl locked in the tower and her prince. The richly detailed illustrations in “Rapunzel” is the work of Carol Heyer, a longtime resident of Thousand Oaks. The award-winning Heyer is illustrating her 12th book, “Robin Hood,” using local residents as models. She is a graduate of Cal Lutheran University and worked as a motion picture artist and writer-art director.

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Like it or not, creating on the computer has become the only way to stay competitive in the writing business. There are still some reluctant scribblers out there who are resisting the word processor. Hey, it’s a new year and time to meet a new challenge. Attend the Introduction to the IBM Computer class, scheduled in the Thousand Oaks Library at 10 a.m. Saturday. Bernard Adinoff will show absolute beginners how a computer works during the two-hour session. You must register in advance. Call 523-2496 for details.

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The annual Classic Cinema Festival, sponsored by Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library, will begin its fifth season with the 1958 Mexican film “Nazarin,” directed by the legendary Luis Bunuel. The Spanish-language film with English subtitles will be shown in the Thousand Oaks Library, 1401 E. Janss Road at 7 p.m. Saturday. A $2 donation is requested and refreshments will be served. Call 495-1392 for details.

Mike Leigh’s latest comedy, “Life Is Sweet,” will screen at the Ojai Playhouse, 145 E. Ojai Ave. at 4 p.m. Sunday. This English film is about the relationship between food and sexuality. Much of the story and characters evolved during improvisation sessions with the cast. Call the Ojai Film Society for its winter screening schedule at 646-8946.

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I have fidgeted on uncomfortable chairs in hundreds of lecture halls waiting to be entertained, educated or energized by famous authors, actors, politicians and attitude gurus. Rarely do they fulfill the expectations. But author-columnist Frances Weaver, who makes a rare appearance in these parts at the Ventura County Writers Club, will provide an evening of laughter and wisdom. Widowed at 55, Weaver enrolled in college, began writing and took up kite flying, which became the subject of her first published article in Vogue Magazine. She attended the Santa Barbara Writers Conference, won awards and has authored five books, among them “The Girls With the Grandmother Faces.” The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Pleasant Valley Church, 1101 Ponderosa Drive, Camarillo. There is a $4 fee for non-members. Call 495-8730 or 647-5369.