WORDS AND IMAGES : Publishers Taking Note of Ventura : Major authors such as Barbara Kingsolver are being sent by their New York publishing houses to the area.

Barbara Kingsolver’s splendid new novel “Pigs in Heaven” has won the affection of literary critics and the public. And because New York publishers are finally convinced that this community has a large contingent of appreciative readers--more than 300 turned out to meet Sue Grafton recently, according to local bookseller Ed Elrod--that they are sending major authors such as Kingsolver into Ventura. Come out to meet Kingsolver tonight at 7 in the Ventura Bookstore, 522 E. Main St.

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Eleanor Fader, Doug Demers, Hugh Pease and Craig Sperry will showcase their work at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Simi Valley Poetry Series in the community room of the Simi Valley Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. Open reading sign-ups begin at 7:15 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Call 527-5534.

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The Ray D. Prueter Library will host a sing-along story time for children of all ages at 7 p.m. Tuesday at 510 Park Ave., Port Hueneme. According to librarian Mary Lynch, this may be the last major program to be offered at the library due to financial cuts that will affect hours and staffing. But the Grandparents Read to Kids series, funded by a state grant, will continue through July. Carla Ives will assist children with Spanish or bilingual reading at 11 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Call Diane Lai at 486-5460 if you can donate time to read to youngsters.

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The Summer Film Festival at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, featuring the films of the 40th President, will screen “Hellcats of the Navy” at 2 p.m. Sunday. Made in 1957, “Hellcats” is the only movie the future first couple starred in together. The 1952 baseball epic, “The Winning Team,” will be shown at 7 p.m. Wednesday. An exhibit on U. S. Presidents from Washington to Clinton is open to the public until November at the Reagan Library, 40 Presidential Drive, near Simi Valley. Call 522-8444.

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The Ventura County Writers Club is hosting a dinner/theater evening Friday, Aug. 6, at Ottavio’s Banquet facility in Camarillo. A buffet dinner will be served at 7 p.m. followed by a performance of Noel Coward’s “Blythe Spirit.” This is an opportunity to dine with a convivial group of literary toilers and enjoy Coward’s lighthearted tale of the ghost who came to dinner. The cost is $25 per person. RSVP by Wednesday to VCWC Dinner, P. O. Box 7484, Thousand Oaks 91359, or call 495-8730.

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The award-winning actress/author/playwright Mary Rose Betten of Camarillo has been named regional adviser to the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. SCBWI is sponsoring its 22nd Annual Writer’s Conference in Children’s Literature Aug. 7-10 at the Doubletree Hotel in Marina Del Rey. For details, contact Lin Oliver, SCBWI, 22736 Vanowen St., Suite 106, West Hills 91307, or call Mary Betten at 482-9417.