Short Story Is Local Authors’ Gift to Bookstore and Patrons : Three writers collaborated on ‘ ‘Tis the Season’ to show their gratitude. One hundred signed copies will be given away.

Memorable moments in an author’s life include a finished manuscript, a published book, an author tour, and the title prominently displayed on the bookstore shelf. Clever writers also establish relationships with their hometown bookshops. Three local authors who have been given an opportunity to display their wares and meet their readers at Mysteries to Die For have come up with a way to show their gratitude.

Bruce Jones (“Stalker’s Moon”) of Thousand Oaks, Marsha Landreth (“Clinic for Murder”) of Calabasas and Sharan Newman (“Death Comes as Epiphany”) of Newbury Park collaborated on a short story as a holiday gift to Audrey Moore, owner of the bookstore and its patrons. Jones wrote the first part of the story titled “ ‘Tis the Season.” Handed it on to Landreth who wrote the middle, and Newman finished it. One hundred signed copies of the illustrated work will be given to visitors at the store’s Christmas celebration, which begins at 1 p.m. Saturday. The authors will also sign their latest books. Refreshments and Christmas music will add to the festivities in the bookstore located at 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

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The Holiday shopping frenzy is upon us. Think books . . . written by local authors. But first, some bookish quotes. Fred Allen said, “I can’t understand why a person will take a year or two to write a novel when he can easily buy one for a few dollars.” However, Benjamin Disraeli (Queen Victoria’s prime minister) once bragged, “When I want to read a book, I write one.”

There are a great many published authors who call this area home. Here are a few titles that should give pleasure as holiday gifts: Just published “Hollywood Be Thy Name,” Cork Millner’s biography of the Warner Brothers co-authored with Cass Warner Sperling, granddaughter of Harry Warner; Virginia Cornell’s “Ski Lodge” about her adventures as the proprietor of an inn in Colorado; “Sand & Coal” a poetry collection by Jordan Jones who also publishes the literary magazine Bakunin. For history buffs, consider Richard Erwin’s “The Truth About Wyatt Earp” or “Shipwrecks, Smugglers and Maritime Mysteries” by Eugene Wheeler and Robert Kallman. “Anita of Rancho Del Mar,” the young adult historical novel set in Ventura that was written by the late Elaine F. O’Brien, has gone back to press for a third printing.

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The Thousand Oaks Library Foundation store at 1401 E. Janss Road celebrated its second anniversary last month. The shelves are stocked with unique objects, and 35 dedicated, volunteer sales folk are ready to help you choose holiday gifts.

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More and more books, from classic literature to self-help, are being put onto cassette tapes. Now we can “read” in the car, or in bed when our eyes get tired before the brain does. And of course audio books are a boon to sight-impaired people. Check out Albert’s AudioBooks, 5015 Cornell Road, Agoura Hills. And Adventures for Kids’ Kideos at 3455 Telegraph Road, Ventura.

Words & Images columnist Frances Halpern is an author and radio talk show host. Submit literary events information to her at least two weeks in advance to 5200 Valentine Road, Suite 140, Ventura, 93003. Send faxes to 658-5576.