Celebrity Writers Find County an Open Book : Those who came to local stores for readings and signings during ’93 included Fannie Flagg and Jules Feiffer.

It’s been a banner year and a happy alliance of literary toilers and their readers here in our fair county. Bookshops such as Adventures for Kids, Mysteries to Die For and the Ventura Bookstore hosted readings and signings throughout the year. When famous authors, including Lawrence Block, Ray Bradbury, Jules Feiffer, Fannie Flagg, Sue Grafton, Will Harriss, Barbara Kingsolver, Faith Ringgold and Nancy Taylor Rosenberg, visit local bookstores, it means their publishers believe Venturans buy books.

We also had the pleasure of hosting Jean-Michele Cousteau, whose slide lecture charmed a huge audience in the Maritime Museum; Norman Corwin, the author, playwright and radio drama genius who directed his famous play “The Plot to Overthrow Christmas,” broadcast live from the Thousand Oaks Library, and singer Frankie Laine, still performing at 80, signed his autobiography and told show-biz stories to a delighted audience at the Ventura County Fair.

The year 1993 saw agents, editors, publishers and authors share their expertise with aspiring scribblers at dozens of meetings and annual conferences hosted by Ventura’s eclectic writing groups. On-going poetry readings enriched the community at a variety of venues. Literary magazines such as Verve and Bakunin are published here. Many local publishing houses brought forth nationally acclaimed titles. And local authors too numerous to name continued their output of fiction and nonfiction; moreover, many found time to preside over writing classes.

Libraries, though still in a valiant struggle to maintain services, continued to host storytelling hours, used-book sales, baseball and comic book exchanges, films, classes and concerts, in a safe and welcoming atmosphere.

Therefore, be it resolved, we shall increase our commitment to libraries in 1994.

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When radio was king and Larry King was not on the radio, holidays were a time when after the feasting, adults stayed at the table to talk, and youngsters gathered in another room to listen to radio drama. The lights were turned down or off, and we gave ourselves completely to exciting and often spooky tales told by actors with wonderful voices. We can continue to enjoy radio drama today through the auspices of KCRW-FM, National Public Radio’s Santa Monica flagship station. In 1975, the late Vincent Price and his wife, Coral Browne, recorded “Night of the Wolf,” a tale of lycanthropy (the werewolf legend). The play, written by Victor Pemberton for Price because of his capacity to thrill and chill with his voice, will be broadcast from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. New Year’s Day on KCRU, 89.1 FM.

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On the last day of the year 1896, Ventura County’s assets were listed at $74,868.90, of which $53,695 was in gold, according to the Ventura County and Coast Almanac. Ventura County’s gold is now measured by the talent, enterprise and goodwill of its residents.

Happy New Year, dear readers.

Author and radio talk-show host Frances Halpern writes a regular column in Ventura County Life. Information on literary events should be sent to her at least two weeks in advance. Write to her at 5200 Valentine Road, Suite 140, Ventura 93003, or send faxes to 658-5576.