Simi Group Sponsors Writing Competition : Local branch of Pen Women will offer prizes for top short story, verse and nonfiction work.

It’s time to dust off those manuscripts and try to win cash and credits by entering the Dorothy Daniels writing competition, sponsored by the Simi Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women.

The categories are short fiction, up to 2,000 words; poetry, no more than 50 lines; nonfiction, limited to 1,500 words. For contest rules, send a self-addressed, stamped enveloped to NLAPW-SVB Guidelines, Box 1485, Simi Valley, 93062. Deadline for entries is July 30. The annual contest is open to anyone over 18 except Pen Women members.

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A contest has also been announced by the local Barnes & Noble. Black-and-white or color photographs (minimum size is 5 by 7) of subjects “caught in the act of reading” should be submitted to the store by June 28. Prizes will be awarded and winning photos will be displayed in the store at 4360 E. Main St., Ventura. Call 339-9170.

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Verve Magazine will sponsor a poetry workshop directed by editors Marilyn Hochheiser and Ron Reichick from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Simi Valley Arts Center, 3190 Cochran St. Fee for the seminar is $25 in advance. Call 522-7575 to register.

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Three authors will be visiting Mysteries to Die For at 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Karen Kijewski will sign her latest Kat Colorado book,”Alley Kat Blues,” at 1 p.m. Friday. And at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jackie Girdner will present her sixth book, “A Stiff Critique,” and Gloria White will sign “Charged With Guilt.”

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Royal LaPlante will sign his historical novel “Myrtlewood Grove” at 1 p.m. Sunday in Barnes & Noble in Ventura.

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Ventura College English teacher M. L. Rawn-Peterson will read to children at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Ojai Table of Contents, 208 E. Ojai Ave.

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Santa Barbara-based publishers John and Susan Daniel will give members and guests of the Ventura County Writers Club a behind-the-scenes look at the writing, editing and marketing strategies of a small press. Under the imprints of John Daniel and Fithian Press, they have published first-time authors and distinguished professionals, including Carolyn See, Artie Shaw, Hildegard Flanner and Pete Fromm. The meeting is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. in the Orchid Professional Building, 816 Camarillo Springs Road. Call 482-5648.