VENTURA COUNTY WEEKEND : Russell Means to Discuss Shift From Anger to Activism : The founder of the American Indian movement will sign his autobiography at bookstores in Ventura and Santa Barbara.

Since 1970, when he became the first national director of the American Indian Movement, Russell Means has cast a large shadow across the political landscape.

His confrontations at Mt. Rushmore, Plymouth Rock and the 71-day armed takeover at Wounded Knee enraged many and earned him hero status among others. An Oglala/Lakota Indian (as was Custer’s nemesis Crazy Horse), Means was raised on a reservation near the Black Hills. His childhood was a misery.

His anger drove him to heavy drinking, bloody fights and many arrests. His evolution from troubled youth to political activist to his new career in Hollywood is told in a no-apologies autobiography, “Where White Men Fear to Tread,” written with Marvin J. Wolf.

Means had a major role in “The Last of the Mohicans” and he is the voice of Powhaten in Disney’s animated movie “Pocahontas.” The 56-year-old will talk about his extraordinary adventures and the epiphany that delivered him from destructive rage to catalyst for Indian rights (he disdains the term Native American) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Ventura Bookstore, 522 E. Main St.

Means will also appear with his co-author at 3 p.m. Sunday at Earthling Bookshop, 1137 State St., Santa Barbara.

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LAPD detective Paul Bishop’s novel “Twice Dead,” featuring the irascible female cop Fey Croaker, is getting rave reviews. Bishop is a Camarillo resident who has authored seven novels. In November 1993 he wrote a 30-page outline detailing the story line of his latest book and sold it to his publisher, Avon.

In a prophetic coincidence, the story involved a black football player-turned-actor, who is accused of being a serial killer. When the O.J. Simpson case broke in June 1994, Bishop was stuck with a partially completed manuscript, which he had to totally rewrite.

“No one would believe that I had not ripped my story directly from current headlines,” said Bishop. He will sign at 6 p.m. Friday at a reception in Mysteries to Die For.

Santa Barbara resident J.F. Freedman has set his new thriller, “House of Smoke,” in Santa Barbara. He will be at Mysteries to Die For at 1 p.m. Saturday. Both events are at 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

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Maggie Phelps will read in the children’s room at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Ojai Table of Contents, 208 E. Ojai Ave.

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Perie Longo, a poetry workshop leader at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference and author of “Milking the Earth,” will read at 8 tonight at Cafe Voltaire, 34 N. Palm St., Ventura.

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Tim Mahoney will host a “Planning for College” seminar at 1 p.m. Sunday at Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., Ventura.

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UP THE COAST: Did you know that you can visit a museum, a library and seven bookstores all within a few minutes walk of one another in Santa Barbara? The area around State and Anapamu streets boasts Earthling Bookshop, Sullivan Goss Books & Prints, The Book Den, Paradise Found, Metro Comics, Pacific Motorbooks and Pacific Travellers Supply, Santa Barbara Museum of Art (which houses a book and gift shop) and the Karpeles Manuscript Library.

Information on literary events should be sent to Frances Halpern at least two weeks in advance. Write to her at 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001, or send faxes to 653-7576.