April Cruel for a Few, Poetic for Many Others

April is the cruelest month, wrote T.S. Eliot in his epic poem “The Wasteland.” But April is also Poetry Month, and practitioners of the art are celebrating all over Ventura County this month. Call Phil Taggart at 643-6282 for details about Poetry Festival events occurring tonight, Friday and Saturday.

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The Art Therapy/Fine Arts Discovery Program at Camarillo State Hospital invites the public to a presentation of the original poetry of participants in the writing program developed by Jeff Grimes. Coffee will be served by Starbucks. There is a $4 fee for the event at 7 p.m. Friday in the hospital’s conference room, 1878 S. Lewis Road, Camarillo. Call Jack or Leslie at 484-3661, ext. 4216.

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The Creative Writing/Poetry Workshop directed by Verve Magazine editors Marilyn Hochheiser and Ron Reichick, which includes tips on how to get published, is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at 5416 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. The cost is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Call 522-7575 for details.

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The Oxnard College Coffeehouse series of open poetry readings, sponsored by the college’s creative writing club, features Gary Implay reading at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Student Services Trailer, 4000 S. Rose Ave. Call 986-5809.

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Friends of the Camarillo Library will again pitch the Big White Tent, which houses their book fair at the corner of North Las Posas Road and Daily Drive from 9 a.m to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Proceeds from the sale of thousands of used books, records and audiotapes, gathered and sorted by volunteers, will help the Camarillo Library purchase new books and update reference materials.

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Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks has scheduled three authors this week. Jeff Andrus, author of “Neighborhood Watch,” and Robert Ziegler, author of “The Dark Hill Murders,” will appear together at noon Saturday. Sarah Shankman will sign “I Still Miss My Man, But My Aim Is Getting Better” at noon Monday.

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Local writers are invited to read from their published work at a showcase sponsored by Ventura County Writers Club and Barnes & Noble from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at 4360 E. Main St., Ventura. Los Angeles Times columnist Al Martinez will join the group to read from his new book, “City of Angles.” Call 986-3584 for details.

Up the Coast

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jane Smiley will sign her latest novel, “Moo,” at 7 tonight at Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St., Loreto Plaza. Walter the Giant Storyteller will perform at the bookstore at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Two local authors will be at the Earthling Bookshop, 1137 State St. At 7 p.m. Friday, Diane Billot, editor of “Free Money for Writers” will describe how to access the grants, prizes, contests and scholarships available to writers.

Jack Canfield, co-author of “Chicken Soup for the Soul” (2 million copies sold) and winner of the 1995 American Booksellers ABBY award, will sign the latest edition of “Chicken Soup” at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Frances Halpern along with Jon O’Brien is co-host of “Beyond Words” at 10 a.m. Sundays on KCLU 88.3 FM, Ventura County’s National Public Radio station.