Simi Novelist Enjoys Flirting With Success

Approximately 40% of the fiction sold in America is romance novels. And Margaret Brownley of Simi Valley has carved out an extraordinary and prolific career in this genre.

The author of 12 books, Brownley has collected a number of awards, including a nomination by her peers as a Top 10 Favorite author in 1994. Her historical romance “The Kissing Bandit” is being made into a movie.

Her latest novel, “Touch of Lace,” was published in February, and “Ribbons in the Wind” will be released in November.

Brownley will address the Ventura County Writers Club about the nature of creativity and how to increase productivity. The event is at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday in the Orchid Professional Building, 816 Camarillo Springs Road, Camarillo. Nonmember fee is $5. Call 482-5648.

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Three authors will visit Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Dana Stabenow, author of “Blood Will Tell,” will appear at noon Friday. At 10 a.m. Saturday, Michael Stone will sign his debut mystery, “The Low End of Nowhere,” which is in its second printing just three weeks after publication. Joyce Burditt, author of bestselling novels “The Cracker Factory” and “Triplets,” has turned to the mystery genre. She will sign “Buck Naked” at noon Saturday.

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Aram Saroyan, poet, novelist, playwright and biographer of his legendary father, William Saroyan, will join Michael Lally, sometimes referred to as the godfather of poetry, in a joint reading of their work at 1 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., Ventura. The award-winning Saroyan, a county resident, will read from “Friends in the World--The Education of a Writer.” Lally will present his latest work, “Can’t Be Wrong.”

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Steve Oliver will sign his short-story collection, “Clueless in Seattle,” at 1 p.m. Sunday at Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., Ventura. The Writing Club, open to all writers interested in sharing their work, will meet at the store at 7 p.m. Tuesday. David Oliveira and Glenna Luschei will read poetry at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

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An informal gathering of published and unpublished literary toilers is scheduled at 9 a.m. Tuesday at Java Island Gourmet Coffee, 2931 Cochran St., Target Center, Simi Valley. Call John Baxter at 527-4369 for details.

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Donna Cuillard, Simi Valley Family History Center researcher, will describe “What’s New and Upcoming in Genealogy” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Conejo Valley Adult Center, 1025 Old Farm Road, Thousand Oaks. The 6 p.m. beginners’ class will offer a session on “How to Access Library Research Files.” Call 497-8293.

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Open readings will follow a poetry presentation by Tim Perez at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at 2 West Coffee Company, Ventura. Call 643-6411.

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In Santa Barbara: If doing the traditional send-out-the-resume and answer-the-ads job search isn’t paying off, pencil in an evening with Henrietta Sparks, author of “Career Choice, Career Change, Career Success: Imagination at Work.” She will share her 17 years of career planning expertise at 7 p.m. Friday at Earthling Bookshop, 1137 State St.

* The renowned author/co-author of 15 books, psychologist Jean Houston will discuss her latest, “A Mythic Life,” at 2 p.m. Saturday at Earthling. And Lillian Carson will sign “The Essential Grandparent” at 3 p.m. Sunday at the bookshop.

* Jim Lichtman will sign “The Lone Ranger’s Code of the West,” his unique interpretation of the lives of the Lone Ranger and Tonto and the ethical role models they represented. Gather the kids and join Lichtman at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, 829 State St.

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