Chatting With Pros Can Lead to Opportunities

When writers heed advice to do some networking, it can pay off in a big way.

A writing friend called to say she attended a signing at a local bookstore because she was eager to meet the autographing author who is also a screenwriter-producer. They spoke at length. And my clever colleague, who took advantage of an opportunity to chat with a professional, was invited to submit her screenplay.

Therefore, if you are writing mysteries, consider a visit to Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, to meet three successful authors at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Pete Hautman (“The Mortal Nuts”), Lia Matera (“Last Chants”) and Taffy Cannon (“Class Reunions Are Murder”) will discuss and sign their books.

And pencil in the one-day seminar, “How to Sustain a Mystery Series for Books and TV,” hosted by Mystery Writers of America, scheduled June 22 at Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City. Panelists include TV writer-producers and book authors. The $65 fee includes lunch. Call (310) 392-1438.

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Borders Books, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, has scheduled these events: Don Etkes, author of “Loving with Passion,” will conduct a seminar at 8 p.m. Friday. Michael Collings leads the popular “Poetry Writing Workshop” at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The classical literature group also meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

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SPAWN, the Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network, recently organized for everyone involved in all aspects of publishing, will meet at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Performance Studio, 34 N. Palm St., Ventura. Call Mary Embree at 643-2403 for details.

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Happenings at Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., Ventura: The monthly fiction group will discuss “A River Town” by Thomas Keneally at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. A special midday reading time for preschoolers is set for 11 a.m. Wednesday. The Writers Club welcomes anyone interested in getting comments on their fiction, nonfiction or poetry at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

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Marilyn Hocheiser and Ron Reichick, editors of the literary journal Verve, will conduct a Creative Writing-Poetry Workshop, which includes tips on how to get published. The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 22 at 5416 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. The fee is $20. Call 522-7575.

Reichick is also offering a six-week creative writing workshop for youngsters, ages 9 to 13, sponsored by the Simi Valley Conservatory. Classes begin at 4 p.m. June 24. Fee is $35. Call 522-7575 for details.

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IN SANTA BARBARA: The movies immortalized the always courteous, smiling Pullman porter who, in reality, according to author David Perata, was part of a work force of over 20,000 exploited black Americans employed by the railroads from 1868 to 1968. Perata will sign “Those Pullman Blues: An Oral History of the African American Railroad Attendant” at 7 p.m. Friday in Barnes & Noble, 829 State St.

People often say, “Oh no, I couldn’t possibly write poetry. Too intimidating.” Well, Susan Wooldridge has eased the anxiety and shows us how to play with words in her book “Poemcrazy.” She will conduct a workshop and sign at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Earthling Bookshop, 1137 State St.

Jack Miles, former Los Angeles Times literary editor, Guggenheim Fellow, UCLA Regents Lecturer, and contributing editor to the Atlantic Monthly will sign his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “God: A Biography,” at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Earthling.

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.