2 New Books Tell Real Stories of Area Sites

My favorite reading subjects as a youngster were history and biography. When confined to the house due to illness, I would ask my mother to get books from the library about real people and actual events. So in pursuit of real and true, I recommend local author Patricia Fry’s history of the Ojai Valley School, “A Thread to Hold.” And there is the just-published “The Mission Bells that Never Rang” a pictorial history of San Buenaventura Mission by Max Kurillo and E.M. Tuttle.

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Events at Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., Ventura: It’s story time for children, ages 5 to 8, at 7 p.m. Friday. Richard Barre will sign his second Wil Hardesty thriller, “Bearing Secrets,” at 1 p.m. Saturday. Adrian Otto will conduct an Internet demonstration at 7 p.m. Monday. Writers interested in getting their manuscripts critiqued will gather at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

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Literary agent Michele Wallerstein will help screenwriters learn marketing basics from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Learning Tree University in Thousand Oaks. Call 497-2292.

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KNBC-TV weather anchor Christopher Nance will read from his book “Muhammad and the Marathon!” at 11 a.m. Saturday at Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

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Two prolific authors whose books are becoming collectors items will visit Mysteries to Die For on Saturday at 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Marcia Muller will sign her 17th Sharon McCone novel, “The Broken Promise Land,” at noon. Steven Hunter, making his first Southern California appearance, will sign his action thriller, “Black Light,” at 5 p.m.

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Kathryn Bassett will provide an overview of the Family Roots software program for the computer interest group of the Conejo Valley Genealogical Society at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Conejo Valley Adult Education Center, 1025 Old Farm Road, Thousand Oaks. Call 495-9659.

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A special workshop for children on How to Write Children’s Books will be conducted by Joan Prestine from 10 to 11:30 a.m. July 8-11 for Ventura College Community Services, 4667 Telegraph Road. The fee is $45 plus $5 for materials payable to the instructor. Call 654-6459.

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The literary journal Verve is soliciting poetry and short fiction based on the theme “Out of the Dark” for the fall 1996 edition. Submissions must be postmarked by Aug. 1 and sent to P.O. Box 3205, Simi Valley, 93093. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope for guidelines.

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The American Booksellers Assn. at its just-concluded Chicago convention recognized Mr. Nichols Bookstore for its 10 years of service to the Santa Paula community. Mr. Nichols, 901 E. Main St., sells new and used books as well as antiques and art.

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IN SANTA BARBARA: Writers seeking to uncover the often mysterious path to publication will have an opportunity to meet the prolific author of many books for children and adults. Delia Ephron, who with her sister Nora has also written a number of screenplays including “Michael,” starring John Travolta, will sign her novel “Hanging Up” at 3 p.m. Sunday at Earthling Bookshop, 1137 State St.

Patricia Fry will appear at Earthling at 7:30 p.m. Monday to discuss her book, “Quest for Truth,” which explores past-life regression theories and reincarnation.

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.