Seminars, Workshops Help Inspire Writers

There’s been an extraordinary burst of energy among freelance writers and members of the publishing profession in Ventura County, which is home to a number of organizations that sponsor seminars, classes and critique groups aimed at enhancing the careers of writers.

The “Self-Publishing” seminar sponsored by SPAWN, the Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network moderated by author Ramon Stevens, will cover budgeting, book design, printing, distribution and promotion, including Internet marketing.

The seminar runs from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Performance Studio, 34 N. Palm St., Ventura. The fee is $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Call Mary Embree at 643-2404.

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators will host a workshop on “Finding a Publisher for Children’s Books” from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the remodeled and expanded Adventures for Kids, 3457 Telegraph Road, Ventura. The fee for nonmembers is $5. Call 581-1906.

The annual luncheon seminar sponsored by the Ventura County Writers Club will feature a panel of publishers, editors and literary agents who will explain what writers must do to get published. Registration begins at 9 a.m. for the Sept. 28 event scheduled at the Hilton Inn Financial Plaza, Oxnard. The $40 fee includes lunch. Call 986-3584 for details.

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Diane Billot, whose book “Free Money for Writers” lists hundreds of awards available to literary toilers, will address Gold Coast Fiction Writers, a chapter of Romance Writers of America, at 6:30 tonight at Carrows Restaurant, 2401 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura. Call 985-2959 for details.

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Autographing authors are touring throughout the land and this week three of them will be at Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Gar Haywood will sign “It’s Not a Pretty Sight” at noon Saturday. Earl Emerson will present his ninth Thomas Black mystery, “The Million Dollar Tattoo,” at noon Monday. And Linda Grant, author of “Lethal Genes,” will discuss her book at 10 a.m. Wednesday at a breakfast hosted by the bookstore.

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IN SANTA BARBARA: The Santa Barbara chapter of Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network will hold its first meeting at 7 p.m. Friday in Earthling Bookshop, 1137 State St. Call Mary Embree at 643-2403.

Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St., Loreto Plaza will host two authors on Sunday. Lorna Landvik will sign her novel, “Patty Jane’s House of Curl,” at 2 p.m.

And the popular, award-winning children’s author-illustrator Tomie dePaola will read from “Strega Nona--Her Story” at 3:30 p.m.

Meet Virginia Cornell, author of “The Latest Wrinkle” at 7 p.m. Monday at Earthling. Her funny, illustrated book about growing older gracefully, or not, is a collection of her published columns.

The September issue of Reader’s Digest includes Summerland resident Hillary Hauser’s “A Dance I’ll Never Forget,” a poignant tribute to diver Jim Robinson who was killed by a great white shark off San Miguel Island.

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.