Student Literary Review Turns Pro in Its 2nd Issue

The second edition of the Laguna Review, a publication produced by the Irvine Valley College Emeritus Institute, makes its debut Saturday. And this time it’s got something extra to offer.

Not only does it include short stories, poems, essays and journal entries from students in the IVC Emeritus Institute’s writers workshops in Irvine and Laguna Beach and other regional workshops, but also the review features contributions from 11 professional writers.

Among them: Joseph Hansen, who has written more than 30 books, including the Dave Brandstetter mysteries; E.M. Nathanson (“The Dirty Dozen,” “Knight’s Cross”); and Dorothy McMillan (“Vile Acts,” “Soul Crossed”).

The 1996 Laguna Review also sports a new look. Instead of 1993’s magazine format, it’s a 184-page trade paperback.

A publication party, which will include readings and a book signing, will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Latitude 33 Bookstore, 540 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach.

The 47 writers represented in the review are mostly from Orange County, says editor Doug Muir, a Newport Beach novelist and screenwriter who teaches the IVC Emeritus creative writing classes, in addition to classes at UC Irvine Extension and Santa Monica College.

Established writers who contributed to the review have been guest speakers in Muir’s workshops or have contributed work to help fund-raising for the IVC Foundation’s Emeritus Fund, Muir says.

Muir looked over more than 500 submissions to this year’s review.

“These are emerging writers who have really gone beyond creative writing classes,” he says. Among them are former English instructors, former journalists “and people who have already appeared in other short story publications. The quality is really high. Not everyone gets in.

“This is creme de la creme.”

Among the accepted submissions are a poem from 100-year-old Louise Myers of Laguna Beach and an essay from Holocaust survivor Agnes Richman of Santa Monica, who tells of her experiences in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and a chance meeting with Anne Frank.

Thomas Ringers served as the review’s associate editor; Patricia Hendry, Evelyn McNeilly and Elizabeth Rhodes were senior editors.

“These people contributed their time, and all income generated from book sales goes to the Irvine Valley College Foundation, which helps to further community education,” Muir says.

Muir plans to do another edition of the Laguna Review, but don’t look for it next year.

In fact, Muir won’t even begin accepting submissions until September.

“Since it’s an all-volunteer effort, it’s just a nightmare to put together,” he says. “But we’re going to lick our wounds and come bouncing back.”

The Laguna Review (Moonshadow Books; $7.95) is available at Latitude 33, 540 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach.

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Book Signings. Pamela Duncan Edwards and illustrator Henry Cole (“Livingstone Mouse”) will sign and do a demonstration at 4 p.m. Friday at Whale of a Tale Children’s Bookstore, 4187 Campus Drive, Irvine. . . . Steve Allen (“Wake Up to Murder,” “But Seriously--Steve Allen Speaks His Mind” and “The Bug & a Slug in the Rug”) will sign at noon Saturday at Mystery Ink/Seaside Books, 200 Main St., Huntington Beach. . . . Jonathan Gash (“The Possessions of a Lady”) will speak and sign at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Coffee, Tea & Mystery, 13232 Springdale St., Westminster. Gash also will sign at 4:30 p.m. Monday at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange.

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Author Talks. Herb Fagen will discuss his book, “George Burns in His Own Words,” at 2 p.m. Sunday at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Huntington Beach Mall, 7777 Edinger Ave. . . . John Robbins, author of “Diet for a New America,” will speak and sign at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Huntington Beach Library, 7111 Talbert Ave. $12. Reservations: (714) 835-1775.

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Poetry Reading. Willie Sims will read at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Alta Coffee House & Roasting Co., 506 31st St., Newport Beach.

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Writing Class. Barbara DeMarco Barrett will conduct an eight-week writing workshop, “Writing Like There’s No Tomorrow,” beginning at 4 p.m. Monday at Local Grounds Coffee House, 3007 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. $125. (714) 760-8086.

Send information about book-related events to Books & Authors, Life & Style, The Times, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Deadline is one week before Tuesday’s publication.