New Chapters Help Link Those in Publishing

The competition is keen, almost cutthroat, in the book business. There are authors attempting to get published, publishers scrambling for a place on review pages and bookstore shelves, and proliferating chains competing with each other and independent bookstores for a share of the market.

In the midst of all this, two women with a dream, Mary Embree and Patricia Fry, continue their efforts to bring together the publishing community “for the common welfare of all” via their organization, Small Publishers, Writers & Artists Network. There are now chapters in Thousand Oaks, Ventura and Santa Barbara and a fourth being established in Honolulu.

The Thousand Oaks chapter’s first meeting is at 7 tonight at 190 N. Reino Road, Newbury Park. The Santa Barbara chapter will gather at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Karpeles Manuscript Library, 21 W. Anapamu St. The Ventura chapter meets at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Performance Studio, 34 N. Palm St., Ventura.

As part of SPAWN’s ongoing special presentations, author Steven Heller will conduct a seminar called “Marketing, the Most Important Creative Step.” This is an in-depth workshop on creating compelling promotional materials for books and directing them to the right place.

The event, which costs $30, is scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Performance Studio, 34 N. Palm St., Ventura. Call 643-2403.

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Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, continues to host the authors of whodunits, who preside over lively discussions and signings. James Crumley will sign “Bordersnakes” at noon today. Appearing at noon Sunday will be Janice Steinberg, author of “Death-Fires Dance”; Susan Holtzer, “Bleeding Maize and Blue”; Janet Dawson, “A Credible Threat”; and Lillian M. Roberts, “Riding for a Fall.”

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The latest Barnes & Noble opened its doors at 160 S. Westlake Blvd. in Thousand Oaks and is planning almost daily events. In support of Writers Harvest, the literary world’s participation in the fight against hunger, mystery authors Jan Burke, Michael Connelly and Robert Crais will read at 2 p.m. today.

Other events at the store, in the new Westlake Promenade, include an appearance by Emmy Award-winning actress Betty White, who will sign her book “Here We Go Again” at noon Saturday. Illustrator Kenneth Shue, author of “Hiawatha Passing,” will sign his new book, “Walt Disney: His Life in Pictures,” at 2 p.m. Saturday. And children’s book author-illustrators David Birchman and Carol Heyer will read at 1:30 p.m.

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Roni Tagliaferri will celebrate publication of her first book of poetry and prose, “Sensuous Cinema of My Mind,” an ode to the lesbian experience, at 7:30 tonight at Cafe Voltaire, 34 N. Palm St., Ventura.

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To celebrate the memory of the brilliant poet Myra Cohn Livingston, Adventures for Kids, 3457 Telegraph Road, Ventura, will have poetry readings and signings by Livingston’s master students Deborah Chandra, Joan Graham, Monica Gunning, Tony Johnston, Alice Schertle and Janet Wong at 3 p.m. Saturday.

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In Santa Barbara: William Peter Blatty will read from “The Exorcist” and his new book, “Demons Five, Exorcists Nothing,” at 7:30 tonight at Borders Books, 900 State St.

Armistead Maupin will present a talk on “Writing My Way Out” at 8 p.m. Wednesday at UCSB’s Campbell Hall. The internationally known author’s six-book series, “Tales of the City,” became the noted PBS television series starring Olympia Dukakis. His latest novel, “Maybe the Moon,” chronicles the adventures of a 31-inch-tall Hollywood actress. Tickets are $10 general admission and $6 for students. Call 893-3535 for details.

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.