Marketing Tips Are Explored in New Guide

Santa Barbara resident Richard F.X. O’Connor has just signed on as executive editor of Renaissance Books, a new publishing company at 5858 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles. He will seek nonfiction titles for publication next year.

During his 35 years in publishing, O’Connor has worked both sides of the aisle as author, audio-books editor and marketing director for Doubleday Publishing and the Waldenbooks chain. This week he adds to his credits publication of “How to Market You & Your Book.”

The carefully organized and well-written guide clearly delineates every facet of the book business and speaks to publishers, well-published authors and novice writers desperately seeking ways to get published or to market their work.

Tried-and-true publishing tricks are explored and the brave new Internet world, including Web and e-mail addresses, is explained.

The guide is available for $19.95 in bookstores or from Coeur de Lion Books, P.O. Box 90128, Santa Barbara 93190.

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Adventures for Kids, 3457 Telegraph Road, Ventura, is hosting a Family Math-Science Day from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday featuring students from Oxnard College who will try to inform and inspire youngsters about the sciences.

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Bruce Jones will sign his unique suspense novel, ‘Maximum Velocity,” at noon Saturday at Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

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Actor Jack Palance, famous for his movie tough-guy roles, will sign his book, “The Forest of Love,” at 1 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

At 3 p.m. he’ll appear at Ventura’s Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St.

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Authors of food, health and sports books will be signing at Borders Books, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Chef Art Ginsburg will offer tasty snacks and sign his book, “Mr. Food,” at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Carla Henry will demonstrate recipes from her new book, “Vegetarian Food Extravaganza,” at 2 p.m. Sunday. Olympic basketball star Sheryl Swoopes will sign “Bounce Back” at 7 p.m. Monday. Dr. Calvin Ezrin will sign “The Type II Diabetes Diet Book” at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

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Local author Les Cole will participate in a unique signing and dining event when he presents his novel set in ancient Crete, “The Sea Kings: The Prophecy,” from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at The Greek at the Harbor Restaurant, 1583 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura.

The book is available in bookstores or from House of Adda Press, P.O. Box 6088, Ventura 93006.

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The classic Christmas folk tale “The Shoemaker” will be among stories told by Jim Woodard at 12:30 and 2 p.m. Sunday as part of the holiday open-house program at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library near Simi Valley. Call 522-9953.

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Anna Thomas will host a reception to celebrate publication of her updated cookbook, “Vegetarian Epicure,” at 2 p.m. Sunday at Local Hero Books, 254 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai.

In Santa Barbara

Stephen Cherniske, a local biochemist and medical writer, will sign his book, “The DHEA Breakthrough,” at 2 p.m. Saturday at SuperCrown Books, 3985 State St.

Claims that the DHEA hormone can help us “look younger, live longer, reduce body fat and restore sexual vigor” have stirred considerable controversy among those in the health profession.

Events at Earthling Bookshop, 1137 State St.: Steve Gilbar will sign his beautiful book about Santa Barbara, “Red Tiles, Blue Skies,” at 3 p.m. Saturday. And Daniel Quinn, author of “Ishmael,” will sign his new book, “The Story of B,” at 3 p.m. Sunday.

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.