Authors Nancy Jo Hoy of Laguna Beach...

Authors Nancy Jo Hoy of Laguna Beach and Nina Vida of Huntington Beach will be the featured speakers at the 10th annual Laguna Beach Festival of Women Authors on March 15 at the Surf & Sand Hotel.

Hoy is the author of “The Power to Dream: Interviews With Women in the Creative Arts,” which examines the lives and attitudes of 16 diverse women. Hoy heads the French department at Irvine Valley College.

Vida is the author of “Scam,” “Return From Darkness,” “Maximillian’s Darkness,” “Goodby, Saigon” and her latest novel, “Between Sisters.”

At least five other local authors will briefly describe their books, including Martha Marino (“Asian Adventure: Amusing Tales From Thailand and China”), John Weld (“Laguna, I Love You”), Frances Heussenstamm(“Blame It on Freud: A Guide to the Language of Psychology”), May Wale Brown (“Reel Life on Hollywood Movie Sets”), Sherwood Kiraly (“Big Babies”) and Joan Hollenbeck (“Seascapes, In Kairos Time”).

Reservations for the luncheon, which is sponsored by the Laguna Beach branch of the American Assn. of University Women, must be made by March 10. Cost: $40 per person. Reservations: (714) 494-9647.

Proceeds from the luncheon and a silent auction will benefit the nonprofit AAUW Educational Foundation programs.

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Actress and author Janet Leigh and mystery writer Gar Anthony Haywood are among the authors who will speak at the fifth annual Day of Authors at Cal State Fullerton Saturday.

In addition to Haywood and Leigh, whose new autobiography is titled “There Really Was a Hollywood,” scheduled authors who will speak or appear on panels include: Carmen Renee Berry (“Coming Home to Your Body”), Nancy Zaslavsky (“A Cook’s Tour of Mexico”), Lew and Gloria Richfield (“Together Forever”), Julie Mammano (“Rhinos Who Surf”), Charlotte Maclay (“Wanted: A Dad to Brag About”), Tamara Traeder (“Girlfriends”), Wendy Hornsby (“77th Street Requiem”), Lindsay Maracotta (“The Dead Hollywood Mom’s Society”) and Robert Crais (“Sunset Express”).

The daylong event is sponsored by ALPHA, a professional women’s auxiliary to the Assistance League of Fullerton.

It will be held in the University Center, beginning at 8:15 a.m. Cost is $45 and includes continental breakfast, lunch and parking. For reservations, call (714) 879-5383.

Also this week:

* Martin J. Smith, author of “Time Release,” will sign at 1 p.m. today at Borders Books and Music, 25222 El Paseo, Mission Viejo.

* Abigail Padgett, author of “The Dollmaker’s Daughters,” and Ridley Pearson, author of “Beyond Recognition,” will sign at 1 p.m. today at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange.

* The monthly Women’s Sunday Books & Brunch Club will meet at 10 a.m. today at Different Drummer Books, 1294 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach. The book discussion will be followed by brunch at a local restaurant.

* Poets Rita Mitzner and Ethan Rogers will read at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Gypsy Den Cafe and Reading Room in the Lab, 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa.

* The Friends of the Fullerton Public Library will conduct a one-day sale of used magazines, maps and paperback books from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the library, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave.

* Nikki Nemerouf, author of “Discovering the Gift of You and Those You Love,” will speak and sign at 7 p.m. Saturday at Borders Books and Music, 429 Associated Road, Brea.

Send information about book-related events at least 10 days before event to: Dennis McLellan, O.C. Books & Authors, Life & Style, The Times, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.