Written in Stone

Archeologists continue to uncover the artifacts and art of ancient Americans. As new technology and research methods are developed, the age and culture of these vanished peoples is being reevaluated by professor David Whitley of UCLA’s Institute of Archeology.

Whitley, who is considered one of the leading experts on prehistoric rock art, will present a slide show based on his book, “A Guide to Rock Art Sites: Southern California and Southern Nevada,” at 7 p.m. Friday at Ventura Bookstore, 522 E. Main St.

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Magazines, encyclopedias and books from children’s literature to novels will be offered at the used-book sale sponsored by Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Newbury Park Library, 2331 Borchard Road.

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Events at Borders Books, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks: Local author Dick Wimmer will sign his anthology of baseball writing, “The Sandlot Game,” at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Bob McGrath, who celebrates his 28th season with “Sesame Street,” will perform from his new CD, “Sing Me a Song,” and sign his book, “Uh-Oh Gotta Go,” at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Robert Crais is a writer who wears two hats. His television credits include “Cagney and Lacey,” “Hill Street Blues” and “L.A. Law”; his Elvis Cole private-eye novels are bestsellers. He will discuss his mystery thriller, “Free Fall,” at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

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The Ventura Chapter of Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network (SPAWN) meets at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Ventura TowneHouse, 4900 Telegragh Road, Ventura. Guest speakers are Ventura Bookstore co-owner Ed Elrod, who will explain author promotion techniques; Louise Cabral, author of “Islands of Recall” and Linda Perret of Jester Press, publisher of “How to Be a Richer Writer.” Guest fee is $5. Call 646-3045.

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The Conejo Valley chapter of SPAWN meets at 7 p.m. Monday at 29376 Mulholland Highway, near Agoura Hills. Speakers will be Sharon Mills on working with “book doctors” and Jock MacKelvie on self-publishing. Guest fee is $5. Call 388-7297.

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Someone in the witness-protection is stalked by the Mafia in Laurence Shames’ “Virgin Heat,” which he will sign at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

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Verve Magazine editor Ron Reichick is organizing weekly evening poetry workshops in Thousand Oaks and the Simi Valley. Call 522-7575 for details.

In Santa Barbara

Local author Steve Pybrum will sign “Money and Marriage: Making It Work Together” at 7:30 tonight at Borders Books, 900 State St.

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Former Bantam Books editor Barbara Alpert is in from New York to sign “No Friend Like a Sister,” her collection of stories about and by sisters, at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Barnes & Noble, 829 State St.

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Elvira, the campy lady with the long black tresses who introduced horror movies on television, will sign “Camp Vamp” and “Transylvania 90210” at 3 p.m. Sunday at Earthling Bookshop, 1137 State St.

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* Frances Halpern and Jon O’Brien are co-hosts of “Beyond Words” at 10 a.m. Sundays on KCLU-FM (88.3), Ventura County’s National Public Radio station.