A Literary Fete

The first Aprill Faire hosted by the Ventura County Writers Club is an opportunity for literary folk, writers and readers to socialize, enjoy light refreshments, win prizes and celebrate the written word.

Ed Elrod will set up a mini-version of his Ventura Bookstore, featuring dozens of titles written by club members along with a selection of used books and writing-related wares.

Members and guests are also encouraged to wear Renaissance garb for the occasion. The event is scheduled from 7-10 p.m. Tuesday at Orchid Professional Building, 816 Camarillo Springs Road, Camarillo. $5 fee for nonmembers. Call 495-8730.

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Join Robert Greer, author of “Devil’s Red Nickel,” for a signing at 10 a.m. Saturday in Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. And check into the monthly mystery reading group at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

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The Simi Valley Library Poetry Group invites poets who enjoy reading from their own or a favorite author’s poetry to join them at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. Donation of a good used book to the library bookstore is welcome but not required.

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Events at Borders Books, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, include: Novelist-screenwriter Dick Wimmer will sign his bittersweet look at baseball, “The Sandlot Game,” at noon Sunday. Michael Goldberg discusses his “Getting Your Boss’ Number: And Many Other Ways to Use the Enneagram at Work” at 7 p.m. Tuesday. And Leonard Zerlin will sign his illustrated “World War II Memories” at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

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The fourth Annual Ventura Poetry Festival runs from April 8-12. For a schedule of events, call Phil Taggart at 643-6282 or Jackson Wheeler at 483-1905.

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Plan Ahead: Wendy Dager’s class on “The Business of Writing and Selling Greeting Cards” is scheduled at 6 p.m. April 10 at Rancho Simi Recreation & Parks, 1692 Sycamore Drive, Simi Valley. Call 584-4400.

In Santa Barbara

Michael Krohnen, a world traveler and poet who for 11 years was chef to Ojai’s famous philosopher, J. Krishnamurti, will sign “The Kitchen Chronicles,” a memoir about conversation and food, at 3 p.m. Sunday at Earthling Bookshop, 1137 State St.

Marilee Zdenek, author of six books including “The Right-Brain Experience,” will present a two-part workshop on using guided imagination techniques to relieve pain and stress.

Zdenek will deliver her lecture, “Terrifying Enemy or Empowering Friend,” from 7-9 p.m. April 10 and April 17 at Barnes & Noble, 829 State St.

* 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.