Prelude to Publishing

Heads up literary toilers, the Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network is hosting a free seminar at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Karpeles Library, 21 W. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara.

Penny Davies of Earthling Bookshop will describe “Steps to a Successful Book Signing.” Author-journalist Patricia Fry of Ojai will advise on “Getting Articles Published.” Screenwriter Frederic Hunter, former editor at the Christian Science Monitor, will talk about “The World of Small Publishing.” Call Andora Hodgin at 962-4680 or Mary Embree at 643-2403 in Ventura.

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Come for breakfast and meet Catherine Dain, who will sign “Dead Man’s Hand” at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

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He was a surfing legend and world champion at age 17, a millionaire in his 20s. Then Jeff Hakman became a drug addict. His rise, fall and resurrection are documented in “Mr. Sunset: The Jeff Hakman Story” by Phil Jarratt. Hakman, now a resident of Hawaii, and Jarratt, who lives in Australia, will sign the book at 11 a.m. Saturday at Waveline Surf Shop, 154 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura.

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It’s a Sunday doubleheader at Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., Ventura. Dick Wimmer, whose credits include the television movie “The Million Dollar Infield” will sign his baseball anthology “The Sandlot Game” at 1:30 p.m. Then at 2:30 p.m., Jeffrey Maulhardt will discuss his book “The Day the New York Giants Came to Oxnard,” which includes a photo of a big league baseball game played in Oxnard in 1913.

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A round table seminar on writing and publishing children’s books, co-sponsored by the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Friends of the Simi Valley Library, is scheduled from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley. Call 581-1906.

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Marie Oser will sign “Soy of Cooking” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday and local author-activist Donald Tivens will present “We Must Re-Civilize America” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

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College instructor Michael Collings will conduct the monthly poetry writing workshop at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Borders Books, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

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Please note change of date for David McPhail’s appearance at Adventures for Kids. McPhail will introduce his new picture book, “Edward and the Pirates,” at 10 a.m. April 17 at 3457 Telegraph Road, Ventura.

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In Santa Barbara

The Genealogical Society of Santa Barbara is a great resource for writers seeking to access old records. The public is invited to its 10:30 a.m. Saturday meeting at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 3721 Modoc Road. Call 965-7423.

Scott Spiering will discuss his book “The Frugal Investor” at 3 p.m. Sunday, and poetry lovers will gather to read at 7:30 p.m. Monday in Earthling Bookshop, 1137 State St.

Anne Lamott, best-selling author of “Bird by Bird,” whose wisdom and humor enthralls audiences, will speak on “Writing and Life” at a free lecture at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Corwin Pavilion, UC Santa Barbara. Her new novel, “Crooked Little Heart,” has just been released. Call 893-3535 for tickets.

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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.