Brian Lamb, the C-SPAN founder and host...

Brian Lamb, the C-SPAN founder and host of the weekly “Booknotes” program, will speak at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda.

Lamb’s new book, “Booknotes: America’s Finest Authors on Reading, Writing and the Power of Ideas,” is a collection of highlights from his hourlong interviews with 119 authors, including President Nixon, Norman Mailer, George Will, Shelby Foote and Gen. Colin Powell.

Lamb will sign copies of the book at 4 p.m. The 7:30 lecture is $8 for the public; a “VIP dinner” with Lamb at 6:30 p.m. is $45.

For more information, call the Nixon Library at (714) 993-5075.

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Statistics show that 28% of college freshmen do not return the next year. And that, says Patrick O’Brien, is why students need guidance before beginning their college careers.

O’Brien, author of “Making College Count,” will speak and sign books at 7 p.m. Friday at Borders Books and Music, 429 Associated Road, Brea.

Also This Week

* Elizabeth George, author of “Deceptions on His Mind,” will sign at 1 p.m. today at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange.

* Taylor Smith, author of “The Best of Enemies,” will sign at 1 p.m. today at Mystery Ink/Upchurch Brown Booksellers, 384 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach.

* Garrison Allen, author of “Baseball Cat,” will speak and sign at 5 p.m. today at Coffee, Tea & Mystery, 13232 Springdale St., Westminster.

* Michael Shermer, author of “Why People Believe in Weird Things,” will speak and sign at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Borders Books and Music, 429 Associated Road, Brea.

* Los Angeles Times columnist Dana Parsons will speak at the “Meet the Journalists” session at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Barnes & Noble at Metro Pointe, 901 South Coast Drive, Costa Mesa.

* Connie Merritt, author of “Finding Love (Again): The Dating Survival Manual for Women Over Thirty,” will speak and sign at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Barnes & Noble at Metro Pointe, 901 South Coast Drive, Costa Mesa.

* Donald Tivens, author of “We Must Recivilize America,” will speak at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Barnes & Noble at Metro Pointe, 901 South Coast Drive, Costa Mesa.

* Susan Peterson, author of “Fun and Educational Places to Go With Kids in Southern California,” will speak and sign at 6 p.m. Thursday at Barnes & Noble at Huntington Center Mall, 7777 Edinger Ave.

* Sandy Robins, author of “They Do Remember: A Story of Soul Survival,” will read and sign at 7 p.m. Thursday at Different Drummer Books, 1294 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach.

* Playwright and performer Rick Najera will sign “Pain of the Macho” at 4 p.m. Friday at Martinez Books and Art Gallery, 200 N. Main St., Santa Ana.

* Poet Lee Mallory, whose latest collection is “Full Moon, Empty Hands,” will speak at Cal State Fullerton’s Orange County Authors Luncheon Series at noon Friday at the Fullerton Marriott, 2701 E. Nutwood Ave. $20 per person. For reservations, call (714) 278-5312.

* Mystery writer Jan Burke will offer writing tips at the National Writers Assn. meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday at Claim Jumper restaurant, 18050 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley. $25 for nonmembers. For reservations, call (714) 974-7147.

* Marion Strueken-Bachmann, author of “Magical Landscapes With Angels,” will sign at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Rizzoli Bookstore at South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa.

* Idora Silver, author of “The Chutzpah Connection: Blueprint for Success--Real-Life Stories of Inspiration and Achievement,” will speak and sign at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble at Fashion Island Newport Beach, 953 Newport Center Drive.

* Arlene Stadd, author of “Cooking With the Ancients: The Bible Food Book,” will speak and sign at 7 p.m. Saturday at Borders Books and Music, 429 Associated Road, Brea.