Poets’ Society Pays Tribute to a ‘Curmudgeon’

In his younger years, Robert Challman worked as a Hollywood stuntman, he raced sports cars professionally and, while owning a Hollywood archery shop, he became a state archery champion. Then a decade ago, after 35 years as owner of several Southern California car dealerships, Challman retired and took on another role, leading what his family calls “a poet’s life in Laguna Beach.”

Challman, who wrote two small books of poetry and was a strong supporter of Southland poets and readings, died of a heart attack Oct. 5 at age 72.

Laguna Poets and the Challman family will co-present a public poetry reading, “A Tribute to a Curmudgeon,” at 7 p.m. Friday at Upchurch-Brown Booksellers, 384 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach.

“He definitely was the type of person that didn’t want a typical service,” said Challman’s daughter, Kirsten, of Costa Mesa. “I figured a poetry-reading tribute would be more appropriate.”

Challman said her father, a St. Paul, Minn., native who majored in political science at UCLA after serving in the Air Corps during World War II, began writing poetry in the 1950s, “but basically he took a long hiatus and didn’t get started getting very involved again until nine years ago.

He wrote mostly about his life and his perspective on life. Poetry was just a new way of life and of expressing himself.”

Among the poets expected are Daniel McGinn, John Gardiner, Paul Brick, Charles Ardinger and Lee Mallory. Others will also be welcome to read. Pat Cohee, director of Laguna Poets, said that after Challman suffered a stroke two years ago, “he got back out there and came to the readings and showed a lot of spirit. He was kind of our cantankerous conscience, you might say.”

Challman is survived by his wife, Joyce, from whom he was separated, and daughters Kirsten and Karen.

For more details, call Laguna Poets at (714) 494-6649.

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Writers Harvest for Hunger: Orange County authors and bookstores will participate in Share Our Strength’s sixth annual Writers Harvest: The National Reading, the country’s largest literary benefit to fight hunger and poverty, on Thursday.

At UC Irvine, authors Jay Gummerman, Michelle Latiolais and T. Jefferson Parker will read at 5 p.m. in the campus bookstore at West Peltason Road and Pereira Drive. Suggested donations are $5 for students (or two canned goods) and $5 to $10 for nonstudents.

Among authors participating Thursday are:

Julie Mammano, author and illustrator of “Rhinos Who Snowboard,” at 10 a.m. at Bookstar, 3005 El Camino Real, Tustin.

Robert Eisenman, author of “The Dead Sea Scrolls,” at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble in Triangle Square, 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa.

Robert V. Hine, author of “Second Sight,” at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble in Fashion Island, 953 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

Orange County authors Jo-Ann Mapson, Earlene Fowler, Maxine O’Callaghan, Patricia Guiver and Taylor Smith at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble in Metro Pointe, 901 S. Coast Drive, Costa Mesa.

Catherine Cowan, author of “My Life with the Wave,” at 1 p.m. and Peter Lance, author of “First Degree Burn,” at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble in Main Place, 2800 N. Main St., Santa Ana.

Sunny Nash, author of “Bigmama Didn’t Shop at Woolworth’s,” at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, Huntington Beach Mall, 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach.

Arresting Police Story: Santa Ana Police officer Mona Ruiz and Los Angeles Times reporter Geoff Boucher, co-authors of “Two Badges: The Lives of Mona Ruiz,” will sign at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Martinez Books and Art Gallery, 200 N. Main St., Santa Ana.

The signing will be preceded at 6 p.m. by a discussion of possible solutions for helping at-risk youth. Participants will include city and police officials, community members and former and current gang members.

Also this week:

* Mission Viejo mystery writer Maxine O’Callaghan will offer writing tips at 2 p.m. today in the community room at Pacifica Hospital, 18800 Delaware St., Huntington Beach.

* Children’s book author and illustrator Jan Brett will sign “The Hat,” at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Borders Books, 429 S. Associated Road, Brea, and at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Whale of Tale Children’s Bookshoppe, 4187 Campus Drive, Irvine.

* Beth Coye, author of “My Navy Too: A Political Novel,” will read at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Different Drummer Books, 1294 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach.

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.