Speaker to Give Tips on Making Opinions a Valuable Commodity

Who among us has not sent off a letter to the editor opining about something?

Wendy Dager, an expert on the greeting-card market whose work has also appeared in numerous journals, will explain how writers can make money from their opinions by getting published on op-ed pages in newspapers and magazines.

Sponsored by the Ventura County Writers Club, the event is scheduled at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday in the Orchid Professional Building, 816 Camarillo Springs Road, Camarillo. Fee for nonmembers is $5. Call 499-8921.

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“All About Me” a story-time series for 3- to 6-year-olds will begin at 10:30 today in the Ojai Library, 111 E. Ojai Ave. The program features stories, songs and crafts.

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Two events at Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks: Michael Stone signs his third private eye adventure, “Token of Remorse,” at noon today. Mimi Latt will present her new mystery, “Pursuit of Justice,” at noon Saturday.

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Catherine Carrigan will discuss and sign “Healing Depression” at 7 p.m. Friday at Ventura Bookstore, 522 E. Main St.

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The Simi Valley Library Poetry series begins its 21st consecutive year of sponsoring poetry events. Poets are encouraged to read their own work or that of their favorite poets. The open readings are scheduled at 7:15 p.m. Saturday at the library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. Call 522-7575.

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Local poets will present a Cowboy Poetry Reading from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Stagecoach Inn Museum, 51 S. Ventu Park Road, Newbury Park. Call 498-9441.

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Anyone contemplating a career change may be interested in meeting Ken Chane, co-author of “Entrepreneur or Employee?” who will sign at 2 p.m. Sunday at Borders Books, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

Maxye and Lou Henry will discuss and sign “The Home-Business Sourcebook” at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

In Santa Barbara

Mystery writer and keynote speaker Marcia Muller and 13 workshop leaders, including editors and agents, will share their expertise at the 15th Annual Writers’ Conference organized by Cork Millner and sponsored by Santa Barbara City College Continuing Education. There are no fees for the event, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Campus Center, 721 Cliff Drive.

Los Angeles Times contributing editor Robert Scheer will deliver a free lecture on “Who Owns the Media and Does It Matter?” at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Campbell Hall at UC Santa Barbara. Call 893-3535.

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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 and 102.3 Santa Barbara), Ventura County’s National Public Radio station.