Plot Device

Author Scott Sorrentino grew up in Westlake in the ‘70s watching cartoons about “Inspector Gadget.”

Now he writes about the souped-up crime fighter.

On Saturday, Sorrentino will discuss and sign his novelization of “Inspector Gadget,” a film starring Matthew Broderick. He will be at the Calabasas Barnes & Noble at 10:30 a.m. and the Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble at 3 p.m.

Why do novelizations?

“If a movie can get a child to read a book, that’s got to be one of the best things a movie can ever do,” Sorrentino said recently. “In the first instance, it might be the book of the movie, but later on it’s ‘Great Expectations’ and Shakespeare. Get them in the bookstore and then find them everything else they can read.”

Before working for “The Wonderful World of Disney,” where he is a writer and producer, Sorrentino studied literature and film at USC. He said that writing novelizations brought the two art forms together--he puts his own ideas into something that is, to some degree, prepared for him.

“You get a copy of the final shooting script of the movie, and you’re usually writing about the same time they’re in production,” Sorrentino said. “Depending on how closely the filmmakers follow the script, it’s your gauge of how close your book is going to be to the final movie.”

“Inspector Gadget” went through a number of re-shots toward the end. Fortunately, Sorrentino’s access as a Disney employee allowed him to keep up with the new material.

Then there is the challenge of writing for an 8- to 12-year-old audience about what has taken place in a two-hour movie--what to toss out and what to condense.

The movie, as originally written, involved a major love story that Sorrentino toned down in his novelization. He figured that age group would be more interested in the relationship between “Gadget” and his nemesis than in a mushy love story.

Still, Sorrentino said, adults should find things to laugh at--it’s the kind of book parents would enjoy reading to their kids.

“Part of the humor of ‘Inspector Gadget’ is kind of an internal humor--his thought processes and that of other characters who don’t get fleshed out in a movie,” he said. “I was able to give the characters more dimensions in writing the book. There’s a real voice in this book and a presence that’s a very funny one.”

He said he doesn’t write down to the audience, preferring to use advanced vocabulary in the novelizations.

“What I try to do is to use the word in context, so even if the child would not know the word, they’ll be able to figure out what it means by the situation surrounding it,” he said.

There’s a large market for writers who specialize in novelizations of motion pictures, Sorrentino said. His first novelization was “The Love Bug,” which Disney produced as a television movie. He expects to be doing more in the future, but is also pitching original ideas to other publishers.

Meanwhile, check out “Inspector Gadget” with Sorrentino. And bring the kids.

HAPPENINGS

* Mondays: 7 p.m. An ongoing discussion group focusing on “Conversations with God” by Neale Donald Walsch. Facilitated by Jim Newell and Jim Michael every Monday this month. At Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 497-8159.

* Tuesday: 10:30-11:15 a.m. Story time on the theme, “It’s a Jungle Out There,” followed by a craft. Adventures for Kids, 3457 Telegraph Road, Ventura, 650-9688.

* Wednesday: 7 p.m. Michael J. Dunphy, author of “The Kids Karate Book,” will give a demonstration with students from area karate schools. Discussion and book signing will follow. Borders, 497-8159.

* Wednesday: 7:30 p.m. Amy Thomson will discuss and sign her latest novel, “Through Alien Eyes.” Ventura Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., 339-9170.

* Thursday: 7 p.m. J.A. Jance will discuss and sign her latest book, “Outlaw Mountain.” Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 374-0084.

* Thursday: 7-8 p.m. Faye Kellerman will discuss and sign the 11th book in her crime-solving series, “Jupiter’s Bones.” Calabasas Barnes & Noble, 4735 Commons Way, 1-818-222-0542.

* Friday: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Poetry reading of award-winning works from the Conejo Valley Poetry Society. Refreshments will be served. Conejo Valley Center Gallery, 482 Greenmeadow Ave., Thousand Oaks, (888) 975-1239.

* Saturday: 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Scott Sorrentino, author of the novelization of “Inspector Gadget,” will discuss and sign the book. 10:30 a.m. at the Calabasas Barnes & Noble, (818) 222-0542, and 3 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., 446-2820.

* Note: A young writers camp will be held at Ventura College for students entering grades 4 through 9. The camp will be from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday this week and next to encourage young students to expand and explore their writing abilities. Sponsored by the South Coast Writing Project at UC Santa Barbara. The cost is $220 per child. For information and registration, call 893-4422.

Catch you next week.

Information about book signings, writers groups or publishing events can be faxed to Ann Shields at 657-5649 or e-mailed to anns40@aol.com.