Drawing on Friendship

As a child with a talent for drawing, Carol Heyer admired famed illustrator Norman Rockwell. As an adult, she decided to emulate Rockwell’s habit of using people he knew as models.

In fact, you just might recognize some friend or neighbor among the characters she used to illustrate “A Christmas Carol.” Check them out this afternoon at a dramatic reading of the Charles Dickens’ classic tale at Borders, where Heyer will be signing books.

Having been a Thousand Oaks resident for 30 years, she knows the locals.

“I use local people a lot. There’s Charlie, a friend of mine and a great actor. I called him up and asked if he would consider being Scrooge,” Heyer said, laughing.

Heyer said she learned the basics of drawing from her artist mother.

After studies at Cal Lutheran University, which she attended on art scholarships and grants, Heyer went to work on movie sets doing storyboards and production paintings. During her eight years with a movie company, she wrote a screenplay with Charles Davis called “Thunder Run.” She also worked on “Smokey and the Bandit,” drawing sketches for Burt Reynolds and Hal Needham’s stunts.

When her interest turned to cartooning, she collaborated with a friend on characters called Hopscotch and Sebastian.

*

They interested a publisher, who put out two books before the characters were dropped in favor of fairy tales. Undaunted, Heyer switched.

“Beauty and the Beast” was the first project she did on her own. She’s gone on to illustrate 20 books, starting her own company under the name Touchmark Studio. New releases include “Black Beauty” for Ideals, and a book on slavery and the underground railroad for McGraw-Hill.

Heyer has also worked in the science fiction-fantasy and mystery novels genre. She’s just done her second cover for Ellery Queen Mystery magazine.

She usually does not collaborate with the authors on book projects because publishers frown on it, preferring illustrators to follow their own visions, free of the author’s influence, she said.

She tends to disagree with the concept.

“I’d like to work with the author, actually, especially on the preliminaries, because they totally know what the characters look like. They’ve described them completely, so they can make sure you are on the right path,” she said.

She also likes to read the book before working on it, but that depends on work schedules and deadlines.

Heyer has received awards from the Society of Illustrators, the Assn. of Science Fiction and Fantasy Arts and the Society of Children’s Book Writers. She’ll also be included in the 2000 edition of Who’s Who in America.

HAPPENINGS

* Today: 9 a.m. Award-winning journalist-authors, Deanna Armbruster and Joshua Hammer will speak at the Community Brotherhood Brunch at Temple Beth Torah. Armbruster is the author of “Tears in the Holy Land,” and Hammer wrote “Chosen by God: A Brother’s Journey.” 7620 Foothill Road, Ventura. (647-4181). $10 at the door.

* Today: 2 p.m. A Christmas classic. Illustrator Carol Heyer will sign Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” as retold by Pamela Kennedy. Actor-educator Charles Davis will do a dramatic reading of the holiday story, as student Megan Bates presents the tale simultaneously in American Sign Language. Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. (497-8159).

* Today: 2-4 p.m. Book-signing and holiday open house. Authors Victoria Kindle Hodson and Mariaemma Willis will discuss and sign their newest book, “Discover Your Child’s Learning Style.” Hodson and Willis will offer a public presentation at 2:30 p.m. on “The Key to Every Child’s Learning--Success.” Lauren Springs School, 1002 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai. Contact Marilyn Mosley at 646-2473.

* Today: 2:30 p.m. Book-signing by Ojai author Barbara Bennett. She will discuss and sign “Teach Us to Number Our Days,” her book and Advent calendar. Local Hero Bookshop, 254 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai.(646-3165).

* Today: 3 p.m. Story time. Miles Marisco, 12-year-old co-star of the upcoming film “Stuart Little,” will read several special books, including “Stuart Little,” by E.B. White, and will discuss the movie. Calabasas Barnes & Noble, 4735 Commons Way, Calabasas. (818) 222-0542).

* Monday: 11 a.m. Story time and art. “Snow Inside the House” by Sean Diviny, “Snow Angel” by Jean Marzollo and “Frosty the Snowman.” Make a snowman to take home. Thousand Oaks Borders. (497-8159).

* Tuesday: 7 p.m. Second Tuesday Contemporary Book Group. Selection to discuss will be “Charming Billy,” by Alice McDermott. Thousand Oaks Borders. (497-8159).

* Tuesday: 8 p.m. Poetry reading by Enid Osborn, followed by an open mike reading. The Daily Grind, 607 E. Main St., Ventura. (641-1679).

* Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. Story time. “Little Rabbit’s First Time Book” and other “Little Rabbit” books by Alan Baker. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., Ventura. (339-9170).

* Friday: 7 p.m. Story time. Lego show-and-tell. Dedicated to the new book, “The Ultimate Lego Book,” by Dorling Kindersley, participants 12 and under are asked to bring their own best Lego creation or a photograph of it. After reading the book “Rotten Teeth,” the best Lego creation will win a prize. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St. Ventura. (339-9170).

* Saturday: 7 p.m. Pajamamania. Moms, dads and grandparents are invited to share favorite holiday tales. Sign-ups not required. Thousand Oaks Borders (497-8159).

Information about book-signings, writers groups and publishing events can be e-mailed to anns40@aol.com or faxed to 647-5649.