ORANGE COUNTY BOOKS & AUTHORS

Earl Hamner, who is best known as creator and producer of the Emmy-winning TV series “The Waltons,” will discuss and sign his memoir, “The Avocado Drive Zoo,” at noon Saturday at Barnes & Noble in Fashion Island, 953 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

“The Avocado Drive Zoo” is a warm and humorous account of the animals Hamner and his family have lived with over the years.

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Orange County author T. Jefferson Parker (“The Blue Hour”) will discuss his Orange County-set mystery thrillers at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach.

A reception and book signing will follow Parker’s talk and question-and-answer session. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children and students. For reservations, call (949) 643-1490.

Also Coming Up:

* Poet John Gardiner will read at 8 p.m. today at the Alta Coffee House & Roasting Co., 506 31st St., Newport Beach.

* Barbara DeMarco Barrett will interview Orange County authors T. Jefferson Parker (“The Blue Hour”) and Jo-Ann Mapson (“The Wilder Sisters”) on Writers on Writing at 6 p.m. today on KUCI (88.9 FM) in Irvine. The interview will be conducted live at Borders Books and Music, 1890 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa.

* Sam McCarver will sign “The Case of Cabin 13” at 7 p.m. Friday at Barnes & Noble, 26751 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo. He’ll also sign at 1 p.m. Sunday at Coffee, Tea & Mystery, 13232 Springdale St., Westminster.

* Barbara Seranella will sign “No Offense Intended” at 1 p.m. Saturday at Bookman Too, 19111 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach.

* Psychic James Van Praagh will discuss and sign “Reaching to Heaven” at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble in Metro Pointe, 901 S. Coast Drive, Costa Mesa.

* Bill Moody will sign “Bird Lives” at 2 p.m. Saturday at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange.

* Mitchell E. Gibson will discuss and sign “Signs of Mental Illness: An Astrological and Psychiatric Breakthrough” at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble in the Market Place, 13712 Jamboree Road, Irvine.

* Maria Amparo Escandon will discuss and sign “Esperanza’s Box of Saints” at 7 p.m. Saturday at Borders Books and Music, 429 S. Associated Road, Brea.

* Kathy Reichs will sign “Death du Jour” at 1 p.m. Sunday at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange.

* Jo-Ann Mapson will sign “The Wilder Sisters” at 2 p.m. Sunday at Borders Books and Music, 1890 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa.

* Maxine O’Callaghan will sign copies of the 25th anniversary reissue of her first mystery featuring Santa Ana private eye Delilah West, “Death Is Forever,” at a reception at 3 p.m. Sunday at Bookman Too, 19111 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach.

* “A Poet’s Garden of Fathers,” original poetry and song by Orange County poets Michael Kramer and M.C. Bruce, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Borders Books and Music at the Block, 20 City Drive, Orange.

* Poet Jim Stanford will read at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Borders Books and Music at the Block, 20 City Drive, Orange.

Send information about book-related events at least 10 days before event to: Dennis McLellan, O.C. Books & Authors, Southern California Living, The Times, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Or e-mail to dennis.mclellan@latimes.com.