Wally George Spars With Stern, Scores Plugs for His Book

So how did Orange County’s ultraconservative TV talk-show host Wally George fare during his recent live phone interview on Howard Stern’s radio program to promote his memoir “Wally George: The Father of Combat TV”?

George’s publisher, James C. Riordan of Santa Ana-based Seven Locks Press, provides the highlights:

* George confronted Stern’s earlier prediction that George would die after his 1994 surgery for prostate cancer. Stern recanted.

* Stern poked fun at George’s stuttering problem.

* George commiserated with Stern over his recent separation from his wife, Alison.

* Stern blasted George’s relationship with his estranged daughter, actress Rebecca DeMornay.

The Stern/George interview lasted 23 minutes, with Stern mentioning--to Riordan’s amazement--the publishing house’s 800 number four times.

The upshot?

* 62 phone orders for George’s book.

* 11 obscene phone calls. (“It’s a unique group of people who listen to Stern,” Riordan said.)

* Four calls from jails or precinct rooms.

* Two interview requests for George, one from the Globe and the other from the National Enquirer.

“This is more publicity than Wally’s had in a long time,” Riordan said.

And more’s on the way.

Riordan said that E! Entertainment Television is producing a one-hour biographical documentary on George. An E! crew filmed George taping his syndicated “Hot Seat” program at KDOC-TV in Irvine last week.

The film crew also will chronicle George at his book signing at 2 p.m. today at B. Dalton Bookseller in the Laguna Hills Mall. (949) 452-1761.

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After five years on Springdale Street in Westminster, Coffee, Tea & Mystery has moved. Its new location: 11931 Valley View St., Garden Grove.

Owner Joan Wunsch says she made the move to improve the store’s location.

“We needed better foot traffic and more room,” she said. Her move into a building in which she’s sharing space with a coffee bar and an antique store will double the size of her shop to about 1,000 square feet.

Coffee, Tea & Mystery will continue to regularly host visits by mystery authors.

On tap at 1 p.m. Saturday is Julie Kaewert, whose latest Alex Plumtree mystery is “Untitled.” Really, that’s the title. The book is set in England and delves into the world of publishing with the discovery of a rare 15th-century book that leads to murder. Publishers Weekly says Kaewert “offers a complex puzzle within a puzzle and lots of insight into the daily life of a small, quality publishing house--which is the real charm of the book.” (714) 898-2583.

Kaewert also will sign “Untitled” at Bookman Too, 19111 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach. 4 p.m. Friday. (714) 596-1999.

Also Coming Up:

* Author Molly James and illustrator Ron Chespak will sign “The Whimsical Verse of Olly-O” at Barnes & Noble in Fashion Island, 953 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. 2 p.m. today. (949) 759-0982.

* Zuzana Bic will discuss and sign “No More Headaches, No More Migraines” at Barnes & Noble, 791 S. Main St., Orange. 7 p.m. Tuesday. (714) 558-0028.

* Buddhist monk and clinical psychologist Lobsang Rapgay and psychiatrist Joe Arpaia will discuss and sign “Tibetan Wisdom for Western Life” at Borders Books and Music, 1890 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. (949) 631-8661.

* Nathaniel Branden will discuss his memoir “My Years With Ayn Rand” at the Newport Beach Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach. 7 p.m. Wednesday. $8 for Newport Beach Public Library Foundation members; $10 general admission. (949) 717-3890.

* A.D. Emerson will sign “Olympians Against the Wind,” accompanied by eight track and field Olympic medalists, at Barnes & Noble, 791 S. Main St., Orange. 7 p.m. Thursday. (714) 558-3029. Scheduled to appear: Wyomia Tyus, Barbara Ferrell Edmonson, Rosalind Bryant Clark, Marilyn White, Edith McGuire Duvall, Valerie Brisco, Bonita Fitzgerald Mosley and Evelyn Ashford.

* Author-illustrator Steve Bjorkman will sign “Goodnight Little One” at Whale of a Tale Children’s Bookshoppe, 4199 Campus Drive, Irvine. 11 a.m. Saturday. (949) 854-8288.

* Kent Braithwaite will sign “The Wonderland Murders” at Borders Books and Music, 429 S. Associated Road, Brea. 7 p.m. Saturday. (714) 672-0120.

* Robert Bruce Woodcox will sign “The Golf Gods Are Laughing” at B. Dalton Bookseller in the Laguna Hills Mall. 2 p.m. Saturday. (949) 452-1761.

* A book sale will be held at the Fountain Valley Library Bookstore, 17635 Los Alamos, Fountain Valley. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. (714) 962-1324.

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.