ORANGE COUNTY BOOKS & AUTHORS

Richard Paul Evans (“The Dance”), actress Diana Douglas Darrid (“In the Wings,” a memoir from the first wife of Kirk Douglas and mother of Michael Douglas) and Janet Fitch (“White Oleander”) will discuss their books at the Round Table West luncheon meeting at noon Thursday in the Balboa Bay Club, 1221 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach.

Cost: $40. For reservations, call (323) 256-7977.

Also Coming Up:

* Barbara de Marco Barrett will interview Laurie Fox, author of “My Sister From the Black Lagoon,” on “Writers on Writing” at 6 p.m. today on KUCI (88.9 FM) in Irvine.

* Sandra Ross will discuss and sign “Pitching In,” her book on how middle-aged children can help aging parents handle their personal, financial and legal obligations, at 7 p.m. Friday at Barnes & Noble, 26751 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo.

* Gloria Alvarez will read and sign “Something to Declare,” “How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent” and “Yo” at 7 p.m. Friday at Martinez Books and Art Gallery, 1110 N. Main St., Santa Ana.

* Jerrilyn Farmer, Earlene Fowler, Gary Phillips, Lillian Roberts and Carolyn Wheat--authors who have stories in the new mystery anthology “Murder on Route 66”--will sign at 3 p.m. Saturday at Coffee, Tea and Mystery, 13232 Springdale St., Westminster.

* David LaMont Lee will sign “Merchant Marine Days: My Life in World War II” at 1 p.m. Saturday at B. Dalton Bookstore in the Laguna Hills Mall.

* Lloyd Freeberg will discuss and sign “In the Bin: Reckless and Rude Stories from the Penalty Boxes of the NHL” at 7 p.m. Saturday at Borders Books and Music, 429 S. Associated Road, Brea.

* Robert S. Levinson will sign “The Elvis and Marilyn Affair” at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble at the MainPlace mall, 2800 N. Main St., Santa Ana.

* Cara Black will sign “Murder in the Marais” at 1 p.m. Saturday at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange.

* Marilyn Sunderman will share her journey of discovery in “Past Lives, Present Joys” at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, 13712 Jamboree Road, Irvine.

* Martin Dugard will sign “Knockdown: The Harrowing True Account of a Yacht Race Turned Deadly” at 1 p.m. Saturday at Crown Books, 1835 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa. He’ll also sign at noon Sunday at Lido Book Shoppe, 3424 Via Oporto, Newport Beach.

* Frank Guernsey will show a home video of his voyage and sign “Racing the Ice to Cape Horn” at 3 p.m. Sunday at Borders Books and Music, 429 Associated Road, Brea.

* Martin J. Smith, author of “Time Release” and “Shadow Image” will visit the Mystery Reading Group at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Barnes & Noble, 13712 Jamboree Road, Irvine.

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.