Lonesome No More

When first-time children’s author Jane West speaks to schoolchildren about her book, “The Lonesome Pine” (Haylett Publishing, $24.95), she gets emotional. The story, about a pine tree’s dream to become what it was meant to be, has meaning in her own life.

She will be at Borders today to discuss and sign the book.

It was while West wrote a brief biography and description of the book for a brochure that she recognized that she was the lonesome pine. West’s childhood dream was to become a movie star--she had done some singing, dancing and acting in England, where she grew up. She also enjoyed writing stories and poems. Becoming a single parent forced her to put her early dreams aside and leave England for California in 1986 with her 6-year-old daughter, Katie.

“The book is about realizing that there are challenges in our lives that we go through,” she said. “It wasn’t like ‘Oh no, I have to give up my dream.’ It was something I was quite happy to do. My reality was something more important--it was to be a good mom and focus on my daughter.”

She turned once again to writing, and the result was her 64-page triangular hardcover book. After Pasadena designer Ben Lazardi helped with the design of the book, the major challenge was to find a printer, she said. A Hong Kong-based printer she met at a book fair in Chicago fell in love with the book and published it with illustrations by her sister-in-law, Monique Lujan-Bakerink.

West has been appearing in Southern California, from elementary schools to bookstores, since Dec. 1. She said that kids run up to her with hugs and kisses after her talks.

“We all go through the mill in some way or other, and it’s the same with these kids at school,” West said. “They come home and are distraught. The teacher hasn’t listened, but in their own little lives it is just the worst. The same with adults. You go for a job and think you’re perfect for it, but when you don’t get it, you feel terrible inside.”

She said she tells the children that they are perfect just as they are, just as the lonesome pine was perfect, right from the beginning. That is the message she wants to get across to the children, she said.

When she isn’t on a book tour, West is at home in Glendale with her two daughters and husband Jay Bakerink, who works at CBS. She is also developing an interactive Web site for kids, called Creative Kids Network. Check out https://www.haylettpublishing.com for more information.

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Ventura College writing teacher Melissa Hart Romero has published her first novel, “Long Way Home” (Windstorm Creative 2000, $13.95). She will read from and sign it today at Ojai’s Table of Contents Bookstore.

Romero, who has also taught literature and writing at Santa Barbara City College, wrote the novel as her master’s thesis at Goddard College in Plainfield, Vt.

“I was inspired to write the novel because I have both homosexual friends who have lost custody of their children due to their sexuality and friends who were taken away from their parents as children for the same reason,” she said.

Meanwhile, she has completed two other young-adult novels. One is with an agent and one with an editor. Both of them are gritty, she said, laughing.

Romero, who lives in Oak View with her husband, four cats and two dogs, also writes about pets and the environment. You can e-mail her at mjrom@west.net.

HAPPENINGS

* Today: 11 a.m. Gary Phillips will discuss and sign “Only the Wicked” and “High Hand.” Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 374-0084.

* Today: 2 p.m. Melissa Hart Romero will read and sign “Long Way Home,” Table of Contents Bookstore, 208 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, 646-0265.

* Today: 7 p.m. Jane West will discuss and sign “The Lonesome Pine.” Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 497-8159.

* Sunday: 11:30 a.m. Dave Austin will sign “The Unfinished Cross” at the Simi Valley Religious Science Center for Positive Living, 1756 Erringer Road, 527-0870. He will also speak at the 9 and 10:30 a.m. services at the center.

* Sunday: 1 to 3 p.m. Christmas stories from authors Richard Barre and Jerilyn Farmer, plus refreshments. Mysteries to Die For, 374-0084.

* Sunday: 2 p.m. Students from the Charles Davis Actors Workshop, under the direction of voice coach Maripat Davis, will present a program of holiday music in the cafe. Borders, 497-8159.

* Monday: 11 a.m. Illustrator Laurel Long will sign “The Magic Nesting Doll.” Borders, 497-8159.

* Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. Story time with “Arthur’s Perfect Christmas” by Marc Brown and “What Is Hanukkah?” by Harriet Ziefert. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., 339-9170.

* Tuesday: 6 p.m. Members of the Thousand Oaks High School Choir will sing carols. Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 446-2820.

* Tuesday: 7 p.m. A short-story group will focus on “The Man Who Was Almost a Man” by Richard Wright. Borders, 497-8159.

* Tuesday: 7 p.m. The Partners in Crime Mystery Group will focus on “Aunt Dimity’s Christmas” by Nancy Atherton. 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.