Writers to Gather for Open House on Fullerton Courses

Novelist Maria Escandon (“Esperanza’s Box of Saints”) and biographer Dennis McDougal (“The Last Mogul”) are among the authors and writers who will appear at “A Gathering of Writers” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Fullerton Marriott, 2701 E. Nutwood Ave.

“A Gathering of Writers” is a free open house spotlighting spring courses offered by Cal State Fullerton’s extended education programs for writers.

Escandon and McDougal are among the writers who will teach classes. Other writer-instructors scheduled to attend the open house, which will include book signings and refreshments, are James Blaylock, Patricia McFall, Dale and Victor Infante, Maria Loggia-Kee, Mike Farrow, Tod Goldberg, Barbara Seranella, David Lansing and Barbara DeMarco Barrett.

Among the new spring courses and seminars are: Creating the Texture of Existence: Writing the Landscape, with Janet Fitch; How to Talk Smart: Dialogue With Seranella; and the Bicultural Writer: Two Worlds, Two Languages, with Escandon.

For more information on the open house, call (714) 278-4351. For more information on classes, call (714) 278-2611.

Also Coming Up

* Martin J. Smith will discuss “Straw Men” at Barnes & Noble in the Marketplace, 13712 Jamboree Road, Irvine. 7 p.m. Tuesday. (714) 508-9707.

* Terri Sjodin will discuss “New Sales Speak: The 9 Biggest Sales Presentation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them” on “Let’s Talk Business and More With Gloria Zigner” on KUCI (88.9 FM) in Irvine. 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

* Dennis Palumbo will discuss “Questions About Angels” on “Writers on Writing” on KUCI (88.9 FM) in Irvine. 5 p.m. Thursday.

* A used-book sale will be held at the Anaheim Central Library, 500 W. Broadway, Anaheim. 10:30 a.m. Saturday. (714) 765-1880.

* Candace Chambers-Belida will discuss and sign “The Secret Codes of Conduct for Marriage” at Borders Books & Music, 22401 Old Canal Road, Yorba Linda. 3 p.m. Saturday. (714) 974-4743.

* Tim Powers (“Declare”) and James Blaylock (“13 Phantasms”) will sign their books at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange. 1 p.m. Saturday. (714) 538-3210.

* Linda McMillan will discuss and sign “Peaks, Palms & Picnics: Day Journeys in the Mountains & Deserts of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley of Southern California” at Borders Books & Music in South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa. 2 p.m. Saturday. (714) 432-7854.

* Carol and Steven Brower will discuss and sign “I Love It! Any Man Can Be a Great Gift Giver” at Borders Books & Music in South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa. 4 p.m. Saturday. (714) 432-7854.

* Send information about book-related events at least 10 days in advance to: Dennis McLellan, O.C. Books & Authors, The Times’ Orange County edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Or e-mail dennis .mclellan@latimes.com.