Author to Give Insider’s View of Wall Street

Bookstores from Thousand Oaks to Santa Barbara are serving up a variety of literary events this week. Autographing authors will visit Borders Books, Barnes & Noble, Mysteries to Die For, The Earthling, Chaucers and SuperCrown. Button up your computers and typewriters and venture out. You might meet an author who, or find a book that, will change your life.

*

At Borders Books, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CNBC anchorman Ron Insana has been listening to and covering the denizens of Wall Street for years. He will discuss and sign his expose, “Traders’ Tales: A Chronicle of Wall Street Myths, Legends and Outright Lies,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The History-Biography Book Discussion Group will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday. And actress-screenwriter Vivian Schilling will read from her suspense novel, “Sacred Prey,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

*

Richard Barre, author of “The Innocents,” returns to Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, to sign “Bearing Secrets,” his second Will Hardesty adventure. Proprietor Audrey Moore invites mystery fans to meet Barre at 11 a.m. Saturday and stay for lunch.

*

Mark Christiansen will read at 7 p.m. Tuesday at an evening of poetry hosted by Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., Ventura. And at 7 p.m. Wednesday, writers interested in sharing their works-in-progress are welcome to join the Writing Club at Barnes & Noble.

*

More than 400 students, staff and parents will participate in the fifth annual Storytelling Festival, featuring tales from around the world, at Fred L. Williams School, 4300 Anchorage St., Oxnard. The festival begins at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday and will continue through June 7. Call Crista Fausset at 488-3541, Ext. 20 for details.

*

Splash will read at 8 p.m. Tuesday at 2 West Coffee Company, Ventura. Sign in for open poetry readings at 7:30 p.m.

*

Simi Valley author Jan Johnson’s latest book, “Enjoying the Presence of God,” has been released by NavPress. Johnson, whose work appears in national magazines and newspapers, is also the author of “Healing Hurts That Sabotage the Soul” and “When Food Is Your Best Friend.” She serves on the board of the Southern California Chapter of the American Society of Journalists & Authors. Contact NavPress at (800) 366-7788.

*

Santa Barbara: Events at Borders, 900 State St.: At 7:30 tonight Tony Hyman will present “Trash or Treasure,” his book about digging for valuables in the attic, basement or garage. And Rich Edler will sign his book with the lengthy title, “If I Knew Then What I Know Now: CEOs and Other Smart Executives Share Wisdom They Wish They’d Been Told 25 Years Ago” at 2 p.m. Sunday.

*

Author appearances at the Earthling, 1137 State St., include: John Thorndike who will discuss his experiences as a single father and sign his book, “Another Way Home,” at 7:30 tonight. Santa Barbara author-physician Dr. Roger Dunham will break the silence and describe a startling top secret mission to the depths of the Pacific Ocean when he signs his new book, “Spy Sub,” at 3 p.m. Sunday. Novelist-poet Julia Cunningham will read at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

*

Heide Banks will sign “It Works for Me: Celebrity Stories of Alternative Healing” at 2 p.m. Sunday at SuperCrown Books, 3985 State St.

*

Dr. Roger Dunham will sign “Spy Sub” at 1:45 p.m. Tuesday at Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St.

Frances Halpern is co-host, with Jon O’Brien, of “Beyond Words” at 10 a.m. Sundays on KCLU 88.3 FM, Ventura County’s National Public Radio station.