Writers’ Network

The messages found while scrolling through various literary forums on the Internet reflect the frustration of thousands of writers struggling to get published, and seeking information on how to make it happen.

In Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, there are organized writing groups whose members (volunteers all) sponsor seminars and workshops that attract knowledgeable professionals willing to share information about publishing. Call these groups for details:

Gold Coast Fiction Writers, 968-1835; Simi Valley Pen Women, 522-7575; Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, 581-1906; Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network, 643-2403; Ventura County Writers Club, 482-5648; Screenwriters Assn. of Santa Barbara, 965-4561.

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Amanda Crawford signs “Herbal Remedies for Women” at 8 p.m. Friday at Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., Ventura.

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Two programs for children are scheduled this week at Borders Books, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Sandra Olson Liatsos will perform with her puppets and sign “Bicycle Riding and Other Poems” at 2 p.m. Saturday. And Wildwood Elementary School librarian Mary Lock will tell stories at 1 p.m. Monday.

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Ventura’s poet laureate and poetry festival organizer Phil Taggart reads from and signs “Opium Wars” at 7 p.m. Saturday at Ventura Bookstore, 522 Main St.

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Wendy Hornsby, whose novel “77th Street Requiem” was named best mystery of 1996 by Publishers Weekly, will sign her latest thriller, “Hard Light,” at 11 a.m. Sunday at Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

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The Ventura Chapter of Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network (SPAWN) will meet at 7 p.m. Sunday at Ventura Townehouse, 4900 Telegraph Road. Author, artist and self-publisher Linda McGinnis will address the importance of targeting a specific market and how to determine your audience. Handwriting analyst Maurine Moore will discuss the marketing techniques she used to sell her book. The seminar fee for guests is $5. Call 644-9843.

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David Segal will focus on advertising, promotion and publicity at 7 p.m. Monday at a meeting of the Conejo Valley Chapter of SPAWN at 29376 Mulholland Highway, Agoura. Guest fee is $5. Call Louise Cabral at (818) 707-0589.

In Santa Barbara

The Screenwriters Assn. of Santa Barbara meets at 7:30 tonight to hear David Michael Wieger describe “What You Need to Know and Who You Query About Writing Scripts for Movie Producers and Studios.” The group meets monthly. For details call Chuck Kent at 965-4561.

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Gloria Kaye, author of “Is There a Healer in the House?,” will present an experiential healing seminar sponsored by the Earthling Bookshop from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Karpeles Library, 21 W. Anapamu St. The $65 fee includes lunch at the Earthling Cafe. Reservations at 965-0926.

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He was Kookie, the jive-talking, hair-combing star of TV’s “77 Sunset Strip.” He had it all and he lost it all. Now he tells all in his autobiography, “Edd Byrnes: Kookie No More,” which he’ll sign at 2 p.m. Saturday at Borders Books, 900 State St.

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Jay Jarvis Masters is on death row at San Quentin, and he’s also an award-winning writer. Lisa Leghorn is helping to introduce Masters’ work to the public. She will discuss his book, “Finding Freedom: Writings From Death Row,” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Borders.

* Frances Halpern and Jon O’Brien are co-hosts of “Beyond Words” at 10 a.m. Sundays on KCLU-FM (88.3), Ventura County’s National Public Radio station.