New book from Laguna author

OUR LAGUNA

Well-crafted words can take many forms.

Ted Taylor wrote “The Maldonado Miracle” 42 years ago as a

novelette for Redbook Magazine. He converted it into a full-length

novel a few years later. In January, a movie version was shown at

Robert Redford’s Sundance Film Festival.

Salma Hayek, who produced and starred in the critically acclaimed

“Frieda,” made her directorial debut with Taylor’s story of a phony

miracle, a town in trouble and the boy who caused it all.

“She has done a marvelous job,” Taylor said.

Taylor is no stranger to film. He wrote the screenplay for

“Showdown,” a Western that featured Rock Hudson and Dean Martin, and

worked on “Tora! Tora! Tora!” In 1988, he wrote the screenplay for an

HBO production of his book “The Stalker” and created behind the

scenes documentaries on the making of feature films.

Eventually, Taylor tired of the commute to Hollywood and decided

the stories he spun for his children could be profitably shared with

a larger audience.

Since then, he has written more than 30 books for “young readers,”

not to mention books written for an adult audience.

The young reader category includes “The Cay,” which was selected

as an American Library Assn. Notable Book, A School Library Journal

Best Book of the Year and a New York Times Best Book of the Year. It

also won the 1970 Jane Addams Book Award, among seven other literary

prizes.

“The Cay” is required reading in many elementary schools. Five of

my seven grandchildren read the book as they have reached the fifth

grade -- two to go -- and my standing with them has risen

substantially when their elder siblings pass on the information that

Taylor lives in Laguna Beach, within a couple of blocks of my home.

Even more impressive to them: I have dined with him and his wife,

Flora, at the annual Friends of the Library dinners. Taylor is a

longtime supporter of libraries.

My grandchildren and other young readers have a treat in store.

Taylor has a new book out, “The Lord of the Kill.” It continues the

story of young Ben Jepson and the big cats of Los Coyotes Preserve,

to which young readers were introduced in 1989 in “The Sniper,” which

was selected as an American Library Assn. Best Book for Young Adults

and won the California Young Readers Medal in 1992.

The newest Taylor title, published by Blue Sky Press, is priced at

$16.95 in hard cover.

“The Lord of the Kill” is a mystery story. It opens with the

16-year-old Ben’s discovery of two jaguars in the preserve covered

with blood and a human body in their home.

Is it murder? Read the book.

WOMAN’S CLUB ON A ROLL

The Laguna Beach Woman’s Club will honor outgoing Mayor Wayne

Baglin at a luncheon today.

Judging of the second annual Dessert Contest will be held

immediately after the luncheon. Prizes will be awarded in two

categories: Chocolate and Everything Else.

If you are attending the luncheon, pick up a nomination form for

the club’s Woman of the Year; otherwise make a special trip. Nominees

must be Laguna Beach residents. Past recipients include former Mayor

Kathleen Blackburn, Sandy Thornton, Sande St. John and Cheryl Post.

You have until April 30 to file a nomination.

Other club activities are participation in the Afghan Amity

Society, previously called Crossroads. Club President Kim Salter,

Resource Center Director St. John and board member Anne Johnson got a

private viewing of the proposed multi-use campus that was unveiled

recently at a meeting held at Vern and Cherry Spitaleri’s Emerald Bay

home.

“It’s very exciting project,” said Johnson, a city planning

commissioner. “The club is interested in going forward with it and we

hope to partner with other women’s groups in town.

“This project could be a model for other projects,” she said. “We

don’t want to jump in and just do something flash in the pan. We are

in for the long haul.”

Afghan Amity’s project proposes a five-acre campus with housing

and accommodations for educational, recreational, religious and

cultural activities, adjoined by a 20- to 25-acre farm to make it

self sustaining for up to 2,000 students. Architect Chris Spitaleri

designed the concept.

“The interesting thing is that different groups could take on

different pieces of the project,” Johnson said. “We’re waiting now to

see if the Afghan government will make a gift of the land near Herat,

and if it will pencil out.

Herat has been proposed as a sister city to Laguna Beach. Much of

the aid going to Afghanistan has been focused on the capital city of

Kabul, Johnson said, but other areas are desperately in need.

“I was pleased to hear that the federal government is proposing to

build satellite teaching clinics for maternal and child health in

other parts of the country,” Johnson said.

International health surveys indicate that Afghan women and

children rank highest in worst health.

“Women around this country have known about the conditions for

years,” Johnson said. “Anything that can be done is good. Projects

like the one proposed by Afghan Amity will get people to buy in.”

The club’s concern for women’s issues will be further demonstrated

Feb. 28 when a performance of “The Vagina Monologues” will be

presented at 8 p.m. Lola Gillebaard, Connie Merritt and Jonelle Allen

are the cast. Andy Heddon is the director.

Performances will be held throughout the world that day,

designated as worldwide V-Day. The goal is to raise awareness about

violence against women and girls. The local performance will be a

fund-raiser for the club’s Women’s Resource Center and Working

Wardrobes. Tickets are $75, including a reception and preferred

seating, $50 general admission. For tickets, call (714) 971-9090.

* OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box

248, Laguna Beach, 92652, hand-deliver to 384 Forest Ave., Suite 22;

call 494-4321; or fax 494-8979.