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.
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