Guide Helps Simplify Life’s Little Chores

OK, this is the era of easy access to information. Those of us who are online can chat with a professor of antiquities living in Egypt or analyze data on past presidents of the United States.

Ah, but what about the day-to-day stuff we need to know about: where to find office or household help, a cleaners, the nearest bookstore, specialty food shops, hotels, pet or automotive services, for example?

Debbie Trice has made life a lot easier by publishing “Shopping in Thousand Oaks: An Illustrated Guide to the Malls and Shopping Centers in Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Oak Park and Westlake Village” (Rabbit Hollow Press, Box 6818-DS, Thousand Oaks 91359-6818).

In the first section of the guide, each shopping center is identified in diagrams, which locates retailers and services and even points out the correct freeway exits.

The second section is categorized by subject such as health care, clothing, hobbies, schools, dentists, restaurants. It’s an information treasure for both longtime residents and newcomers.

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Registration is still open for the “Getting Published” seminar sponsored by Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 34 N. Palm St., Ventura. Call 643-2403.

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One of the reasons mystery novels are so compelling is that the perpetrators of evil are brought to justice in the end. We shudder vicariously over heinous and bizarre crimes, knowing that harmony will be restored in the final chapter. Take a look at the twists and turns in Sharan Newman’s fourth medieval mystery, “Strong as Death,” and M.D. Lake’s “Flirting with Death,” featuring campus cop Peggy O’Neill. Both authors will be signing at noon Saturday; and Gillian Roberts, author of “The Mummers’ Curse,” will sign at 2 p.m. Sunday. All of them will be at Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

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Local photographer and world traveler Tim Hauf will introduce his new book, “Channel Islands National Park,” at a reception from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center, 1901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura Harbor. A collection of Hauf’s photographs is on display in the Visitor Center.

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Search out “The Poet’s Craft”--try the library or a used book store--edited by William Packard. The book, published in 1987, features interviews with 25 well-published poets who talk about their lives and how and why they write.

Then pencil in the open mike event at 6 p.m. followed by a poetry discussion at 7 p.m. Sunday at Borders Books, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

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IN SANTA BARBARA: Faye Kellerman, whose books are instant bestsellers, will sign her latest mystery, “Prayers for the Dead,” at noon Sunday at Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St., Loreto Plaza.

Happenings at Barnes & Noble, 829 State St.: David Champion will sign “Nobody Roots for Goliath,” his novel about challenging the tobacco industry at 2 p.m. Saturday.

And local authors Lily Maestas and Lorelei Snyder will discuss the job market and sign “Unlimited Options: Career Strategies to Last a Lifetime” at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Photographer James Chen and author Marcia Meier will sign “Santa Barbara: Paradise on the Pacific” at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Earthling Bookshop, 1137 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.