Poetry in Rhythm With Local Cultural Scene

When I read authors whose prose avoids flowery, superfluous language and rings in the ears like music, I know they practice the poet’s passion. And almost always their bio sheets tell of poetry they have written.

Yes, writing poetry for publication, to quote writer Don Marquis, “is like dropping a rose-petal down the Grand Canyon and waiting for the echo.� But poets persist and perform their work to appreciative audiences here in the county.

Perie Longo, author of “Milking the Earth� and the-soon-to-be published “The Privacy of Wind,� will read at 8 tonight at Cafe Voltaire, 34 N. Palm St., Ventura. Longo teaches poetry to Santa Barbara schoolchildren and conducts poetry workshops at the Santa Barbara Writer’s Conference.

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An evening of poetry featuring Marilyn Hochheiser, with open readings to follow, is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Simi Valley Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. Donations of cash or a good used book are welcome to support the Friends of the Library book fund. Call 526-1735.

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Ongoing events at 2 West Coffee Company, Ventura, include writers workshops and monthly poetry readings. D’ellen will read at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Open reading sign-in is at 7:30 p.m. Call 643-6411 for details.

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Verve literary magazine editors Marilyn Hochheiser and Ron Reichick will conduct a poetry workshop offering writing exercises, critiquing and preparing work for publication from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 10 at 5404 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. To register, send $20 to P.O. Box 3205, Simi Valley 93093 or call 522-7575 for details.

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Generally, I find poets to be quiet, modest folk, but Cervantes had a different take. He wrote: “Modesty is a virtue not often found among poets, for almost every one of them thinks himself the greatest in the world.�

Whether modest or otherwise, practitioners of the poets’ trade may want to pick up a copy of Michael J. Bugeja’s “Poet’s Guide,� which instructs on how to publish and perform your work. And check out “Poemcrazy,� by Susan G. Wooldridge, which gives the intimidated permission to write poetry without fear.

Anne Lamott, best-selling author of “Bird by Bird,� says “Poemcrazy� is smart, joyful and inspiring.

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Charles Hillinger, whose Los Angeles Times columns covered unique, ironic and oddball slices of life, will sign his “Charles Hillinger’s America� at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., Ventura. The Writers Club, which gives writers an opportunity to receive comments on their works-in-progress, will meet at the store at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

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Carolyn Wheeler will demonstrate how to use the Family History Library Catalog, the largest collection of genealogy records in Salt Lake City, at 7 p.m. Tuesday for the Computer Interest Group, Conejo Valley Genealogical Society, at the Family History Center, 3645 N. Moorpark Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

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The Mystery Book Discussion Group will meet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Call 374-0084 for details.

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IN SANTA BARBARA: Hundreds of published writers, including best-selling authors, live, work in and write about Santa Barbara. And every year hundreds of literary toilers attend the world renowned Santa Barbara Writer’s Conference. In addition there are dozens of Santa Barbara publishing companies that publish locally and nationally known authors.

And so it is curious that there is only one writing group, Screenwriters of Santa Barbara, that meets regularly in this town. Contact them at P.O. Drawer 1410, Santa Barbara 93102. They welcome writers in all disciplines.

Mary Embree, who has successfully organized the Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network (SPAWN) in Ventura, is working on creating a Santa Barbara chapter. Anyone (publishers, writers, illustrators, etc.) interested in joining SPAWN should contact Mary at P.O. Box 2653, Ventura 93002 or call 643-2403.

Gold Coast Fiction Writers, a chapter of Romance Writers of America, is also reaching out to Santa Barbara residents. Call membership chairwoman Kimberly Borrowdale at 687-7967 for details about the group.

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.