Jo Ellen Heil

At 10, her uncle's marriage changed her family's future forever. When she was 13, she met the young man who would become her husband of nearly 65 years (and counting). At 25, she became the monarch over a European nation ...

Former Ventura resident Dallas Woodburn, a published author and writing instructor at Purdue University, will offer her fifth annual Youth Summer Writing Camp this month. Designed for writers of all genres from ages 8 to 18, the camp will be ...

While browsing the shelves of an indie bookstore in Bowling Green, Ohio, several years ago, I came across a striking National Geographic-style photograph of a wrinkled, elderly woman in India. Dressed in a bright orange blouse and long vibrant purple ...

Looking for a bargain? The Friends of Blanchard Library in Santa Paula will hold their annual spring book sale in the library's parking lot from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

A knitted ocelot pelt. Vibrant bags created from recycled plastic. A public bench covered with felt flowers. Peace quilts. See them all in "Craft Activism: People, Ideas and Projects from the New Community of Handmade and How You Can Join ...

The Camarillo Library will host its second annual "Children's Day, Book Day — Día de los niños, Día de los libros" from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The full day of festivities for readers of all ages will include ...

Readers of all ages won't want to miss the Simi Valley Library's 16th annual Family Fest at the library from 1:30-3 p.m. April 15. This year's theme will celebrate "A World of Stories."

Ojai author Jacqueline Winspear will visit Mysteries to Die For in Thousand Oaks at 2 p.m. Saturday. The creator of the award-winning Maisie Dobbs mysteries will sign "Elegy for Eddie," the ninth title in her series set in England between ...

Books by two Ventura County residents have recently been released. "The 7% Solution" by John Graves, subtitled "You Can Afford a Comfortable Retirement," is a guide for those who want to manage their financial portfolios without professional assistance. It's available ...

Two prolific authors will visit Mysteries to Die For in Thousand Oaks at 3 p.m. Friday in a special double appearance. Cara Black will sign "Murder at the Lanterne Rouge" (Soho Crime; $25) in the Aimee Leduc series set in ...

Twenty-five years ago Congress officially declared March as National Women's History Month. The National Women's History Project, based in Santa Rosa, since 1980, continues to be an extensive resource center for educators, parents and librarians and offers quality books, DVDs, ...

The editors at Lonely Planet cover everything from the U.K. and Scandinavia to Russia and the Balkans in "The Europe Book: A Journey Through Every Country on the Continent" (Lonely Planet Publications; $40). Filled with evocative color photography, maps and ...

California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks will host two author appearances this week: "An Evening with Author Nina Revoyr" will begin at 7 p.m. Monday in the Lundring Events Center. Revoyr, winner of an Indie Booksellers' Choice Award for "Wingshooters," ...

"Going green" isn't an entirely modern trend. Authors John Muir (Yosemite Valley), Marjorie Rawlings (Florida's woodlands) and Beatrix Potter (the English Lake District), among others, were all instrumental in cultivating an appreciation for nature through their writing.

Several local writers have published books recently. "Making the Reata" (Silver Spur Publishing), a historical novel by Ojai author Terry Tallent, is set in Ventura County during the 1830s and features a Chumash elder, an orphan and a Franciscan. Order ...