WORDS AND IMAGES : A Sense of History : Ventura author Elaine F. O’Brien wrote ‘Anita of Rancho Del Mar’ about a girl who lived near Mission San Buenaventura in 1836.

For community newcomers and longtime residents alike, having a sense of place and knowing even a little local history is comforting. To fill those needs in young readers, however, longtime Ventura resident Elaine F. O’Brien wrote “Anita of Rancho Del Mar,” published by Fithian Press of Santa Barbara.

The richly detailed historical novel is about an adventurous 12-year-old who lives on her family’s Spanish land-grant rancho near Mission San Buenaventura in 1836. The author, a retired Ventura High School Spanish teacher, is a docent at the County Museum of History and Art. She was recently honored by the Conference of California Historical Societies in recognition of her contribution to the study of local California history. The book includes maps and illustrations by Francine Rudesill of Santa Barbara. Leslie Clark of Ojai designed the watercolor cover.

Jean Marshall, storyteller and puppeteer, will tell “Coyote Stories,” American folk tales, to children ages 5 and older, Friday at 11 a.m. in the Wright Library, 57 Day Road, Ventura. Call Jenny Phelps at 642-0336 for details on the continuing Talespinners Summer Reading program. Poet/performers Carol Kent Ireland and “Uncle Don” Fanning will be featured at the Simi Valley Midsummer Night Poetry Series, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Simi Valley Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. Sign-ups for open readings begin at 7:15 p.m. Call 527-5534 for details.

The National Park Service and the Southwest Parks and Monuments Assn.will host a reception and book signing Sunday at 2 p.m. at Peter Strauss Ranch (Lake Enchanto) to celebrate publication of “Oaks of California,” written by Dr. Bruce M. Pavlik with Pamela Muick, Sharon Johnson and Marjorie Popper. Published by Cachuma Press of Los Olivos and the California Oak Foundation, the beautifully illustrated book received the Benjamin Franklin Award from Publishers Marketing Assn. For details call Jean Bray at (818) 597-1036.

A fiction workshop for writers of short stories, plays and novels is scheduled for five Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. beginning Aug. 12 at the UCSB Ventura Center, 3585 Maple St. Award-winning writer Abe Polsky will instruct the class. Enrollment deadline is Aug. 5. Registration information: 644-7261.

Verve Magazine is accepting short fiction and poetry up to 1,000 words for publication in the fall edition. Write to the theme “The Stranger Within,” and submit no later than Aug. 15. If you wish to enter the regular fiction contest (prizes of $100 and $50), submit “Stranger Within” manuscripts by Aug. 1 and include an entry fee of $5 for each story. Mail submissions to P. O. Box 3205, Simi Valley, CA 93093. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope for guidelines or $3.50 for a sample copy of Verve.