Surfing’s History? Let Him Illustrate

Drew Kampion rode his first wave during the summer of ’62 in Malibu. He never forgot it.

That first “awkward ride on a small wall of surging whitewater was my rite of passage, my initiation, into a new world,” Kampion writes in the introduction to “Stoked: A History of Surf Culture” (General Publishing Book; $29.95).

Kampion, whose illustrated book traces the evolution of modern surfing and beach culture, will speak Wednesday at a year-end holiday mixer of the San Clemente chapter of the Surfrider Foundation at the Chart House restaurant, 34442 Street of the Green Lantern, Dana Point.

The 7 p.m. event is open to the public. Kampion will also sign copies of his book, with proceeds going to the Surfrider Foundation.

Kampion, who lives on an island near Seattle, is a former editor of Surfer, Surfing and Wind Surf magazines. He also is the author of the best-selling, large-format “Book of Waves” and wrote the narration for the classic MacGillivray-Freeman surf film “Five Summer Stories.” He is now editorial director of Wind Tracks, an international windsurfing magazine.

*

Susanne Pari, whose first novel, “The Fortune Catcher,” taps her experience living in Iran at the time of the Islamic Revolution in the late 1970s, will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Newport Beach Library, 1000 Avocado Ave. $6 for Newport Beach Public Library Foundation members; $8 for nonmembers.

Also this week

* Harriet Rochlin, whose novel, “Pioneer Jews,” re-creates Jewish life in the American West, will speak at 3 p.m. today at the Jewish Community Center, 250 E. Baker St., Costa Mesa. $5 for JCC members; $7 for nonmembers.

* Julie Mammano, author of “Rhinos Who Snowboard,” will read, speak and sign at 2 p.m. today at Barnes & Noble, 26751 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo. She also will sign at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Barnes & Noble in Triangle Square, 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa.

* Author Robert D. San Souci and illustrator Daniel San Souci will sign “Two Bear Cubs” at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Lorson’s Books, 116 W. Wilshire Ave., Fullerton. They will also sign at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Whale of a Tale Children’s Bookstore, 4187 Campus Drive, Irvine.

* Cheryl Thiele, author of “The Sacred Journey,” will speak and sign at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barnes & Noble in Triangle Square, 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa.

* Don Crutchfield, author of “Confessions of a Hollywood P.I., will speak and sign at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barnes & Noble in the Huntington Beach Mall, 7777 Edinger Ave.

* Janelle Cannon, author of “Stellaluna,” will sign at 11 a.m. Saturday at Whale of a Tale Children’s Bookstore, 4187 Campus Drive, Irvine.

* Steve Simon, author of “Orange County: Through an Artist’s Eye,” will sign at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble in Fashion Island, 953 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

* Kent Harrington, author of “Dia de Los Muertos,” will sign at 11 a.m. Saturday at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange.

* Connie Merritt, author of “Finding Love (Again!): The Dating Survival Manual for Women Over Thirty,” will speak and sign at 4 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble in the Huntington Beach Mall, 7777 Edinger Ave.

* Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander Series, will speak at the 10:30 a.m. meeting of the Orange County chapter of the Romance Writers of America on Saturday in Fullerton. $7 for members; $15 for nonmembers. For location and further details, call (714) 284-7331.

* Peter Clothier will discuss and sign his new nonfiction book, “While I Am Not Afraid: Secrets of a Man’s Heart,” at 2 p.m. Saturday at Latitude 33 Bookshop, 311 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach.

Send information about book-related events at least 10 days before event to: Dennis McLellan, O.C. Books & Authors, Life & Style, The Times, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.