The Sawdust Festival is a real art festival in Laguna Beach. This is the setting for Sylvia Snyder s hilarious novel.

Here are only a few of the artists in "THE SAWDUST FESTIVAL."

TERRENCE RUBEN, who has made himself an art studio in one of Laguna s numerous caves. He beachcombs and makes collages of driftabilia. He also makes Shmuck buttons and gives them out as a way of dealing with his angers.

ED HINKLE, whose wife left him with five children. He is overwhelmed until he learns that the Laguna Ballet Company trains boys free. Ed makes chairs out of trees.

NATHAN MALACARO, the...