As a child, Elaine Swann had no way of knowing that her love of setting the table and desire to make it beautiful would lead to a life of teaching etiquette.

"I've always been drawn to fashion and beauty," she said.

A former beauty pageant finalist from Oceanside, Elaine has packed many careers into her 30-some years: model, model agency owner, hair stylist, salon owner, reporter, creative art director, mentor, community activist, public speaker and, most recently, author. Her first nonfiction book, "Girls Have Style … at School" (WS Publishing, $8.95) was released in late 2005.

She'll be doing a book signing from 3-6 p.m. Saturday at Jitters, 510 N. Coast Hwy., Suite D, Oceanside. Call (760) xxxxxxxx

The book is a how-to for girls ages 13 to 18, covering an array of topics: proper hygiene, tips on dress, hair and make-up, speaking, behavior, table manners, and the effect of gossip, teasing and nonverbal communication.

"It's not preachy," said Swann. "And I didn't want to use the word 'etiquette' in the title because that makes kids shut down. You have to speak their language."

The idea for the book was born out of necessity, according to Swann. She was asked to give etiquette lessons to a group of high school sorority girls in Oceanside in preparation for their debutante ball.

"I didn't want to just go from memory," said Swann. "So I did research, getting Emily Post books and making notes. I really wanted to know that what I was sharing with the girls was correct. Every year they invite me back, and every year the program becomes more elaborate. I keep adding more subjects."

Word of the debutante ball's success spread throughout the Oceanside school district. Swann was asked by the principal of King Middle School to create a similar program. It became a six-week session.

"All my classes are interactive," said Swann. "I videotape the girls before and after. I use the same material I had used with the sorority, but I've made it more in-depth."

At the end of the program, Swann gives gift bags to each girl containing personal items and a vanity case. In the past, she included a binder with all the notes from the etiquette lessons. Sometimes the binders were left behind, and she decided students would be more likely to take a book with them.

Swann plans to write an entire series of books on etiquette, some for teens and others for adults.

"I broke it down into categories and chose school first, because that's where kids spend most of their time," said Swann. "I'm tired of reading etiquette books that try to cover every area.

"Many people think that etiquette has to do with table manners, but it's so much bigger than that," she added. "That's why I really focus on effective communication and being polite to everyone -- from the lady in the lunchroom to when you're on the bus to when you're playing sports."

Just one handshake and Swann's infectious energy comes through. Last February, KNSD reporter Lorrie Jordan plucked her from a crowd of hundreds of candidates awaiting audition interviews for "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart."

"She asked me my name and what I do. I said, 'I'm Elaine Swann and I'm the Etiquette Lady.' After I got done talking, Bill Menish came out of the studio and said that I have a great voice and should go into broadcasting. Kimberly King gave me her card and said they'd love to do a segment on etiquette."

Swann was called back by "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" for several interviews and performed assigned tasks while moving closer to being selected in the final 50 contestants. She spent a week sequestered in a hotel in Los Angeles undergoing a battery of psychological and physical exams. Although she made it to the final 50 people selected for the show, she was not chosen to be in the final 16.

"I kept thinking -- why did I go through all this?" said Swann. "But the entire time I had prepared for 'The Apprentice,' I had researched Martha Stewart's company. And what I got out of that was a blueprint for my company and what I'm supposed to do."

Since then, Swann has become a regular guest on KNSD news, doing segments on contemporary etiquette topics, such as cell phone etiquette, and gym etiquette, which she calls "sweatiquette."

"I'm on a quest right now to bring etiquette back to the forefront," she added. "Consideration for others. That's the bottom line. It's walking around on the earth and thinking about the people around you and how you affect them."

At Jitters, 510 N. Coast Hwy., Suite D, Oceanside:

Elaine Swann signs and discuss "Girls Have Style … at School" from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday.

For more information on Elaine Swann, go to www.elaineswann.com.

Related links: Elaine Swann: http://www.elaineswann.com.