East County Magazine
San Diego poet shares secrets and solace of a psychotherapist in The Best Sex I Never Had
Book by Susan Black Allen Reviewed by Pennell Paugh February 2, 2026 (San Diego) — San Diego resident and psychotherapist, Susan Black Allen has written…
Down to the Bone: A Missing Family’s Murder and the Elusive Quest for Justice
Printer-friendly version Book by Caitlin Rother Review by Paul Levikow December 2, 2025 (San Diego) – San Diego-based New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother takes on the mysterious disappearance of the McStay family of four, who were last seen in their Fallbrook home in February, 2010. Joseph, Summer, and their two sons, Gianni and Joseph Jr. were killed and
Operation Masquerade: A Rent Beacham Mystery
Printer-friendly versionNovel by Larry M. Edwards Reviewed by Pennell Paugh November 28, 2025 (San Diego) — Larry Edwards, a San Diego resident, has written another Rent Beacham mystery. San Diego journalist Rent receives information about a cold-case homicide in Washington State. His investigation leads him to investigate links between illegal disposal of hazardous waste from a San Diego boatyard in
Oaks from Acorns Grow
Printer-friendly versionBook by Richard Opper Reviewed by Pennell Paugh November 4, 2025 (San Diego) — San Diego resident Richard G. Opper is releasing the last book in his Oakheart Trilogy, Oaks from Acorns Grow. It’s written in deep point of view of each player in the story, including the criminals. Mona Oakheart goes to Guam to find her leading porn
Looking for Tank Man by Ha Jin
Printer-friendly versionReviewed by Pennell Paugh October 18, 2025 (San Diego) – National award-winning author Ha Jin, who became a U.S. citizen after the Tiananmen Square uprising. explores themes of rebellion in China and the struggles of a Chinese student in America in his novel, Looking for Tank Man. His main character, Lulu, who is a young woman from China, attends
El Presidio de San Diego: Excavating Southern California’s Lost City by Richard Carrico
Printer-friendly versionReviewed by Pennell Paugh October 19, 2025 (San Diego) – History buffs will love Richard Carrico’s new book, El Presidio de San Diego: Excavating Southern California’s Lost City. The book briefly covers San Diego area history before the first pioneers arrived. The author’s preview to European colonization is short but extensive. Richard Carrico’s greatest focus is upon the presidio
Local children’s book author and filmmaker named finalist in San Diego Magazine’s “Celebrating Women” Awards
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service October 14, 2025 (San Diego) — Anat Tour, a children’s book author, singer, documentary filmmaker, and math teacher based in East County, has been named a finalist in San Diego Magazine’s “Celebrating Women” Awards in the Education category. In addition to her writing and filmmaking, Anat is a passionate singer and host of East County
Linchpin encourages people to find their value in the workplace
Printer-friendly version Review by Heidi Hope October 15, 2025 (San Diego) — Linchpin focuses on the themes of changing the world for the better and making a difference in the workplace by embracing one’s individuality, artistry and uniqueness in visions and values, instead of simply following instructions and never getting to contribute creativity into any task. This New York Times bestselling book
Pretty Happy: healthy ways to love your body
Printer-friendly versionBook by Kate Hudson Review by Heidi Hope October 5, 2025 (San Diego) – Pretty Happy is a New York Times best-selling self-help book written by my favorite actress, Kate Hudson. She thoughtfully researched each area and provided a variety of questions to ask, as well as suggestions to reference and ideas for carrying out each lesson to take
An anthology features San Diego authors: San Diego Writers and Editors Guild releases its thirteenth anthology in October
Printer-friendly version East County News Service September 28, 2025 (San Diego) – The San Diego Writers and Editors Guild launches Good Luck with That—the Guilded Pen’s thirteenth annual anthology. The collection includes thirty-six stories written by twenty-nine members on the theme: “Good Luck or Is It?” Sandra Yeaman. In her twenties, Sandra traveled to Tehran, Iran, where she taught English
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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE TO HOST RENOWNED RABBI, AUTHOR SHARON BROUS
Printer-friendly versionAnnual signature luncheon to feature conversation on human connection East County News Service October 25, 2023 (San Diego) – Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) is hosting its annual signature luncheon at 12 p.m. on Thursday, November 2 with nationally renowned Rabbi and author Sharon Brous for a discussion on human connection. Held at the Hilton La Jolla at
DEFIANT DREAMS: THE JOURNEY OF AN AFGHAN GIRL WHO RISKED EVERYTHING FOR EDUCATION
Printer-friendly version By Sola Mahfouz and Malaina Kapoor Reviewed by Pennell Paugh October 18,2023 (San Diego) — Sola Mahfouz, who now lives in the U.S., recounts her life story to Malaina Kapoor, a writer and producer of the nationally syndicated public affairs radio program, In Deep. The city of Kandahar, where Mahfouz’s family lived, became the site
WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE GIVNER, THE MAN WHO FOILED THE WATERGATE BURGLARS
Printer-friendly version View video of interview Hear audio, originally aired on KNSJ September 24, 2023 (San Diego)—Anat Tour, host of Bookshelf on the East County Magazine Radio Show, recently interviewed Bruce Givner. Givner is an attorney and the author of My Watergate Scandal Tell-All: How I Unwittingly Caused This Historic Event. As a 21-year-old intern in June 1972, Givner stayed
HOW DID I GET HERE: TRAVELING THE ROAD TO RESILIENCE
Printer-friendly versionBook by Andrew Fitzgerald Reviewed by Pennell Paugh September 14,2023 (San Diego) — In How Did I Get Here? Traveling the Road to Resilience, author Andrew Fitgerald shares his difficulties and determined resilience to overcome health issues. He also recounts how he and his wife later struggled to settle in the United States. The second time they emigrated, they
AN OTHERWISE PERFECT PLAN: A NOVEL OF MYSTERY, LOVE, AND CHOCOLATE
Printer-friendly version Author to hold booksigning Sept. 3 locally Novel by Ken Schafer Reviewed by Pennell Paugh August 21, 2023 (San Diego)– Ken Schafer, a San Diego resident, started his professional writing career as a screenwriter, working for companies as diverse as Disney, Paramount and ABC, and on projects ranging from a prequel to “Sleeping Beauty” to “Star Trek: The
BOOK BANS: THE CONTROVERSIAL CULTURE WAR OF TODAY
Printer-friendly versionCalifornia law seeks to prohibit school districts from banning books By Branda Gorgies Images from PEN America and American Library Association August 13, 2023 (East County) – Recently, book bans have become a hot topic. Some people see them as necessary and others see them as censorship. But if you’re involved in politics, you are more
A DAUGHTER’S LOVE FOR HER FATHER!
Printer-friendly version Charlie’s Notes: a memoir: By Cherie Kerr (ExecuProv Press, Santa Ana, CA., 2004, 367 pages). Book Review by Dennis Moore August 2, 2023 (San Diego) – There is nothing like a daughter’s love for her father, and in this memoir written by Cherie Kerr, Charlie’s Notes, there is a profound love for her father throughout this
THE GUILDED PEN – NEW BEGINNINGS: SAN DIEGO WRITERS & EDITORS GUILD 2022 ANTHOLOGY
Printer-friendly version Reviewed by Pennell Paugh July 26, 2023 (San Diego) — The San Diego Writers & Editors Guild is a nonprofit, member-supported organization dedicated to promoting the writing arts for youth and adults in San Diego. The Guild has been publishing anthologies of its members’ short stories, essays, and poetry since 2012. The 2022 version, New Beginnings, is
JAMIE WON’T SLUMBER FOCUSES ON CHILD’S STRUGGLES WITH SEPARATION ANXIETY
Printer-friendly version By Pennell Paugh July 26, 2023 (Santee) — Santee resident Jamie Roberts announced the release of her debut picture book, Jamie Won’t Slumber, on May 17. The delightful Illustrations were created by Amazon Book Associate. Jamie, who is 8 years old, has trouble sleeping away from home. She imagines disasters will happen to her home and family
“I AM SMOKE,” BY HENRY HERZ, AN ATMOSPHERE STORY
Printer-friendly versionReviewed by Pennell Paugh July 27, 2023 (San Diego) — San Diego resident Henry Herz’s latest picture book is titled I Am Smoke. Smoke is the narrator, relating how it has served humankind since prehistory for signaling, beekeeping, curing and flavoring food, religious rites, and fumigating insects. The book’s rhythmic narration is complemented by illustrations where swirling smoke is
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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
East County Magazine
Pretty Happy: healthy ways to love your body
Printer-friendly versionBook by Kate Hudson Review by Heidi Hope October 5, 2025 (San Diego) – Pretty Happy is a New York Times best-selling self-help book written by my favorite actress, Kate Hudson. She thoughtfully researched each area and provided a variety of questions to ask, as well as suggestions to reference and ideas for carrying out each lesson to take
Lucas and Emily’s Food Bank Adventure by Dave Grunenwald
Printer-friendly versionReviewed by Pennell Paugh September 28, 2025 (San Diego) – Lucas and Emily’s Food Bank Adventure is a children’s book for 5- to 10-year-olds. It is designed to inspire children and their families to volunteer in community programs that help those in need. In the book, two friends and a grandparent visit a group that make and deliver sandwiches. Next,
Author Tanya Harris hosts book signing Sept. 21 at Grossmont Center to benefit domestic violence survivors
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service September 5, 2025 (La Mesa) — Local author, domestic violence survivor and advocate Tanya Harris will host a powerful community book signing and awareness event on Sunday, September 21, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the gazebo at Grossmont Center mall (5500 Grossmont Center Dr., La Mesa). The community-focused event is designed to
Blood in the Water: an A.J. Hawke legal thriller
Printer-friendly versionNovel by Donald McInnis Reviewed by Pennell Paugh September 4, 2025 (San Diego) —Blood in the Water, though fictional, exposes a flaw in the United States’ tripartite federal government structure as established in the Constitution. The third branch of government, the Judiciary, cannot enforce its rulings, even when those rulings are necessary for protecting an individual citizen’s rights or the constitutional powers of