East County Magazine
DARK SIDE: TRUE STORIES FROM A TEENAGE POT SMUGGLER
Printer-friendly versionMemoir by Stu Stall Reviewed by Pennell Paugh April 1, 2025 (San Diego) — Stu Stall, a life-long resident of Coronado, has released a second memoir — Dark Side: True Stories from a Teenage Pot Smuggler. The book is filled with tales of adventure, danger and betrayal. Stall’s life in his twenties seemed carefree — full of parties, women,
AUTHOR OF BOOK ON JOHN D. SPRECKELS SPEAKS IN LEMON GROVE APRIL 3
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service March 30, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – The Lemon Grove Historical Society’s “History Alive” lecture series continues this Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m. with local author Sandra Bonura speaking about her new book, Empire Building: John D. Spreckels and the Making of San Diego. The event will be held at the H. Lee House in
LOCAL RESIDENTS OBJECT TO TRUMP SLASHING FUNDS FOR LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Photo courtesy of Library Foundation San Diego March 26, 2025 (San Diego) – On Friday, March 14, President Trump issued an Executive Order intended to drastically reduce funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services. “Without IMLS funding, the 37-branch San Diego Public Library system
SUMERLAND: A HAUNTNG NOVEL SET IN SAN DIEGO
Printer-friendly version Novel by M. Lee Buompensiero Reviewed by Pennell Paugh March 6, 2025 (San Diego) — Long-time San Diego resident, M. Lee Buompensiero has released an award-winning novel, Sumerland. The story is full of romance, unusual hauntings, heart-warming dog crises and mishaps. Kate Post inherits the San Diego historical Liebersohn mansion after her mother, whom she rarely saw and
THE INSIDIOUS DISEASE OF CANCER AND BRAIN TUMORS!
Printer-friendly version Brain Surgeon: A Doctor’s Inspiring Encounters with Mortality and Miracles, by Keith Black, MD (Wellness Books, trademark of Hatchette Book Group, Inc., New York, NY 2009, 226 pages). Book Review by Dennis Moore
SOUNDS OF YESTERDAY: NOVEL CENTERS ON AUTISTIC MAN’S TROUBLED ROMANCE
Printer-friendly versionBy Jacob Hubbard Reviewed by Pennell Paugh February 24, 2025 (San Diego) – Long-time San Diego resident Jacob Hubbard has written a debut novel, Sounds of Yesterday, about a romantic relationship during COVID as experienced by an autistic man. For five years, Rob and Ana overcome career challenges, achieve emotional stability, and survive a global pandemic. Though they each
COUNTY BREAKS GROUND ON NEW CASA DE ORO LIBRARY
Printer-friendly version By Shauni Lyles, County of San Diego Communications Office Video by James Kecskes February 20, 2025 (Spring Valley) – County officials and community members broke ground Wednesday on a project that will bring a new library branch to Casa de Oro to meet the growing needs of the community. The new library will be located at 9610 Campo
CAITLIN ROTHER TO RELEASE UPDATED EDITION OF BODY PARTS FEB. 25
Printer-friendly version East County News Service January 21, 2025 (San Diego) – New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother, an investigative journalist and former San Diego Union-Tribune reporter, will release an updated edition of her true-crime book, Body Parts, on February 25. The book takes a deep psychological look at serial killer Wayne Adam Ford, a trucker who confessed to
TOUCHING INFINITY: A JOURNEY INTO THE HEART OF A SUPERNOVA
Printer-friendly version Novel by Mark O’Bannon Reviewed by Pennell Paugh January 19, 2025 (San Diego)—San Diego resident Mark O’Bannon has released a new science fiction romance, Touching Infinity (Imperium Prequels). In a society where arranged marriages are considered more sensible and enduring, Alastronia DeTroyes, a young planetary scientist, is excited to find herself traveling into a system that she
THE COLONIAL FARM: LA MESA AUTHOR’S LATEST BOOK FOCUSES ON PLIGHT OF KENYAN FARMWORKERS
Printer-friendly versionUpdate: The author will have a book signing event at the San Carlos Library onApril 25 at 2:00 p.m. By Wanjirũ Warama Reviewed by Pennell Paugh January 1, 2025 (La Mesa) — Wanjiru Warama a resident of La Mesa, provides true stories of how her family and community lived in abject poverty on British colonial farms in Kenya in
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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.
STORM CROWS: BIRDS OF THE ESTUARY UNITE
Printer-friendly version Storm Crows l by Erik C. Martin Reviewed by Pennell Paugh July 20,2023 (San Diego) — San Diego resident Erik C Martin has written Storm Crows, a story about crows and their relationships. A young crow leads his friends fleeing their flock’s oppressive leadership. They want freedom and they seek a new home near the ocean. They
THE FIRE, THE WATER, AND MAUDIE MCGINN
Printer-friendly versionEach wave is a nice start. Novel by Sally J. Pla; reviewed by Pennell Paugh July 9, 2023 (San Diego) – San Diego author Sally J. Pla has released her fourth novel, The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn. Autistic Maudie looks forward to summers spent with Dad in California. This year, she has a secret, one Mom warned
INTRODUCING THE NEW HOST OF THE “BOOKSHELF” SECTION
Printer-friendly version By Dennis Moore July 6, 2023 (San Diego) – Meet the new host of the “Bookshelf” section, Anat Tour.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THOMAS GABOR, COAUTHOR OF AMERICAN CARNAGE: SHATTERING THE MYTHS THAT FUEL GUN VIOLENCE
Printer-friendly version <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Article by Miriam Raftery</span> <p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Podcast interview by Anat Tour</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">July 5, 2023 (San Diego) &amp;ndash; Most Americans may not know that gun control was common throughout much of America&amp;rsquo;s history, even in such iconic wild west settings as Tombstone, Arizona. That&amp;rsquo;s among the misperceptions shattered in an explosive interview with Thomas Gabor, Ph.D., author of
HOW SHE DID IT! THE CREATIVITY OF GEORGEANNA LIPE
Printer-friendly version By Patricia Daly-Lipe Review by Pennel Paugh June 24, 2023 (San Diego) — With a brief biography, author Patricia Daly-Lipe and her husband put together a lovely collection of notes, drawings, and paintings they inherited from Steele’s mother, Georgeanna Lipe. The talented artist lived from 1909 – 2012. Georgeanna Lipe’s watercolors in How She Did It include areas
DRAMATIC SUBMARINE RESCUE 50 YEARS AGO RECALLED IN INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR OF “THE DIVE”
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery June 21, 2023 (San Diego) — A desperate race against time to find and save passengers and crew aboard a missing submarine at the Titanic wreckage site is making worldwide news. Knocking sounds have led searchers to believe people are still alive aboard the missing vessel, the Titan. But oxygen will likely run out
PASSAGES: MEMORIAL SERVICE JULY 15 FOR WORDSMITH CHARLES HARRINGTON ELSTER
Printer-friendly version May 31, 2023 (San Diego) – A memorial service has been scheduled for renowned author and radio host Charles Harrington Elster, who died March 1, 2023 of cancer at his home in Kensington. The memorial will be held on Saturday, July 15 at 2 p.m. at the Kensington Community Church, 4773 Marlborough Drive, San Diego. Best known as
THE CASE OF THE FRENCH FRY PHANTOM
Printer-friendly versionBy Erik Christopher Martin Reviewed by Pennell Paugh May 25, 2023 (San Diego) — The small town of Elderton is in crisis. French fries and other forms of potatoes are disappearing from kitchens. The thief seems invisible in San Diego author Erik Christopher Martin’s latest children’s book, The Case of the French Fry Phantom. Eleven-year-old potato enthusiast Dotty Morgan
ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN!
Printer-friendly version American Carnage:Shattering the Myths That Fuel Gun Violence, by Thomas Gabor and Fred Guttenberg (Mango Publishing Group, Coral Gables, Fl., 2023, 228 pages). Book Review by Dennis Moore View interview with co-author Thomas Gabor on the “Bookshelf” section with host Anat Tour by clicking here. May 26, 2023 (San Diego) – Criminologist Tom Gabor and activist Fred
DOOMED LEGACY BY MATT COYLE: P.I. BATTLES TRAUMA WHILE INVESTIGATING MURDER
Printer-friendly version Reviewed by Pennell Paugh May 21, 2023 (San Diego) – In San Diego author Matt Coyle’s latest crime novel, private investigator Rick Cahill has become a father and husband. Having lived a tough life as an athlete and P.I., Rick’s repeated head traumas are paying their toll. He now has chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a disease that gives
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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