East County Magazine

PAPER TARGETS: ON FRIENDSHIP THAT TRANSCENDS TIME AND TRAUMA
Printer-friendly versionNovel by Patricia Watts Reviewed by Pennell Paugh December 8, 2024 (San Diego) — San Diego author Patricia Watts writes in her novel Paper Targets about Roanne, who never got angry — until the night she killed her ex-husband and herself. Roanne and her best friend, Connie, went to high school together and became suburban wives at the same

CRIME UNDER THE SUN: SISTERS IN CRIME ANTHOLOGY
Printer-friendly version Edited by Matt Coyle, Naomi Hirahara, & Tammy Kaehler Reviewed by Pennell Paugh December 5,2024 (San Diego) — Crime Under the Sun is the second anthology to be offered by Partners in Crime, the San Diego chapter of Sisters in Crime. Out of 60 entries, the editors selected the best 15. You will meet a beguiling bail

CHARIOT CANYON: A RENT BEACHAM MYSTERY
Printer-friendly version Reviewed by Pennell Paugh November 25, 2024 (San Diego) — Award-winning San Diego author Larry M. Edwards involves investigative journalist Rent Beacham in another mystery. In Chariot Canyon, Rent looks into reports of welfare fraud. His investigation not only becomes more dangerous, by a twist of fate, he becomes personally connected to people involved. When horseback riders discover
HEALER: A NOVEL WITH TIMELESS TWISTS
Printer-friendly version Book by Alex A. Kecskes Reviewed by Pennell Paugh October 16, 2024 (San Diego) — Alex A. Kecskes, a San Diego resident, has written a debut book that mixes science fiction and fantasy with romance. In 1888, Rene Sakin loses both her parents, falls into depression and is expelled from a prestigious medical college for
HEALER: A NOVEL WITH TIMELESS TWISTS
Printer-friendly version Book by Alex A. Kecskes Reviewed by Pennell Paugh October 16, 2024 (San Diego) — Alex A. Kecskes, a San Diego resident, has written a debut book that mixes science fiction and fantasy with romance. In 1888, Rene Sakin loses both her parents, falls into depression and is expelled from a prestigious medical college for
HEALER: A NOVEL WITH TIMELESS TWISTS
Printer-friendly version Book by Alex A. Kecskes Reviewed by Pennell Paugh October 16, 2024 (San Diego) — Alex A. Kecskes, a San Diego resident, has written a debut book that mixes science fiction and fantasy with romance. In 1888, Rene Sakin loses both her parents, falls into depression and is expelled from a prestigious medical college for

SAVING MYLES: AN AWARD-WINNING THRILLER
Printer-friendly version Novel by Carl Vonderau Reviewed by Pennell Paugh September 24, 2024 (San Diego) – Award-winning San Diego mystery/thriller author Carl Vonderau’s critically acclaimed novel, Saving Myles, weaves a gripping tale of a couple who encounter intrigue and danger as they race to save their drug-addicted son from kidnappers south of the border. Wade, a La Jolla banker, and

SAVING MYLES: AN AWARD-WINNING THRILLER
Printer-friendly version Novel by Carl Vonderau Reviewed by Pennell Paugh September 24, 2024 (San Diego) – Award-winning San Diego mystery/thriller author Carl Vonderau’s critically acclaimed novel, Saving Myles, weaves a gripping tale of a couple who encounter intrigue and danger as they race to save their drug-addicted son from kidnappers south of the border. Wade, a La Jolla banker, and

POWER POINT: A BOOK OF POEMS
Printer-friendly versionBook by Jane Muschenetz Reviewed by Pennell Paugh September 23, 2024 (San Diego)—In Power Point, local poet Jane Muschenetz, invites her readers to treat women better, awaken to our inner energy and potential, take a stern look at our nation’s priorities, and demands we stop gun violence by running for office. She then calls on us to

POWER POINT: A BOOK OF POEMS
Printer-friendly versionBook by Jane Muschenetz Reviewed by Pennell Paugh September 23, 2024 (San Diego)—In Power Point, local poet Jane Muschenetz, invites her readers to treat women better, awaken to our inner energy and potential, take a stern look at our nation’s priorities, and demands we stop gun violence by running for office. She then calls on us to
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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.

REFUGE ON THE MOUNTAIN: SURVIVAL AFTER AN APOCALYPTIC DISASTER
Printer-friendly version Local author has series of events coming up. Reviewed by Pennell Paugh March 17, 2024 (San Diego) — Ocean Beach resident Cornelia Feye writes a post-apocalyptic story. After a massive solar storm causes a catastrophic global blackout, Greg and Vega escape with their extended family to their solar powered, self-sufficient mountain cabin. Their survival is

REFUGE ON THE MOUNTAIN: SURVIVAL AFTER AN APOCALYPTIC DISASTER
Printer-friendly version Local author has series of events coming up. Reviewed by Pennell Paugh March 17, 2024 (San Diego) — Ocean Beach resident Cornelia Feye writes a post-apocalyptic story. After a massive solar storm causes a catastrophic global blackout, Greg and Vega escape with their extended family to their solar powered, self-sufficient mountain cabin. Their survival is

REFUGE ON THE MOUNTAIN: SURVIVAL AFTER AN APOCALYPTIC DISASTER
Printer-friendly version Local author has series of events coming up. Reviewed by Pennell Paugh March 17, 2024 (San Diego) — Ocean Beach resident Cornelia Feye writes a post-apocalyptic story. After a massive solar storm causes a catastrophic global blackout, Greg and Vega escape with their extended family to their solar powered, self-sufficient mountain cabin. Their survival is

THE SQUIRREL AND THE MOON
Printer-friendly version Reviewed by Pennell Paugh March 8, 2024 (San Diego) — The Squirrel and the Moon, a picture book, is beautifully written by Jacob Haffner and illustrated by Clarissa Janeen. It’s perfect for the young reader who loves to explore a book through its pictures. The book tells a warm and tender mother/child story. The squirrel tells his mother

THE SQUIRREL AND THE MOON
Printer-friendly version Reviewed by Pennell Paugh March 8, 2024 (San Diego) — The Squirrel and the Moon, a picture book, is beautifully written by Jacob Haffner and illustrated by Clarissa Janeen. It’s perfect for the young reader who loves to explore a book through its pictures. The book tells a warm and tender mother/child story. The squirrel tells his mother

WALLED-IN WEST BERLIN: A WEST BERLIN GIRL’S JOURNEY TO FREEDOM
Printer-friendly version Reviewed by Pennell Paugh March 9, 2024 (San Diego) – San Diego author J. Elke Ertle was born and raised in West Berlin during the aftermath of World War II, when the city had become the focus of an escalating Cold War between East and West. In her memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, she

WALLED-IN WEST BERLIN: A WEST BERLIN GIRL’S JOURNEY TO FREEDOM
Printer-friendly version Reviewed by Pennell Paugh March 9, 2024 (San Diego) – San Diego author J. Elke Ertle was born and raised in West Berlin during the aftermath of World War II, when the city had become the focus of an escalating Cold War between East and West. In her memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, she

WORLD BOOK DAY: FEBRUARY 23
Printer-friendly versionBy Jonathan Goetz February 19, 2024 (La Mesa) — World Book Day is an annual event organized by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to promote reading, publishing, and copyright. The main purpose of World Book Day is to encourage people of all ages to discover the joy of books and reading. It also aims to support

HONEYMOON AT SEA: HOW I FOUND MYSELF LIVING ON A SMALL BOAT
Printer-friendly versionBook by Jennifer Silva Redmond Reviewed by Pennell Paugh February 15, 2024 (San Diego) — In 1989-90, Jennifer and Russel Redmond set off from San Diego for Baja California on their 26-foot sloop, Watchfire, shortly after they married. After traveling through the Panama Canal, they sailed all the way to Canada, before turning around to end their honeymoon

ALL THE BAD GIRLS WEAR RUSSIAN ACCENTS: POEMS OF A UKRAINIAN JEWISH REFUGEE GRANTED ASYLUM IN THE U.S.
Printer-friendly versionBy Jane Muschenetz Reviewed by Pennell Paugh February 14, 2024 (San Diego) — Written with humor as well as heart ache, Jane Muschenetz touches on her raw feelings of becoming a refugee. At the age of 10, during the pandemic and the Russian invasion of her home country, Ukraine, she was transplanted to San Diego. Muschenetz
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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