East County Magazine
BOOK REVIEW: MURDERING THE MOM—A SOUL-SEARCHING MEMOIR
Printer-friendly version Murdering The Mom: A Memoir, by Duff Brenna (Wordcraft of Oregon, LLC., La Grande, Oregon, 2012, 217 pages). Book Review by Dennis Moore July 9, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)–Duff Brenna, a long-time East County resident and graduate of San Diego State, where he also taught and garnered several faculty awards, has written a candid and
SWEET NEWS: NEW LEMON GROVE LIBRARY RECEIVES MAJOR DONATIONS
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery July 1, 2012 (Lemon Grove) – A new public library is now under construction in Lemon Grove at the corner of School Lane and Lincoln, thanks to Prop W bond funds. On June 27, Friends of the Lemon Grove Library presented the county library with a check for $60,000 to purchase
WRITER’S CALENDAR
Printer-friendly version www.SDWriteWay.org LITERARY EVENTS News and Calendar Items for San Diego County Book Lovers July 1 thru July 8, 2012 July 5 (Thursday, 7:30 pm) – Warwick’s will host writer and photographer Mark Johnson who will discuss and sign his book Argyle Armada: Behind the Scenes of the Pro Cycling Life. This event is free and open
LITERARY EVENTS: NEWS AND CALENDAR ITEMS FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOOK LOVERS JUNE 26 THRU JULY 1, 2012
Printer-friendly version www.SDWriteWay.org June 26 (Tuesday, 7:30 pm) – Warwick’s will host former U.S. Navy SEAL Brandon Webb as he discusses and signs his book The Red Circle. This event is free and open to the public. In order to be signed, the author’s book must be purchased from Warwick’s. Background: Brandon Webb’s experiences
SAN DIEGO COUNTY LIBRARY NAMED “LIBRARY OF THE YEAR”
Printer-friendly version County Library System Honored for Outstanding Service to Public by Library Journal June 17, 2012 (San Diego) — The San Diego County Library system was named 2012 “Library of the Year” by Library Journal magazine and Gale, an educational publishing company, for “profoundly demonstrating service to community” by automating services, increasing circulation and the number programs it
LITERARY EVENTS: NEWS AND CALENDAR ITEMS FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOOK LOVERS: 1ST 2 WEEKS OF JUNE
Printer-friendly version www.SDWriteWay.org June 6, 2012 (San Diego) — SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Public Library continues its poetry and spoken word series Downtown Verse during June. The next featured performance is by the Lake San Marcos Writers on Monday, June 11. The performance begins at 4:00 pm in the Lobby of the Central Library, located at 820
EVENTS ABOUND AT ALPINE LIBRARY IN JUNE
Printer-friendly version June 7, 2012 (Alpine) – The Alpine Branch of the San Diego County Library at 2130 Arnold Way has a variety of events for planned for the month of June. For infants and toddlers story time is held on Wednesday’s from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. including Local Heroes Storytime on June 13 when Alpine’s Postmaster will be
THE RX FACTOR: A PRESCRIPTION FOR SUSPENSE
Printer-friendly version Book Review by Dennis Moore Warning! Do not start reading this book until you have the time to finish it. Ripped from the headlines, this novel of unrelenting suspense will keep you up all night and have you talking about it for weeks to follow. June 5, 2012 (San Diego)–That is the caveat given
NEW BOOK OFFERS HELP FOR SUDANESE REFUGEES, FAMILIES IN SAN DIEGO AND SUDAN
Printer-friendly version May 30, 2012 (San Diego) – “The clash between traditional South Sudanese values and western values threatens the survival of families already rocked by decades of war, poverty and injustice,” says Walter Davis. “This book provides powerful tools with which the South Sudanese people can experience an epiphany." Davis is editor of South Sudanese Community Insights, authored by
LITERARY EVENTS: SAN DIEGO PUBLIC LIBRARY CONTINUES DOWNTOWN VERSE POETRY & SPOKEN WORD PROGRAM
Printer-friendly versionwww.SDWriteWay.org Early June May 29, 2012 (San Diego) — The San Diego Public Library continues its poetry and spoken word series Downtown Verse during June. The next featured performance is by the Lake San Marcos Writers on Monday, June 11. The performance begins at 4:00 pm in the Lobby of the Central Library, located at 820 E Street in
Search by Specific Date
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.
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
Search by Specific Date
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