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.

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
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