East County Magazine
SUNBELT CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF INK AND IMAGINATION
Printer-friendly version by Walter Hall January 16, 2010 (El Cajon) – Sunbelt Publications, El Cajon’s award-winning regional press, observes 25 years of hard-won success in the book trade this month. The anniversary is a remarkable achievement by a singular couple – Diana and Lowell Lindsay – who have the mischievous look of people who know they’re onto something
SAN DIEGO BOOKSHELF: ROUNDING THIRD–A DASH FOR EAST COUNTY
Printer-friendly version By Christian Young January 15, 2010 (San Diego)–Drawing on his own experiences, San Diego author Walter G. Meyer embarked upon a decade -long journey to create his recently published novel, Rounding Third. This book is much more than a fictional account drawn together from adolescent memories. Wthin the story’s characters can be found, according to Meyer, “a bit

BOOK REVIEW: POLICE AND PUBLIC SECURITY IN MEXICO
Printer-friendly version Edited by Robert A. Donnelly and David A. Shirk Book Review by: Dennis Moore January 13, 2010 (San Diego’s East County)–Yajaira Mota Orozco,a San Diego mother of two children, lost her life while eating at a restaurant in Tijuana. During December, she became the 88th victim of alleged gang and drug violence in a single month, underscoring
LOCAL AUTHOR’S FANTASY NOVEL “ICE SONG” RECEIVES CRITICAL PRAISE
Printer-friendly version GENDER-BENDER BOOK RATED “BEST OF 2009” BY BARNES & NOBLE, SCHOOL LIBRARY SCHOOL JOURNAL, AND ROBOTS AND VAMPS San Diego, CA January 8, 2010 – San Diego author Kirsten Imani Kasai’s debut novel ICE SONG, about a uniquely gifted single mother’s quest to rescue her abducted children, has been lauded as one of the best books of
BOOK REVIEWS: LOCAL AUTHOR OFFERS TREASURIES FOR DOG AND CAT LOVERS
Printer-friendly version Reviews by Dennis Moore December 21, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) — If you’re looking for last-minute holiday gifts for the pet lovers on your list, I heartily recommend Richard Lederer’s newest books. Most of us are either a cat lover or a dog lover–though Lederer, author of A Treasury for Cat Lovers and A
BOOK REVIEW: ANZA-BORREGO: A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY
Printer-friendly version Anza-Borrego: A Photographic Journey. By Ernie Cowan. Foreword by Diana Lindsay (Anza-Borrego Foundation and Institute). San Diego. Sunbelt Publications. 2008. Illustrated with full color plates. 80 pages. $19.95. Reviewed by Walter Hall Cowan captures the essence of this grand desert Park and shares it with the world in this heartfelt account. Mark C. Jorgensen, Superintendent, Anza-Borrego. December

BOOK REVIEW: THE STRAIGHT-UP TRUTH ABOUT THE DOWN-LOW
Printer-friendly version The Straight-Up Truth About the Down Low By Joy Marie Book Review by Dennis Moore December 9, 2009 (San Diego) — While having dinner at a friend’s home this past Thanksgiving, my friend told me that her friend’s husband had left her after more than 30 years of marriage for a man that he had been having
BOOK REVIEW: SAN DIEGO BAY: A CALL FOR CONSERVATION
Printer-friendly version San Diego Bay: A Call for Conservation By the Students at Jacobs High Tech High. Foreword by E. O. Wilson. Preface by Jane Goodall. University of California San Diego Sea Grant Program. San Diego. 2009. Paperback. Illustrated. 344 pages. $24.95. Distributed by Sunbelt Publications, El Cajon, CA. Reviewed by Walter Hall Part history, part politics,
LOCAL PUBLISHER TURNS 25, THROWS EARLY HOLIDAY PARTY DEC. 3
Printer-friendly version December 2, 2009 (El Cajon)– San Diego’s own book publisher, Sunbelt Publications, whose latest local-interest book is San Diego’s Finest Athletes: Five Exceptional Lives, turns twenty–five years old in December with a wide array of new books for all ages, and a big holiday party. On December 3, 2009, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, Sunbelt will host their annual

BOOK REVIEW: CHAPTER & VERSE: CROSSWORDS AND OTHER PUZZLES ~ GENESIS, BOOK ONE ~ BY T.J. JOHNSON
Printer-friendly version Xulon Press, ISBN # 9781604773200 Available through author’s website at www.hayneskid.com , Amazon.com, and Barnes & Noble Review by Dennis Moore November 29, 2009 (San Diego) — TJ Johnson, a Bible teacher at Bayview Church in San Diego, sums up the genesis of her inspiration for writing a book of Biblical crossword puzzles. “These
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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.

GUITAR CONCERT TO BENEFIT CASA DE ORO LIBRARY JUNE 4
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service May 15, 2023 (Casa de Oro) – The Friends of the Casa de Oro Library will hold a benefit concert Sunday, June 4, at 7 p.m. in a private home. The featured entertainment will be Fred Benedetti (photo) and Robert Wetzel, an award-winning guitar duo. Light refreshments will be served. The cost is $50. Email

V IS FOR VICTORY BY NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR CRAIG NELSON
Printer-friendly version Reviewed by Pennell Paugh May 15, 2023 (San Diego) — Craig Nelson makes a convincing argument that Franklin Delano Roosevelt not only saved America from the Great Depression, but was also responsible for the U.S. winning World War II in his new novel V is for Victory, which will be released May 23. Most scholars agree that industry

WHEN I WAS HER DAUGHTER: AWARD-WINNING MEMOIR BY LESLIE FERGUSON
Printer-friendly version Reviewed by Pennell Paugh March 28, 2023 (San Diego) — Seven-year-old Leslie has a serious problem. Someone is trying to kill her– and it’s her mother. Leslie and her little brother live chaotic, often frightening lives under the care of their paranoid schizophrenic mother. This excerpt from local author Leslie Ferguson’s memoir, When I Was Her Daughter,

LAKESIDE’S NEW LIBRARY, A STATE OF THE ART FACILITY, HOLDS GRAND OPENING MARCH 25
Printer-friendly versionStory and photos by Shiloh Ireland March 21, 2023 (Lakeside) — Lakeside has a new state of the art library. ECM took a preview tour of the 16,000 square foot facility on March 1 during a soft opening, also interviewing librarian Mary Elder. The grand opening is scheduled for March 25th. ECM has conducted a photographic and drone history

STRENGHTENING YOUR SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH: A DOCTOR’S GUIDE TO UNLEASH HEALING POWERS
Printer-friendly versionBy Pennell Paugh March 13, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – Carrolle Jean-Murat., M.D., a Mt. Helix resident, announces publication of her latest book, Strengthening Your Spiritual Foundation for Optimum Health: 18 Ways to Unleash Your Innate Healing Powers. Born and raised in Haiti, the author shares her professional transformation. Dr. Jean-Murat had a successful private practice in San

SUNRISE IN SAIGON: PASSION AND INTRIGUE IN AFTERMATH OF VIETNAM WAR
Printer-friendly version Reviewed by Pennell Paugh March 12, 2023 (San Diego) — Sunrise in Saigon is the first book by local author Patrick Greenwood in a new series about cybersecurity, passion, and international espionage. The main character develops a passion to travel to Vietnam as a youth. Greenwood writes: On April 30, 1975, eleven-year-old Jack Kendall lay in his bed,

MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER
Printer-friendly versionBy K.C. Grifant Reviewed by Pennell Paugh March 2, 2023 (San Diego) — Sharpshooter Melinda and her easygoing partner and sweetheart, Lance, are expert monster exterminators in local author K.C. Grifant’s creative novel, Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger. They plan to retire after this last job; however, they accidentally release a demon who steals their best friend’s soul,

HOOKER AVENUE: A GRIPPING LEGAL THRILLER
Printer-friendly versionReviewed by Pennell Paugh February 12, 2023 (San Diego) – Hooker Avenue is the second in the Queen City Crimes series by San Diego author Jodé Millman. Attorney Jessie Martin lives in upstate New York’s Hudson Valley. Driving at night, she is on her way home during a violent thunderstorm when she spots something. “The amber glare of the

5 STEPS TO SOLO TRAVEL: A WOMAN’S GUIDE TO TRAVEL IN HER PRIME: PART A
Printer-friendly versionBy Pennell Paugh February 9, 2023 (San Diego) – Dr. Mary Travelbest’s guide book is full of tips and on the road recommendations. She helps you to get the best deals, pack light, and ensure your safety. She takes you through stages to develop a level of comfort with less and less structure. I’m still on stage one, but

LEDERER’S LANGUAGE & LAUGHTER
Printer-friendly versionReviewed by Pennell Paugh February 2, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) — Lederer’s Language and Laughter is Richard Lederer’s sixtieth book. It is full of humor from all sorts of situations from making puns about situations, to quoting signs and newspaper headings. There is humor bound to entertain everyone. In a chapter quoting student bloopers, he states: Johann Sebastian Bach
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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