Award-winning nonprofit media in the public interest, serving San Diego's inland region

Award-winning nonprofit media in the public interest, serving San Diego's inland region

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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,

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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

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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.

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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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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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.

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,

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