East County Magazine
NEW SPORTS BOOK SCORES WINNING LOCATION FOR LAUNCH PARTY
Printer-friendly versionSAN DIEGO, CA October 20, 2009 Join author Joey Seymour in celebrating the launch of his new book San Diego’s Finest Athletes: Five Exceptional Lives on Thursday, November 5th. The launch party for the book, published by Sunbelt Publications of El Cajon, will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the San Diego Hall of Champions. The San Diego
NOTED CHILDREN’S AUTHOR IN LA MESA OCT. 16 FOR READING & BOOK SIGNING
Printer-friendly versionBook Review: Nugget on the Flight Deck By Patricia Newman New York, Walker and Company, 2009. Illustrated by Aaron Zenz. Hardback Picture Book, 40 pages, with Target Age: 4-8 years. Reviewed by Deena While “Welcome aboard, Nugget…I’ll bet you’ve never been aboard a carrier before…” October 13, 2009 (La Mesa) — San Diego may be
SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOOK FESTIVAL! OCT. 16-18 MEET YOUR FAVORITE AUTHORS AT LOCAL LIBRARIES
Printer-friendly version October 12, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego County Libraries will host a book festival in celebration of the written word on October 16-18. The festival includes appearances by nearly 100 authors at libraries in Bonita, Borrego Springs, Enicnitas, Poway, and Vista as well as appearances by top authors at the County Administration building.
GALAPAGOS AUTHOR TO PRESENT SLIDE SHOW, SIGN BOOKS IN EL CAJON OCT. 13
Printer-friendly version October 9, 2009 (El Cajon)–Bette Blaydes Pegas, local author of Chasing a Dream in the Galapagos: A Personal Evolution, will be at the Rancho San Diego Library in El Cajon on Tuesday, October 13th. Pegas will give a slideshow presentation on her life-changing trip to the Galapagos in the library’s conference room at 5:30 PM. She will also be available
NEXT THIRD THURSDAY IS A LESSON IN EAST SAN DIEGO’S HISTORY
Printer-friendly version October 9, 2009 (San Diego)–Independent bookstore and coffeehouse Upstart Crow of Seaport Village and acclaimed small press Sunbelt Publications of El Cajon are teaming up to offer the public a free monthly author appearance and book signing. These “Third Thursday” events began in June, and have featured appearances by local authors of books on such diverse topics as the
BOOK REVIEW: TRUE CRIME STORIES (PART II)
Printer-friendly version I’M IN THE TUB, GONE. By Richard James Carlson Publish America, Baltimore. 2004. 123 pages. Available at the San Diego Police Museum and on Amazon.com Reviewed by Walter Hall “Today is the final day of this life…” Only once in a long while do we encounter a book that just won’t let go. This
SAN DIEGO CITY COLLEGE HOSTS 4TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR, THIS WEEK
Printer-friendly version September 27, 2009 (San Diego)—The Fourth Annual San Diego City College International Book Fair kicks off a full week of literary and cultural events on Monday. Already San Diego’s largest book event, the Lucha Libro theme for 2009 assures a broad regional appeal again this year–including paticipation by some East County writers. The Lucha Libro program offers San Diegans
BOOK REVIEW: TRUE CRIME STORIES
Printer-friendly version EAST OF SAN DIEGO. The Lost History of the East San Diego Police Department, 1912-1923. By Gary E. Mitrovich San Diego Police Historical Association, San Diego, 2008. 112 pages, illustrated. Distributed by Sunbelt Publications, El Cajon, CA. Reviewed by Walter Hall To counter the reckless operation of motor vehicles, City Marshal J.P. Ayers “…declared war
HISTORY TO COME ALIVE AT LEWIS & CLARK BOOK PRESENTATION SEPT. 12
Printer-friendly version September 11, 2009 (Rancho San Diego)–James Thomas, author of Corp of Discovery: Lewis & Clark will be at the Heritage of the Americas Museum for a presentation and book signing on Saturday, September 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. Garbed in period costume, the author will make a presentation about his book and the historic Lewis & Clark
BOOK REVIEW: FIRE, CHAPARRAL, AND SURVIVAL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Printer-friendly version by Richard W. Halsey Second Edition, Revised and Updated Sunbelt Publications, San Diego. 2008. 232 pages, illustrated, color plates. Reviewed by Walter Hall “The Viejas fire in ’01, the Galivan fire in ’02, and then again during the Cedar fire in ’03. It’s always the same damn thing.” — A weary incident commander back on
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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.

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
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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