East County Magazine
Book review:The Mission at Home: Navigating Military Assignments, TRICARE, Education, Benefits and Everyday Life with Your Child on the Autism Spectrum
Printer-friendly version Book by Jaime B. & Elizabeth Tracy Parent Reviewed by Pennell Paugh April 20, 2026 (San Diego) – Local authors Jaime and Elizabeth Parent have written a major reference for persons who have disabilities, with particular focus on those who have autism. While the book specifically addresses the services and needs of families in any of the military
Review of Ethan Talks to Animals: Eat Your Food Fussy Filo, by Nico Waters
Printer-friendly version Reviewed by Pennell Paugh April 20, 2026 (San Diego) — San Diego author Nico Waters has written a series of books for children. In Ethan Talks to Animals, second grader Ethan can talk to animals. Together with his dog, Chewie, Ethan helps their next-door neighbor’s cat eat his new diet. Printer-friendly version
Sarah Foles: A Short Story Collection by Travis Lee provides rich social commentary
Reviewed by Pennell Paugh March 22, 2026 (San Diego) — San Diego author Travis Lee has released a collection of short stories currently displayed in…
Irish Secrets and Lies by Debbie Wastling
Book by Debbie Wastling Reviewed by Pennell Paugh March 18, 2026 (San Diego) – Irish Secrets and Lies by Southern California author Debbie Wastling is…
‘I’m Adopted’ by Cynthia R. Gould is the cat’s meow
Reviewed by Pennell Paugh March 16, 2026 (San Diego County) — San Diego author Cynthia R. Gould has released her second chidren’s book, and second…
Cognitive behavioral therapy: healing through poetry
CBT Self-Therapy Poetry: A Right Brain Approach to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and DBT Self-Therapy Poetry: A Right-Brain Approach to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Books by Dharlene…
Ethan Talks to Animals: Eat Your Food Fussy Filo
Book by Nico Waters Reviewed by Pennell Paugh March 12, 2026 (San Diego) — San Diegan Nico Waters has written a series of children’s books….
Ethan Talks to Animals: Eat Your Food Fussy Filo
Book by Nico Waters Reviewed by Pennell Paugh March 12, 2026 (San Diego) — San Diegan Nico Waters has written a series of children’s books….
The Bloodstones of Power: The Norwesis Chronicles, Book 3 by Alain Lescart
Reviewed by Pennell Paugh February 25, 2026 (San Diego) — Alain Lescart, a resident of San Diego, entered his latest fairy story in the San…
The Bloodstones of Power: The Norwesis Chronicles, Book 3 by Alain Lescart
Reviewed by Pennell Paugh February 25, 2026 (San Diego) — Alain Lescart, a resident of San Diego, entered his latest fairy story in the San…
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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.
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE TO HOST RENOWNED RABBI, AUTHOR SHARON BROUS
Printer-friendly versionAnnual signature luncheon to feature conversation on human connection East County News Service October 25, 2023 (San Diego) – Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) is hosting its annual signature luncheon at 12 p.m. on Thursday, November 2 with nationally renowned Rabbi and author Sharon Brous for a discussion on human connection. Held at the Hilton La Jolla at
DEFIANT DREAMS: THE JOURNEY OF AN AFGHAN GIRL WHO RISKED EVERYTHING FOR EDUCATION
Printer-friendly version By Sola Mahfouz and Malaina Kapoor Reviewed by Pennell Paugh October 18,2023 (San Diego) — Sola Mahfouz, who now lives in the U.S., recounts her life story to Malaina Kapoor, a writer and producer of the nationally syndicated public affairs radio program, In Deep. The city of Kandahar, where Mahfouz’s family lived, became the site
WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE GIVNER, THE MAN WHO FOILED THE WATERGATE BURGLARS
Printer-friendly version View video of interview Hear audio, originally aired on KNSJ September 24, 2023 (San Diego)—Anat Tour, host of Bookshelf on the East County Magazine Radio Show, recently interviewed Bruce Givner. Givner is an attorney and the author of My Watergate Scandal Tell-All: How I Unwittingly Caused This Historic Event. As a 21-year-old intern in June 1972, Givner stayed
HOW DID I GET HERE: TRAVELING THE ROAD TO RESILIENCE
Printer-friendly versionBook by Andrew Fitzgerald Reviewed by Pennell Paugh September 14,2023 (San Diego) — In How Did I Get Here? Traveling the Road to Resilience, author Andrew Fitgerald shares his difficulties and determined resilience to overcome health issues. He also recounts how he and his wife later struggled to settle in the United States. The second time they emigrated, they
AN OTHERWISE PERFECT PLAN: A NOVEL OF MYSTERY, LOVE, AND CHOCOLATE
Printer-friendly version Author to hold booksigning Sept. 3 locally Novel by Ken Schafer Reviewed by Pennell Paugh August 21, 2023 (San Diego)– Ken Schafer, a San Diego resident, started his professional writing career as a screenwriter, working for companies as diverse as Disney, Paramount and ABC, and on projects ranging from a prequel to “Sleeping Beauty” to “Star Trek: The
BOOK BANS: THE CONTROVERSIAL CULTURE WAR OF TODAY
Printer-friendly versionCalifornia law seeks to prohibit school districts from banning books By Branda Gorgies Images from PEN America and American Library Association August 13, 2023 (East County) – Recently, book bans have become a hot topic. Some people see them as necessary and others see them as censorship. But if you’re involved in politics, you are more
A DAUGHTER’S LOVE FOR HER FATHER!
Printer-friendly version Charlie’s Notes: a memoir: By Cherie Kerr (ExecuProv Press, Santa Ana, CA., 2004, 367 pages). Book Review by Dennis Moore August 2, 2023 (San Diego) – There is nothing like a daughter’s love for her father, and in this memoir written by Cherie Kerr, Charlie’s Notes, there is a profound love for her father throughout this
THE GUILDED PEN – NEW BEGINNINGS: SAN DIEGO WRITERS & EDITORS GUILD 2022 ANTHOLOGY
Printer-friendly version Reviewed by Pennell Paugh July 26, 2023 (San Diego) — The San Diego Writers & Editors Guild is a nonprofit, member-supported organization dedicated to promoting the writing arts for youth and adults in San Diego. The Guild has been publishing anthologies of its members’ short stories, essays, and poetry since 2012. The 2022 version, New Beginnings, is
JAMIE WON’T SLUMBER FOCUSES ON CHILD’S STRUGGLES WITH SEPARATION ANXIETY
Printer-friendly version By Pennell Paugh July 26, 2023 (Santee) — Santee resident Jamie Roberts announced the release of her debut picture book, Jamie Won’t Slumber, on May 17. The delightful Illustrations were created by Amazon Book Associate. Jamie, who is 8 years old, has trouble sleeping away from home. She imagines disasters will happen to her home and family
“I AM SMOKE,” BY HENRY HERZ, AN ATMOSPHERE STORY
Printer-friendly versionReviewed by Pennell Paugh July 27, 2023 (San Diego) — San Diego resident Henry Herz’s latest picture book is titled I Am Smoke. Smoke is the narrator, relating how it has served humankind since prehistory for signaling, beekeeping, curing and flavoring food, religious rites, and fumigating insects. The book’s rhythmic narration is complemented by illustrations where swirling smoke is
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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