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.
YOUR FABULOUS FIRST BOOK: HOW TO WRITE WITH CLARITY, CONFIDENCE AND CONNECTION
Printer-friendly versionReviewed by Pennell Paugh January 26, 2023 (San Diego) – Your Fabulous First Book provides support and guidance to the first-time, non-fiction writer. By helping an author overcome writing blocks and other challenges, starting with finding a subject, San Diego author Andrea Susan Glass pulls the writer along until their book is completed and, hopefully, published. To accompany this
COUNTY LIBRARY HOSTS LOCAL AUTHORS SHOWCASE JANUARY 27
Printer-friendly version By Pennell Paugh On January 27, 7 to 9 p.m., San Diego Public Library is proud to sponsor the 2022 Showcase, featuring published works by San Diego’s most talented authors. The event is live and in-person! The library will be featuring a stunning collection of display cabinets filled with locally authored books from several different genres. The display
RED CHAOS: THRILLER FROM THE RED HOTEL SERIES BY ED FULLER AND GARY GROSSMAN
Printer-friendly versionReviewed by Pennell Paugh January 1, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – Red Chaos details events across that sound very much like events that have happened across the globe. All the crimes have but one perpetrator but it’s not a person, it’s a nation. “Hello, Mr. Reilly. Please hold for Mr. Shaw.” The call was from Chicago—Nancy Barney,
ASSEMBLYMEMBER WEBER HOSTS BOOK GIVEAWAY DEC. 19 AT KROC CENTER
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service December 12, 2022 (La Mesa) – Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber will host her second annual Winter Literacy and Book Giveaway event (while supplies last) on Monday, December 19, 2022 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, 6845 University Avenue, San Diego, CA 92115. You’re invited to come receive free books for early
THE BODY IN THE BARREL: AUTHOR OF SAN DIEGO CRIME NOVEL TO HOLD LOCAL SIGNING DEC. 8
Printer-friendly version By Richard G. Opper Reviewed by Pennell Paugh December 4, 2022 (San Diego) — The Body in the Barrel is a compelling crime novel set in 1973 in San Diego. The book opens on October 15, 1973: “I shifted the Smith & Wesson Model 10 to a more comfortable place on my hip, which was feeling tender this
THE DEVIL’S HALF ACRE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF HOW ONE WOMAN LIBERATED THE SOUTH’S MOST NOTORIOUS SLAVE JAIL
Printer-friendly versionBook by Kristen Green, reviewed by Pennell Paugh November 21, 2022 (San Diego) — In The Devil’s Half Acre, Author and former San Diego Union-Tribune journalist Kristen Green provides details about Black lives in America, starting in 1619 and ends in recent times. Green takes us from slavery, through details about the lives of Blacks during the Civil War
LOVE A GOOD SCARY BOOK? THE LIBRARY HAS HAIR-RAISING LISTS FOR YOU!
Printer-friendly versionBy Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office October 26, 2022 (San Diego) – Are you the kind of person who enjoys a good, scary book ― especially at Halloween? Well, look no further. The County of San Diego Library has a few sboooook―tacular lists for you, filled with books you can read or listen to! From Stephen
THE SPIRIT OF SHY MOON LAKE: A HAUNTING READ BY REINA LISA MENASCHE
Printer-friendly versionReviewed by Pennell Paugh October 19, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) — The Spirit of Shy Moon Lake is a spooky, sometimes creepy, often mysterious tale, filled with tension and foreshadowing. Award-winning local author Reina Lisa Menasche is also the long-time host of the “Bookshelf” segment on East County Magazine’s radio show. The main character, Jess McCortney, moves to
BOOK REVIEW: HISTORIC TALES OF LA JOLLA
Printer-friendly versionBy Patricia Daly-Lipe Reviewed by Pennell Paugh October 14, 2022 (La Jolla) — Location, location, location. This is the mantra for real estate. But it is precisely “location” that helped define La Jolla. Historic Tales of La Jolla tells the story of the place: its name, even its initial creation by natural forces, followed by the people who found
HOW TO CREATE AN ERGONOMIC AND EFFICIENT WORKSPACE: SAN DIEGO PROFESSIONAL EDITORS NETWORK VIRTUAL WORKSHOP OCT. 20
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service October 1, 2022 (San Diego) – The San Diego Professional Editors Network will hold the workshop, “Pain-Free Editing: How to Create an Ergonomic and Efficient Workspace” on Thursday, October 20, 2022 6:00 p.m. Editors are required to sit for extended periods of time, which can take a toll on physical and mental health. This workshop
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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