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.
EXCITING NEWS FROM THE SUNBELT CREW
Printer-friendly versionSource: Sunbelt Publications April 28, 2022 (San Diego) – Sunbelt Publications founders Diana and Lowell Lindsay are retiring. The new owners of Sunbelt are long time employees Lisa Gulick and Maria Groschup-Black and Maria’s wife, Nichole. Together, Lisa and Maria have 40 combined years with the company and will strive to continue the legacy that is Sunbelt Publications. Diana
PROMINENT AUTHORS TO APPEAR AT 26TH ANNUAL LITERARY ARTS FESTIVAL AT GROSSMONT COLLEGE APRIL 25
Printer-friendly versionSource: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District April 20, 2022 (El Cajon) – The 26th annual Grossmont College Literary Arts Festival returns April 25 for a week of virtual events featuring acclaimed authors and poets from around the nation who will read their work, teach their craft, and discuss sources of their inspiration. “The Literary Arts Festival from Grossmont College’s Creative Writing Program is
COUNTY LIBRARY BRANCHES EXPAND HOURS
Printer-friendly versionBy Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office April 12, 2022 (San Diego) – All of the County of San Diego’s 33 community branch libraries are expanding their hours starting Monday, April 11. The six largest County libraries will now be open seven days a week. That includes the branch libraries in El Cajon, Encinitas, La Mesa, Poway, San
HORROR NOVELIST MARK Z. DANIELEWSKI AT USD ON APRIL 11
Printer-friendly versionBy Matthew Manosh Photo: Mark Z. Danielewski, from his website April 9, 2022 (San Diego) — On Monday, April 11 at 7 p.m., A Conversation with Mark Z. Danielewski will be held in the IPJ Theatre at the University of San Diego. The event will be free and open to the public. Mark Z. Danielewski is known most for
VISIT STATE PARKS FOR FREE WITH PASS FROM LOCAL LIBRARY
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 8, 2022 (San Diego) — Starting this week, California State Parks will be distributing the California State Library Parks Pass to public libraries across the state for checkout by library patrons. The new pass will allow free vehicle day use entry at more than 200 participating state parks. That includes several in San Diego
REGISTRATION OPENS FOR AAUW 20TH ANNUAL AUTHOR’S LUNCHEON MAY 21 AT SYCUAN FEATURING BEST SELLING WRITER SHILPI SOMAYA GOWDA
Printer-friendly versionSource: AAUW April 7, 2022 (El Cajon) — Shilpi Somaya Gowda is the featured author for the La Mesa-El Cajon Branch of the American Association of University Women’s annual Author’s Luncheon fundraiser. The event is open to the public and will be held at Sycuan Casino Resort, 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon, CA on May 21 beginning at 11:00
THE GENIUS UNDER THE TABLE: GROWING UP BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN
Printer-friendly version Reviewed by Pennell Paugh March 28, 2022 (San Diego) – The Genius Under the Table: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain was written by Eugene Yelchin, who is a member of the San Diego Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. The topic is relevant at a time when Russia has launched a war in Europe threatening freedom
BETTER READ THAN DEAD: MYSTERY BOOK CLUB IN ALPINE TO FOCUS ON “THIN ICE” MARCH 15
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service March 2, 2022 (Alpine) – Do you like whodunits, creepy psychological thrillers, or even cozy detective tales? Join your fellow mystery fans in a relaunch of the mystery and thriller book discussion group at the Alpine library on Tuesday, March 15 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Titled “Better Read Than Dead,” the new mystery book club, will
AUTHORS OF BOOK ON ANZA-BORREGO NATURAL HISTORY TO VISIT JULIAN LIBRARY MARCH 18
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service March 18, 2022 (Julian) – Mike Wells and Marie Simovich will speak and sign copies of their book, A Natural History of the Anza-Borrego Region, Then and Now, at the Julian branch of the San Diego County Library. The event is slated for Friday, March 18 at 2 p.m. The Julian library is located at
SANTEE INKS AGREEMENT FOR NEW TROLLEY SQUARE HOTEL ON SITE ONCE DESIGNATED FOR LIBRARY
Printer-friendly versionBy Mike Allen February 12, 2022 (Santee) — Santee’s grand plan to turn part of Trolley Square into an arts and entertainment district took a big step forward on February 9 when the City Council approved the sale of a parcel for a four-story, 89-room hotel. The site was once planned as a new library, but the Council nixed
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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