East County Magazine
LOCAL AUTHOR’S FANTASY NOVEL “ICE SONG” RECEIVES CRITICAL PRAISE
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 the year.
BOOK REVIEWS: LOCAL AUTHOR OFFERS TREASURIES FOR DOG AND CAT LOVERS
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 Treasury
BOOK REVIEW: ANZA-BORREGO: A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY
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 17,
BOOK REVIEW: THE STRAIGHT-UP TRUTH ABOUT THE DOWN-LOW
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 a
BOOK REVIEW: SAN DIEGO BAY: A CALL FOR CONSERVATION
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, part
LOCAL PUBLISHER TURNS 25, THROWS EARLY HOLIDAY PARTY DEC. 3
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 Holiday
BOOK REVIEW: CHAPTER & VERSE: CROSSWORDS AND OTHER PUZZLES ~ GENESIS, BOOK ONE ~ BY T.J. JOHNSON
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 puzzles are
NEW SPORTS BOOK SCORES WINNING LOCATION FOR LAUNCH PARTY
SAN 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 Hall
NOTED CHILDREN’S AUTHOR IN LA MESA OCT. 16 FOR READING & BOOK SIGNING
Book 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 the
SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOOK FESTIVAL! OCT. 16-18 MEET YOUR FAVORITE AUTHORS AT LOCAL LIBRARIES
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. Among
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.
Against All Enemies: novel depicts war sparked by tariffs
Book by Thomas Wing Review by Pennell Paugh August 10, 2025 (San Diego) — San Diego author Thomas Wing, releases Against All Enemies. This gripping thriller ominously shows us a violent but possible reaction to America’s tariff war — China launches a full-scale surprise attack on the U.S. Capitol, Pentagon, military bases, and communication satellites. With weakened communications and a
Integrating Nutrition into Mental Health Care
Book by Ruth Leyse Wallace, PhD Reviewed by Pennell Paugh August 8, 2025 (San Diego) – Long-time resident of San Diego, Dr. Ruth Leyse Wallace, recently released her fourth book, Integrating Nutrition into Mental Health Care. While the book is written for clinical settings, it is written in plain English and offers sensible nutritional facts. I found it helpful in
Melinda West and the Gremlin Queen (Monster Gunslingers Book 2)
Book by KC Grifant Reviewed by Pennell Paugh August 1, 2025 (San Diego) – KC Grifant, a resident of San Diego, has released a second in her Monster Gunslingers series. Sharpshooters Melinda and Vance come out of retirement to fight an unbeatable foe. Melinda uses her steady hand, cool head, and a no-nonsense attitude. Her partner, Lance, brings charm along
Something Wicked — Spirit Club Mysteries Book One
Book by M. Lee Buompensiero Reviewed by Pennell Paugh July 25, 2025 (San Diego) — San Diego author M. Lee Buompensiero has released her first novel in the Spirit Club Mystery series. Something Wicked features a reluctant heroine, Sophie Lawton, who not only sees and talks to ghosts, she also solves crimes with their help. An aunt Sophie has never
Memory Weavers: award-winning novel of two women bonded by traumas
By Muffy Walker Reviewed by Pennell Paugh July 23, 2025 (San Diego) — San Diego resident, Muffy Walker celebrates the release of her debut novel, Dream Weavers. The book has received the Firebird Book Award, the Literary Titan Silver Book Award, the Hawthorne Prize, and was selected as finalist for the 2025 International Impact Book Awards in the Women’s Fiction
BRAXTON’S CENTURY, VOL. 3: ROYAL HISTORICAL FANTASY
Braxton’s Century, Vol. 3 by J R Strayer Jr Review by Pennell Paugh June 22,2025 (San DIego) — San Diego resident J.R. Strayve, Jr. has produced his third book in the Braxton Century series — a historical fantasy set in the late Victorian, Edwardian, and early 20th century. Braxton, as Europe hurtles toward war and revolutions ignite across
LOCAL AUTHOR’S NOVEL, IN HARM’S WAY, BRINGS REVOLUTIONARY WAR NAVAL BATTLES TO LIFE
In Harm’s Way: Book One of The Sea Hawkes Chronicles by Thomas M. Wing Reviewed by Pennell Paugh June 7, 2025 (San Diego) — San Diego resident Thomas M. Wing has released his second novel In Harm’s Way, an action-packed historical story set during America’s War of Independence. Wing says he based his story on actual naval
LOCAL NOVELIST EVOKES APPALACHIA IN DEPRESSION ERA
Thank Ye, Mister Sun by Bob Riffenburgh Reviewed by Pennell Paugh June 5, 2025 — Award-winning San Diego resident Bob Riffenburgh has written a charming historical fiction novel about Appalachia, 1939-40. Thirteen-year-old Ronson Allen stays hungry after dinner because there isn’t enough food to go around. Nevertheless, he feels carefree, loves his family, and is happy playing
CAMP SALVADOR, SAN DIEGO AUTHOR’S NOVEL SET IN BAJA
Novel by M.L. Meurs Reviewed by Pennell Paugh May 30, 2025 (San Diego) — San Diego resident, M.L. Meurs, has released her debut novel, Camp Salvador. Written in first-person, the book reads like a memoir. The main character, Ellis Robinson, shares her experiences in Baja, Mexico where roughly built homes have a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. Ellis and
PULITZER PRIZE WINNING AUTHOR AND JOURNALIST CHRIS HEDGES TO SPEAK ON GAZA, SIGN BOOKS MAY 30 AT KNSJ FUNDRAISER
May 24, 2025 (San Diego) — Pulitzer Prize winning author Chris Hedges will speak at a fundraiser for KNSJ radio on Friday, May 30 at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 2728 6th Avenue in in San Diego. Hedges, is a journalist, author, commentator and Presbyterian minister who has worked as a war correspondent and New York Times Middle Eastern Bureau Chief, winning
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.
East County Magazine
Pretty Happy: healthy ways to love your body
Book 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 better
Lucas and Emily’s Food Bank Adventure by Dave Grunenwald
Reviewed 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, they
Author Tanya Harris hosts book signing Sept. 21 at Grossmont Center to benefit domestic violence survivors
East 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 raise
Blood in the Water: an A.J. Hawke legal thriller
Novel 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 the