By Dennis Moore

July 6, 2023 (San Diego) - Meet the new host of the “Bookshelf” section, Anat Tour. Tour, an East County resident and High School Math teacher, along with being an acclaimed author of children’s books, has assumed the role of host of the East County Magazine “Bookshelf” section, where local luminaries and authors come on the show to talk about their books which is video-taped and put in their book reviews online. Generally, I provide her with the guests to be interviewed. Authors are already waiting in line!

Tour, a much accomplished talent, who has been a singer and international model, which is why I once referred to her in an article that I had written in the East County Magazine as East County’s Renaissance Woman, started this process of being the host of the “Bookshelf” section in 2011 at an event that I was hosting in La Mesa, California, at Barnes & Noble for aspiring authors. I recall her coming up to me and asking me how to start getting her idea of a book published, and at the end of my session of informing others, I suggested an eBook. Now, several published books later, she is the host of a show talking with other authors.

Her first hosting of the “Bookshelf” section occurred just a week ago, and by clicking the attached link one can see how talented she is. See here.

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 will be available for public browsing for the entire month of February, afterwards the books will be prepared to circulate for one year. Books will also be featured in an online exhibit. Please visit the Local Author website for more information and to view previous online exhibits.

Multi-award-winning local author T. Greenwood will be delivering a keynote speech. The evening will feature local jazz musicians, Ria & Aaron, light refreshments, a limited open mike event and a few more surprises.

Registration is highly suggested for authors and their guests.

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 morning. The bay had a smell of rotting plants, and together with the smell of the diesel it triggered thoughts about the Mekong—which was not so long ago, even if it was half a world away. It was the reason my hip ached, but that life was over. I was back home in San Diego, and glad for it. Whatever I’d thought I was going to accomplish in the Navy’s swift boats turned out to be a bad dream. A nightmare. So, the fact that I ended up in the Harbor Police is a whole lot better—but still a whole lot of not much. I was out of the shit storm and into a more peaceful life, but for crying out loud, at twenty-eight here I was with nothing really going on, already going nowhere. But who cared? Other than my dad, I guess, and that only went so far.”

Source:  Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

April 20, 2022 (El Cajon) - The 26^th 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.

Source: 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 a.m.

East 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 1850 Highway 78 in Julian.

By Miriam Raftery

Images via Bing

January 19, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – Libraries aren't just about books anymore! The San Diego County library branches across our region have a variety of events and activities coming up in late January and early February, from book clubs to writers' groups to crafts classes and Zumba workouts. There's also lunches for seniors, laser tag for teens and much more.

Below are highlights in East County; find details on these plus a full list countywide at https://sdcl.bibliocommons.com/events/search/index.

Source: Sunbelt Publications

October 29, 2021 (San Diego) – You’re invited to meet Gwynne Margaret Bruck, author of the children’s book Dasha on the Trail,  at Mission Trails Regional Park on November 13 at 10 a.m. She will read and sign copies of her book in the amphitheater next to the visitor center, where you can also enjoy sights and sounds of the park.

By Miriam Raftery

October 9, 2021 (La Mesa) – Former Secretary of State, First Lady, and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton will appear in a virtual event Monday, October 11 at 4 p.m. along with best-selling author Louise Penny to discuss their new international thriller novel, State of Terror.

Secretary Clinton brings her insider’s expertise to bear in crafting plot twists in the book, which has been named one of the most anticipated novels of the season by People, Associated Press, Time, Los Angeles Times, Parade, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Guardian, and Publishers Weekly

In the novel, a new president surprisingly chooses Ellen Adams, a political enemy for the vital position of secretary of state. With this appointment, he silences one of his harshest critics, since taking the job means Adams must step down as head of her multinational media conglomerate.

East County News Service

February 11, 2021 (San Diego) --  Write Out Loud, San Diego Public Library, La Jolla Historical Society and San Diego Writers, Ink present the San Diego Decameron Project. Community members countywide were invited to submit unpublished fiction or nonfiction narratives of 1,000 words or less based loosely around the theme of the current pandemic. The top 10 most compelling stories will be read by Write Out Loud actors and presented in a virtual presentation on February 26 along with a panel discussion with the top authors. Sign up to receive free access to the ceremony at https://writeoutloud.ticketspice.com/san-diego-decameron-project-celebration. 

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo: Alpine Branch Library, courtesy Jonathan Goetz

December 9, 2020 (San Diego County) - With the state’s new COVID-19 Stay Home order in effect, the County of San Diego’s 33 libraries have moved to door-side service to help county residents practice social distancing and still enjoy all the library books, digital magazines, music, movies and other fare they love.

People can still check out all library materials and safely pick them up right at their library’s door. No appointments are necessary.

East County News Service

October 6, 2020 (San Diego’s East County) -- Did you know that October is California Archaeology Month?  Consider marking the occasion by signing up for a talk by Anne Morgan, co-author of Geoglyphs of the Desert Southwest: Earthen Art as Viewed from Above. The mysterious and beautiful geoglyphs found in the desert southwest are one of the largest concentrations found outside of Peru’s Nazca Lines.

Source: KNSJ

July 16, 2020 (San Diego) -- Greg Palast, internationally-known investigative journalist, will be making a virtual appearance in San Diego for KNSJ 89.1 FM community radio on Friday, July 17 at 7 p.m.  According to KNSJ general manager Martin Eder, “This is an exclusive interview in San Diego and a fund raiser for KNSJ.  Greg Palast is on tour with his latest book, ‘How Trump Stole 2020. Greg is a no-holds-barred journalist.  He is exactly the kind of watchdog our democracy has to have to survive.  Friday Greg will tell us in detail what his investigations have found.” 

Tickets for this exclusive virtual event can be reserved on KNSJ’s Facebook page.  Tickets are by donation.  No one will be turned away for lack of funds.  Larger donors will be mailed a copy of Palast's book and other premiums to support local community radio KNSJ.

East County News Service

Photo: Gretchen McNeil, keynote speaker and young adult novelist

February 26, 2020 (San Diego) -- Canyon Crest Academy’s Creative Writing Club announces the speaker line-up for the 9^th Annual CCA Writers’ Conference on Saturday, March 28, 2020. This event is the only free writing conference for high school students in the country.

Sophie Camilleri, president of the CCA Creative Writing Club noted, “We are very proud of this year’s line-up of speakers. We have New York Times bestselling authors of young adult  novels, graphic novels and comic books, Hollywood screenwriters and producers, an amazing poet and performer, a literary agent, a college essay expert, a Comedy Central stand-up comic, an award-winning playwright, songwriters, and so much more!”

By Miriam Raftery 

November 30, 2019 (Lemon Grove) – The Lemon Grove Historical Society invites you to Christmas Open House on Dec. 6 from 5-8 p.m. Santa will be in the H. Lee House. You can tour the museum and also buy books at the Parsonage Museum before enjoying the city’s annual bonfire.