The Dark and Light Sides of Fantasy, by R.e. Taylor (Shadowlight Publishing, MacGregor, Australia, 2013).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

R.e. Taylor, the author of The Dark and Light Sides of Fantasy, will be bringing this intriguing collection of fantasy tales to the upcoming Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the University of Southern California on April 20 & 21, where upwards of 150,000 attendees are expected for this showcase of talent.

At least two other bestselling authors that I have written book reviews for in the East County Magazine will also be at this event, New York Times Bestselling Author Caitlin Rother, author of Lost Girls, and Joshua Graham, Barnes & Noble #1 bestselling author of Beyond Justice. Here’s hoping that Taylor has similar success with his book at the Festival of Books.

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

April 7 (Sunday 2:00 pm) — Bradbury Poems Accompanied by Carol Williams at the Organ, Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Pan American Road- Balboa Park.

For additional information go to www.writeoutloudsd.com or call (619) 297-8953 or email writeoutloudsd@gmail.com.

Celebrate The Big Read: Imagine a World without Books: Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451

March 12, 2013 (La Mesa)--La Mesa's San Pasqual Winery will be hosting an overview of Bradbury’s celebrated novel, and a dramatic reading of his poignant short story The Love Affair of Laurel and Hardy on Tuesday, April 2 at 6:00 p.m. in the San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room (8364 La Mesa Blvd).

March 18, 2013 (San Diego) – The Congress of History of San Diego and Imperial Counties has named San Diego regional publishers Diana and Lowell Lindsay as the recipient of their Media Award at their 2013 History Conference held this year in Vista, California. The award was given in recognition of their contributions to the preservation of “The History of this Region” through their publishing house, Sunbelt Publications, located in El Cajon.

The Media Award was one of several awards made during this year’s conference. The awards are given to individuals, organizations, and programs that have made significant contributions to the preservation and development of the regional history of San Diego and Imperial Counties and Baja, California, Mexico.

Twice Begun, by Reina Lisa Menasche

Book review by Miriam Raftery

March 17, 2013 (San Diego)--Paris Jablonski has a seemingly idyllic life in San Diego with her charming French husband and young daughter.  But that illusion is shattered on her seventh anniversary, when she finds love letters in her husband’s closet from a woman in France.  

Twice Begun, a novel by San Diego author Reina Menasche, opens  with this line: “Before I stepped into the closet, my life felt like an Impressionist masterpiece—filled with elusive light yet made of simple dabs of color that even a child could paint.”

But  Paris is given no opportunity to absorb the shock, caught in the moment not by her philandering husband, Serge, but by the family dog tailed closely by Paris' 7-year-old daughter, who asks innocently,  “Mommy, why are you in the closet?”

March 10, 2013 (Alpine)--The Alpine Woman’s Club will hold their next monthly luncheon on Tuesday, March 19^th at 12:00 noon.  After the meeting, local author, Cordell Falk will talk about his New Fiction Series Release “Valley of the Damned”, taking us back at least 140 years to the barren California desert where conspiracy, intrigue and suspense are on tap. 

Billionaires & Ballot Bandits: How to Steal an Election in 9 Easy Steps, by Greg Palast (Seven Stories Press, New York, NY, 2012, 300 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

February 23, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)--Greg Palast,author of the New York Times’ best sellers The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, Armed Madhouse, and, most recently, Vultures’ Picnic, has followed up in a similar satirical vein with Billionaires & Ballot Bandits: How to Steal an Election in 9 Easy Steps.  An internationally acclaimed investigative journalist, Palast has roots in California; his parents were long-time residents of La Mesa.

Review By Walter G. Meyer

Infinity Publishing

February 21, 2013 (San Diego)--In her book, Back Off! Your Kick-Ass Guide to Ending Bullying at Work, Catherine Mattice knows whereof she writes. At one of her first jobs out of San Diego State, she was bullied at the nonprofit where she was working. It wasn’t that long ago, but bullying, if it was thought of at all, was considered a schoolyard, not a workplace phenomenon.

She decided to do something about it. She got her Masters in Organizational Communications at SDSU, writing her thesis on workplace bullying. For her research, she inverted a survey on workplace bullying and instead of asking targets what they thought of being bullied, she asked why people were bullies. She even dedicated it to “The Post-it Nazi,” to her former co-worker who inspired it.

February 17, 2013 (Lakeside) – The Lakeside Library is having its 100th birthday party on Saturday February 23rd from 12:30 - 3:00 p.m. You’re invited to a Centennial Celebration.

Scroll down for a schedule of events, including games, a trivia contest, historical presentations, Sparkles the Clown, a costume contest (dress as your favorite character from a book, or as a librarian) and of course, birthday cake.

No Cats, No Chocolate, by Ken Kuhlken and Alan Russell, Hickey’s Books, La Mesa

Book review by Miriam Raftery

February 10, 2013 (La Mesa)--What happens when a pair of formerly acclaimed but now down-on-their-luck mystery novelists hit rock bottom? 

In No Cats, no Chocolate,  local authors Ken Kuhlken and Alan Russell  pen themselves in as the main characters.  Best noted for their literary-quality mystery works,  they resolve to make some quick cash writing a romance novel after an outline sent as a lark lands an assignment from a publisher.  Delilah Bluefeather and Violet St. Claire ( the authors’ noms de plume), are born. Worse, they must complete the task in days, while on a road trip to jump-start their careers  with a coveted appearance on Oprah’s show.

The book  is a sequel to Road Kill, in which the same quirky duo embarked on a journey to convince readers across America to buy their books.  It’s a clever literary trick for the authors to write themselves in as characters in their own works—and create a series to boot.  As a former participant in a writing critique group led by Kuhlken, I can’t help wondering how many quirky traits described in the book are fact – and which are fiction?

February 7, 2013 (San Diego) – Marsha Kay Seff, a former seniors writer for the Union Tribune, is teaching a class a class on storytelling at the College Avenue Older Adult Center, 4855 College Ave., on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 12:45 p.m.  The classes began February 6 and the next one will be Feb. 20.

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

February 4, 2013 (San Diego)--The San Diego Public Library's 47th Annual Local Authors Exhibit : The Library is going to display it in the exhibit, which will run the entire month of February 2013 in the lobby of the Central Library downtown.

January 15, 2013 (Descanso) – The Descanso Branch Library will be holding a Customer Appreciation Open House on January 17 from 12 – 2 p.m.  Meet the Library Director, Jose Aponte, enjoy lunch provided by the Friends of the Descanso Library and listen to bilingual storytime.

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

January 7, 2013 (San Diego)--The San Diego Public Library's 47th Annual Local Authors Exhibit: The Library is going to display it in the exhibit, which will run the entire month of February 2013 in the lobby of the Central Library downtown.

December 30, 2012 (Alpine)--Twas the Day after Christmas, and all through the Alpine Library, beautiful Pageant princesses appeared wearing formal gowns and tiaras. Each took a turn reading a Princess story to the preschoolers, who were mesmerized by the glitter and glam.

Photo Caption: L-R: Kamryn Hill, Pre-Teen Miss San Diego County; Alyssa Rosales, Junior Miss San Diego County; Dahna Bennet, Miss Teen San Diego County, and Jessica Jennings,Miss  Jr. Teen San Diego County &Miss  Jr. Teen California.