By Jillian Hymer

January 7, 2018 (San Diego’s East County)--Readers and writers in East County can attend literary events at local libraries.  Scroll down for in-depth details on January events and some February-March listings in East County, which we've listed in four categories: events for writers such as workshops and critique groups, author appearances, poetry events, and book clubs for readers to discuss literary works.

You can  get information on more upcoming events on the San Diego County Library website.

East County News Service

January 4, 2018 (El Cajon) -- The El Cajon Library (201 E. Douglas Ave.), will host its third Local Author Expo on Sunday, January 28, at 2:00 p.m. This free event will feature presentations by three local authors followed by a reception where attendees may meet the authors and enjoy refreshments provided by the Friends of the El Cajon Library.

Copyright 2018 by Sam Warren

January 1, 2018 (San Diego) -- Please, take care of yourself out on the roads this holiday season. A recent study indicates that 23% of traffic accidents are alcohol related. This means that the remaining 77% are caused by those who drink bottled water, Starbucks, soda, juice, energy drinks, and crap like that.

Therefore, beware of those who do not drink alcohol. They cause three times as many accidents.

CLICK TO SCROLL DOWN FOR A LIST OF BOOK EVENTS

The Time Bandit Solution: Structured Time & Workflow, by Edward G. Brown (Cohen Brown Picture Company, 2014, Los Angeles, California, 249 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

December 5, 2017 (San Diego) - Edward G. Brown, philanthropist, entrepreneur and noted Hollywood mover and shaker, has written a book that resonates with me for a variety of reasons; The Time Bandit Solution: Structured Time & Workflow. I actually suffer from some of the same Time Bandit issues that he points out in his book. Coming on the heels of my review of his wife Shari Sharifi Brown’s book; The 7 Commandments for Happiness and Prosperity, this author’s book is more than a book about business solutions, but actually gives a portrait of his life and legacy. This is really a capsule of the author’s entire life, weaving his personal experiences into a well thought out book on how to recover your lost time.

By Sam Warren © 2017

Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.  --Albert Einstein

Speaking about imagination you might want to check out UC San Diego's New Writing Series on November 9^th.

Click Here to Read More or Scroll Down.

The Dangerous Case Of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President, by Bandy Lee, M.D., M.Div. (Thomas Dunne Books, 2017, New York, NY, 360 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

October 24, 2017 (San Diego) - Bandy X. Lee, M.D., M.Div., Assistant Clinical Professor in Law and Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, has written a timely and provocative book about our President; The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President.

East County News Service

October 23, 2017 (Borrego Springs) -- The County broke ground over the weekend on a public park, a new library and a Sheriff’s station in Borrego Springs. 

The modern library will be 13,500 feet and equipped with energy efficient features for zero net energy use—also provided plenty of air-conditioned space for residents to escape extreme heat. The new library will be three times the size of the old one that it will replace and will also include a homework center, children’s area, community room and more.  Read details: http://www.sdcl.org/PDF/sdcl_br-faq.pdf

By Sam Warren © 2017

The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.

— Mark Twain —

This week’s calendar features books about the border. On Sunday, we have a book about rock art and on Wednesday we have photographs on organized crime.

Scroll down for a full list of local readers and writers’ events.

By Frans Leppanen, San Diego County Library

September 25, 2017 (Rancho San Diego) -- Six San Diego County authors will appear at a two-hour Author Event, Saturday, October 7 at 2 p.m. at the Rancho San Diego Branch of the San Diego County Branch Library, located at 11555 Via Rancho San Diego, El Cajon, CA 92019.  Authors Oyuki Aguilar, Renee Barnes, Sarah Bates, Dr. RH Gutierrez, Suzette Valle, and Wanjiru Warama will discuss their books. A book signing and reception will follow the authors’ presentations, with copies of the books available for purchase.

Update September 29, 2017 :  Jorgina Soto, San DIego County Library, advises that a soft ribbon cutting is now scheduled for October 16th, with a ribbon cutting slated for early December at a date to be arranged.

By Paul Kruze

Photo:  The San Diego County Library’s new and shiny library kiosk sits in the dark with a heavy cover until further notice.

September 22, 2017 (Boulevard) -- It is back to the drawing board for San Diego County Library officials, who had intended to debut a 24/7 automated library kiosk in front of the old Boulevard fire station at 39923 Ribbonwood in September. But due to unforeseen circumstances, a heavy cover will remain on the kiosk and residents are going to have to wait at least until mid-December before it will be operational.

The New Whistleblower’s Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Doing What’s Right and Protecting Yourself, by Stephen Martin Kohn, ESQ (Lyons Press, Guilford, Connecticut, 2017, 550 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

“You can’t fix something if you don’t know it’s broken. That’s just common

sense.”

-          Senator Charles Grassley, July 30^th 2015 – Whistleblower Day Celebration

August 29, 2017 (San Diego) - Stephen Martin Kohn, nationally acclaimed expert on whistleblower law, has written a provocative book on an issue that seems timely in this day and age; The New Whistleblower’s Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Doing What’s Right and Protecting Yourself.

This book resonates with me for a number of reasons, most notably, as Kohn indicates that he dedicates the book to one of his “extraordinary teachers”, A. Leon Higginbotham Jr., whom I met many years ago at an event in my hometown of Chicago, and Mr. Higginbotham signed and autographed his book to me stating; “Keep fighting for justice!” Also, my earlier personal involvement in a whistleblower and retaliation case.

By Sam Warren, copyright 2017

August 19, 2017 (San Diego) – From a happy hour adventure with a New York Times best-selling author to the San Diego Festival of Books, you’ll find many local events for literary lovers coming up across our region.

Copyright 2017 by Sam Warren

August 13, 2017 (San Diego) -- This week we have monsters, robots, goddesses, etc. to keep you occupied. Scroll down for a full list of local readers and writers’ events.

East County News Service

August 8, 2017 (Alpine) -- The quarterly potluck meeting of the Alpine Historical Society will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 20^th at the Alpine Woman’s Club, 2156 Alpine Blvd. The speaker, Rochelle Lynn Gaudette, will discuss new the exhibit titled Coast to Cactus in Southern California and the accompanying book Coast to Cactus: The Canyoneer Trail Guide to San Diego Outdoors. If you have ever been curious about the geology, ecology and biodiversity of San Diego County this is a great opportunity to learn from an expert.

East County News Service

Longtime Mission Trails Regional Park docent and author of the new book Nature Adventures! will sign books at Maxwell’s House of Books Thursdays, July 13^th and 20th

July 10, 2017 (La Mesa) -- She’s not originally from around here, but New York transplant and lifelong educator, Linda Gallo Hawley, can school most San Diegans on the region's native flora, fauna and even cultural history. In fact, she’s made her own mark on the culture of the region through her monthly “Nature Adventures!” programs at Mission Trails Regional Park, where she guides primary school children through the park’s many trails, pointing out unique and interesting plants and signs of wildlife along the way, all while singing catchy tunes like “The Ecosystem Song” and the “Big Brown Bats Song.” Now visitors to the La Mesa Classic Car Show have two chances to meet the captivating teacher in person.