A wave of new owners brings fresh energy to independent bookselling
A wave of new — and, often, younger — owners have helped the community dramatically...
Books
Encinitas author tracks his ancestors across the American frontier in latest novel
David A. Jacinto will discuss the second book in his Courageous Series, "Where Eagles Fly...
A fan of a good love story, bestselling author Nana Malone pens new novel featuring a Ghanaian heiress
“Gold Coast Dilemma,” features a young Black woman in publishing who successfully soldiers through battles...
Local author, speaker rejects shame and silence for authenticity, empowerment
Life is too short and Krystal Casey had dreams, one of which included writing a...
Playwright Karen Zacarias digs under the skin of Gilded Age novel ‘The Age of Innocence’
Back in New York's Gilded Age of the 1870s, it was considered gauche to serve...
7 recommended reads that may help heal your connection with food
How is your relationship with food these days? For many of us, the honest answer...
An 18th century midwife investigates evil doings in ‘gripping’ novel ‘The Frozen River’
In Ariel Lawhon's "The Frozen River," narrator Martha Ballard reveals how a person would navigate...
Alcohol told him lies, but wellness coach and author found the truth when he quit drinking
There were a lot of images and messaging about masculinity that Dustin Dunbar saw when...
It’s OK to boldly go and purposely split an infinitive
DEAR RICHARD: Now retired from 50 years of college teaching and having no more student...
San Diego author Marilyn Woods loves being out of her comfort zone with second book, ‘After Goya’
There was a point during the pandemic shutdown when author Marilyn Woods noticed feeling emotionally...
SoCal author hopes her new dystopian climate change novel makes readers think
If you had the chance to escape the ravages of climate change by permanently ing...
Looking ahead: Four books and one book event I can’t wait for in 2024
One of the surprising takeaways from 2023 for me was witnessing just how many independent...
Take on the library’s winter reading challenge and learn more about your community and identity
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Public Library is challenging readers of all ages to explore the...
Year in review: Looking back at 5 stellar local books in 2023
Much like the local music and theater scenes, San Diego’s thriving literary scene simply doesn't...
Encinitas grants official poet laureate status to longtime Cardiff resident
ENCINITAS — Encinitas now has an official Poet Laureate, and it’s the same person who was declared...
How these San Diego kids books beat out bestselling authors like James Patterson, Anderson Cooper
Silver Dolphin Books, a San Diego book imprint you’ve probably never heard of, tucked into...
La Jolla author’s guided journal helps travelers preserve their memories
For those to whom travel has sentimental value or perhaps a beloved activity — whether...
Human genome pioneer J. Craig Venter’s tales of his seafaring adventures are thrilling. His new book about them is less so
In between bites of eggs Benedict, genome guru Craig Venter paused recently to share a...
High-schooler wins this year’s matchbook (super) short story contest
SAN DIEGO — In a mere three sentences, a San Diego high-schooler nailed the nostalgia of childhood,...
After nearly 200 episodes, the ‘Backlisted’ podcast is nowhere close to running out of great books
For the past 8 years, John Mitchinson and Andy Miller have read and discussed books...
A 2023 gift guide that will strike a chord: 10 ideas for the music lover in your life
LOS ANGELES — For the obsessive record collector or the casual listener, the shower singer or the...
Pop art to ballet, reach for a coffee-table read when choosing holiday gifts
NEW YORK — A good book packs power. A good book thoughtfully chosen as a gift can...
Gifts for young readers: 11 books that teach kids about gratitude
These books aren’t all directly about gratitude. But they all offer a chance to chat...
The best books – fiction and nonfiction – to give this holiday season
Giving books as a gift can be a gamble, but 2023 saw a slew of...
12 books by San Diego authors you can buy at local shops this holiday season
One could argue that nothing says you care more than giving a book as a...
United Through Reading’s Storybook Ball
United Through Reading hosted its 15th annual black-tie fundraiser Oct. 28 at the Hilton San...
Matt Coyle’s 20-year Rick Cahill ‘Odyssey’ poised to conclude … or is it?
There’s a point toward the end of our interview where local novelist Matt Coyle its,...
Encinitas author’s novel ‘Out of the Darkness’ inspired by his ancestor’s American success story
You never really know what you're going to find when you look into your family...
Country troubadour reflects on 7 decades of songwriting
LOS ANGELES — Willie starts with the words. It's one of the surprising revelations in Willie Nelson's...
From anxiety to creativity, UC San Diego professor discusses book on power of the mind
It was Jaime Pineda’s first psychology class as a college freshman, in an auditorium of...
How ‘Hild’ author Nicola Griffith mapped the life of her medieval ‘Menewood’ heroine
Nicola Griffith makes a lot of maps.It’s an interest she discovered out of necessity while...
‘Pearls Before Swine’ comics creator branches out with new children’s novel
Stephan Pastis is a lot of things — creator of the comic “Pearls Before Swine,”...
Celebrating 75 years of In-N-Out, Southern California’s favorite homegrown burger chain
Lynsi Snyder is the ultimate insider at In-N-Out Burger. But writing a history of the...
Wimpy Kid’s ‘No Brainer’ library tour arrives in San Diego on Oct. 23
Imagine a game show where kids and librarians are the big winners — and instead...
Can you write a short story in a few sentences? This San Diego contest would like to see you try.
As William Shakespeare once wrote: "Brevity is the soul of wit." It would be a...
‘Leftover Woman’ author becomes unlikely lightning rod in book-banning campaign
Chinese American novelist Jean Kwok is internationally known for her bestselling novels "Girl in Translation,"...
Ocean Beach author conjures time travel and historical fiction in first novel
After a trip to Sicily, freelance writer Mary Knight was inspired to combine her love...
Patrick Stewart, a Shakespearean actor who soars in sci-fi, to discuss memoir in San Diego visit
NEW YORK — Patrick Stewart, who famously played a “Star Trek” captain, has boldly gone where no...
‘Laugh-In’ creator George Schlatter is ‘Still Laughing’ in new memoir
George Schlatter was working in the mailroom at a talent agency when he first met...
San Diego author, disability activist publishes memoir ‘My Unexpected Life’
Jennifer Gasner was 16 years old when she began noticing she would sway, stumble and...
Elvis Presley, dairy farms, precursor to waterskiing found in ‘Forgotten San Diego’
The pictures, the visuals, can do a lot of heavy lifting in telling the history...
From early vaqueros to 21st century: San Diego author explores history of ‘Latinxs in Hawaii’
It was during the research for his dissertation and first book that Rudy Guevarra Jr....
‘Rouge’: New novel set in La Jolla explores the gothic side of the beauty industry
To author Mona Awad, La Jolla is a bright gem of a location: a sunny...
Judy Reeves listens to her heart, travels to Europe, learns to trust herself
Anyone in San Diego who considers themselves a writer is probably familiar with Judy Reeves...
Identity shenanigans and romance are the ‘Name’ of the game in new book
Susan Lee compares writing her second novel, “The Name Drop,” to being in high school....
Fall arts preview 2023: Our top book picks for the season
Bookworms will have plenty of pages to turn this season. Fun fact: publishing houses often...
Fall arts preview 2023: Author Jennifer Peoples Hernandez explores the life of a legendary San Diego artist in definitive biography
Jennifer Peoples Hernandez’s husband and three children like to joke that Belle Baranceanu may as...
‘Hollywood Signs’ shines a light on L.A.’s forgotten visual landmarks
You might know that Los Angeles’ most famous sign once read “Hollywoodland.”But did you know...
The best places to read a book in San Diego County, according to 8 local authors
Leave it to a local wordsmith to know the best place in town to read...
How Ozomatli turned its song ‘Moose on the Loose’ into a children’s book
After rocking a generation of kids with a children’s album back in 2012, Grammy-winning Los...
The world’s mystery novelists and their superfans slinking into San Diego this week for Bouchercon
In 2003, Naomi Hirahara walked through the doors of Bouchercon, the annual mystery and crime...
Fall arts preview 2023: Britney and Barbra’s memoirs are among major releases, but political books are fewer
NEW YORK — One year ahead of the 2024 election, don't expect many new books about the...
19th century American stories and literature come to life at annual TwainFest
The theater bug first nibbled at Rachael VanWormer when she played Mary in her daycare...
San Diego author and former Navy SEAL releases new action book, featured at Festival of Books
The 1996 summer hit movie “The Rock” about a rogue group of military threatening...
In Encanto, The Mental Bar serves up coffee, culture and community
When The Mental Bar opened toward the end of last year in San Diego's Black...
Looking backward and forward: Memoir delves into family’s past to understand future
Finding a dusty box of family letters inspired Debbie Russell, a lawyer turned author, to...
True crime fans can now obsess over San Diego and Tijuana in new novel, ‘Saving Myles’
After an award-winning debut novel, local author Carl Vonderau is back with his second novel, a...
San Diego author Alberto Mansur finds ‘Peace’ writing novels
For Alberto Mansur, the writing has always been there. One could even say that the...
Famed skateboarding photographer shares iconic images in Encinitas
Sure, J. Grant Brittain could kick and push his way around on a skateboard, too,...
Shake hands. Sell books. Avoid shark. What one Comic-Con day looks like for an up-and-coming creator
Jasmine Walls had two hours to do three things.She needed to find a hotel room...
La Jolla priest’s book details famed architect’s devotion
After years of looking up and around at renowned architect Irving Gill’s work, the Rev....
How a $200 bet on comics gave a father and son careers in politics and film
It was an intriguing offer. Two hundred dollars for the whole stock.Gary Kendrick was a...
He created one of the greatest graphic novels ever. Where do you go from there?
Jeff Smith was on the cusp of waking and dreaming. After weeks on the road,...
Comic-Con is the star of a new comic book series
Comic-Con has just become the star of a new comic book series, "Com & On."It's...
No two immigrant stories are the same. San Diego authors share journeys from Nigeria and Venezuela.
Their journeys to the United States, their experiences since arriving here, and their relationships to...
Sally J. Pla breaks the silence with novel about finding the normal for teens on the autism spectrum
Sally J. Pla always knew she was different. Like many adults of a certain age,...
As a queer artist, ‘our insistence on embracing ourselves, our joy and our love is something to celebrate’
Marisa (Mac) CraneProunouns: They/themAge: 33Birthplace: Allentown, Pa. Instagram: @marisa_craneQ: Tell us what it’s like living...
Bestselling author of relationship books says she followed the signs to write her first novel
Arielle Ford is a big believer in signs. This shouldn’t come as too much of...
New adult rom-com novel asks if it’s ‘Business or Pleasure,’ or both
The plot of Rachel Lynn Solomon’s new novel, “Business or Pleasure,” was sparked by a...
What’s a Latino? Hector Tobar goes deep on stereotypes and solidarity
Héctor Tobar is tired of the Latino caricature.It’s everywhere from Netflix to the nightly news,...
A French bulldog, his cute little snort, and a lesson about bullying in new children’s book
There was a French bulldog named Henri who taught Samantha Childs a lot about love....
The world’s ‘best dam builder’ was from San Diego, and you’ve probably never heard his name
When Lake Hodges reopened last month after a year of repairs on its century-old dam,...
Summer musts: 50 ways San Diegans can celebrate the season in 2023
Visitors from all over the world travel to San Diego each summer to take advantage...
Mayhem, murder and magic continue at Mysterious Galaxy
When Matthew Berger was a kid in Corona, his dad used to drive with him...
20 new books by San Diego County authors to add to your summer reading list
Twenty San Diego County authors — from bestselling novelists to first-time writers — have published...
David Sedaris, who visits San Diego on Wednesday, planning first children’s book: ‘Pretty Ugly’
NEW YORK — David Sedaris — who will visit San Diego for a book reading next week...
Book Review: Isabel Allende’s ‘The Wind Knows My Name’ explores lives of 2 children adrift alone
PHOENIX — "The Wind Knows My Name" by Isabel Allende (Ballantine Books) Prolific Latin American-born author Isabel...
Mom’s WWII service inspired locally-raised Pulitzer Prize finalist’s latest novel
Author Luis Alberto Urrea enjoys coming back to his hometown of San Diego and looks...
Into the ‘Wild’: Solana Beach writer pens nature-inspired guide to living a full life
There are many inspiring and adventurous moments in “Will to Wild,” but it’s around the...
‘American Born Chinese’ began as a photocopied comic. For its creator, the journey has been ‘surreal’
For cartoonist Gene Luen Yang, the lead-up to the premiere of “American Born Chinese” has...
A map of 1,001 novels to show us where to find the real America
Over the last five years, I’ve read or reread 1,001 books of fiction in my...
Famed author’s new novel explores a family curse and class strife in 20th century India
Abraham Verghese is a bestselling author, teacher and practicing medical doctor. He credits his ability...
The ‘Donut Dollies’ of WWII: Novelist pays tribute to his mother and other unsung heroes
When he was a young boy growing up in San Diego, author Luis Alberto Urrea...
‘Last Queen’ author Chitra Divakaruni returns with novel about three sisters in India
Chitra Divakaruni believes in strong women.Her fiction — which includes "Sister of My Heart," "Mistress...
Local poets channel memory and storytelling in new collections
All poetry tells a story, but not all storytelling is necessarily poetic.When it comes to...
Travel memoir finds father-and-son actors on a journey of discovery
Forty years ago this summer, Andrew McCarthy made his screen debut in the movie "Class,"...
Local author, illustrator get ‘Real’ in children’s book about friendship
Minh Lê loves a good twist. The La Mesa-based author, best known for his award-winning...
For two local booksellers, new endeavor is a Joyride to behold
Susie Horn and Katie Turner knew they had something special. In 2020, they started Joyride,...
Former foster kids write book on why foster care needs to change
SAN DIEGO — A group of mostly former foster kids published a book on what works in...
The dog days of T. Jefferson Parker
T. Jefferson Parker re it as love at first sight. It was a cold November...
Local shops celebrate 10 years of Independent Bookstore Day
Local bookshops from Coronado to Del Mar are gearing up for the annual Independent Bookstore...
Book invites kids to turn native gardens into national park
Doug Tallamy, the wildlife ecologist and entomologist who urges home gardeners to forces and...
How lawyer-author Orlando Ortega-Medina turned his exile from L.A. into a legal thriller
Unlike most writers I know, I did not earn an MFA in creative writing after...
Don Winslow’s ‘City of Dreams’ brings crime boss character to Hollywood
On Tuesday, Don Winslow's latest novel, "City of Dreams," will arrive in bookstores and San...
New high-seas adventure tale details little-known origin story of a San Diego tall ship
Twenty years ago, San Diego had a rare moment in the Hollywood spotlight. The seafaring...
The little self-published San Diego graphic novel making a run for the comic book throne
It was a bit frustrating for Ameen Beydoun when his first book about a young,...
‘Always Running’ is more than cholo lit – it’s a manual for L.A.’s salvation
For most of my life, I didn't think “Always Running” was meant for someone like...
Author Laura Cathcart Robbins recounts life as a tough pill to swallow
Everyone has their own ideas of what drug addiction looks like. If we were to...
True Mexican stories become legends in Fernanda Melchor’s genre-defying nonfiction
In “This Is Not Miami,” her new book of not-quite-nonfiction, Fernanda Melchor tells the true...
Novelist brings a queen and a commoner together in ‘Coronation Year’
Author Jennifer Robson will be watching King Charles’ coronation on May 6, along with millions...
When it comes to being wrongly convicted, Justin Brooks has a message: It could happen to you
After more than two decades of helping the wrongly convicted, San Diego attorney Justin Brooks...
Spring arts preview 2023: Brian Selznick’s new book, ‘Big Tree,’ took root after pandemic-related detour
Of the many tender and heart-wrenching moments in “Big Tree,” Brian Selznick’s illustrated novel about...
Spring arts preview 2023: Our top 10 book events and picks for the season
Spring is prime time for book releases, with many publishers releasing anticipated titles in hopes...