New Book Releases

Puzzle your way through the Golden State

Discover the Great State of California through this 100-puzzle puzzle book in the best-selling Great American Road Trip series. Eureka! You've found it. From Avenue of the Giants to Zzyzx Road & Mineral Springs in Baker, the word finds and other puzzles will be sure to entertain, educate and whet your appetite for a real or armchair journey through the Golden State.

Utilizing photographs from the Historical Society of Temple City, Donna Georgino explores the history of Temple City.  

When Walter P. Temple’s oldest son, nine-year-old Thomas, discovered oil on the family’s property in the Montebello Hills, Temple used his newfound wealth to purchase 285 acres of the Rancho San Francisquito. Temple, along with his associates Milton Kauffman, George Woodruff, and Sylvester Dupuy, established the Temple Townsite Company in 1923 and began selling plots of land designed to form a new community for the middle class. With a park, a church, a central business district, and an extension of the Pacific Electric Red Car line, the town of Temple soon became a thriving community. In 1928, the town of Temple changed its name to Temple City to avoid confusion at the post office. In 1944, the Woman’s Club initiated the Camellia Festival, an event that is still celebrated today.

Author Donna Georgino grew up in Temple City, attended Temple City schools, and currently serves as the president of the Historical Society of Temple City. The historical society was formed in 1987 by longtime residents interested in preserving Temple City’s history. In 2006, the Woman’s Club gifted/deeded its building on the corner of Kauffman and Woodruff Avenues to the society as a permanent home for the museum. 

How Long Beach caused the death of John A. Lamb.

Immediately after his 1914 election as mayor of Long Beach, Louis Napoleon Whealton fired the chief of police and raided the city treasury. To replenish the funds, Mayor Whealton concocted a scheme to collect fines from any male “who made advances toward other men.” Two special police officers entrapped and arrested thirty-one men, dragging them before a judge to pay up or risk a public trial. When one victim refused to play along, newspapers were quick to publish the names of everyone accused, including local pharmacist and popular churchman John A. Lamb. His suicide made headlines, but the city continued to target gay men well into this century.

Author and historian Gerrie Schipske uncovers the story of a tragic death with far-reaching consequences in Long Beach.

Founded in 1905, Richmond, California, boasts 32 miles of shoreline and is centrally located within the San Francisco Bay Area. From a nationally registered historic district to its critical role in World War II, Richmond fits the quintessential historic bill—both on land and at sea.

Enjoy this glimpse into a past that is still very present courtesy of two native Richmond daughters, Desiree Heveroh and Victoria Stuhr, with images from Richmond Museum of History & Culture, Point Richmond History Association, and the Richmond Public Library.

How the Golden State’s favorite fruit conquered the world.

When avocados first arrived from Mexico in the early 1800s, few Americans knew what to make of them. Intrepid settlers in California were among the first to embrace the savory green fruit, sparking a century-long love affair that transformed the state into “Avocado Land.” From battling over the best avocado varieties to coaxing the public into trying the fruit by devising delicious recipes, Golden State growers created a global phenomenon.

Author Rob Crisell explores how California’s favorite fruit became one of the most famous and iconic foods of the twenty-first century.

Dr. Leo Mallette is an adjunct faculty at Pepperdine University’s doctoral program. He has collected postcards depicting Rancho Mirage starting with the dude ranches in the 1940s and accelerating with the country clubs in the 1950s.

The city of Rancho Mirage is a low-density resort town with a population that was about 17,000 during the 2020 census. It is in the Coachella Valley, near Palm Springs, and about 110 miles east of Los Angeles. Rancho Mirage encompasses an approximately three-mile-wide swath that includes most of the area south of Interstate 10, extending south past the Whitewater River, Highway 111, and into the Santa Rosa Mountains. It was incorporated in 1973 and is home to many world-class golf courses.

Fiesta Days parades, Saturday nights at the Vacaville Theatre, and Bulldogs and Wildcats everywhere.

Exquisite food coupled with the wonder and whimsy of the world-famous Nut Tree restaurant. Beating the heat at The Blue Lagoon Waterslide Park or getting lost in the giant maze, The Wooz. Trips to the burger joints on “Hamburger Hill” while the scent of dehydrating onions from the Basic Vegetable Products plant wafted through the air. Savoring Vasquez Deli burritos with the radio station tuned to KUIC. Celebrating with hometown heroes Super Bowl Champion Jarrett Bush, World Series MVP Jermaine Dye and iconic rock band Papa Roach.

Author and accidental historian Tony Wade leads this vivid tour through bygone Vacaville.

Solving the mystery of California’s most persistent smog.Once known as the Smog Capital of the World, Los Angeles has changed “air you can see” into “air you can breathe.” While the fight to eliminate pollution in the city continues, modern smog is not the thick, oppressive, silver-blue haze that drove people to move out of Los Angeles altogether during the mid-twentieth century. Professor Arie Haagen-Smit became a key leader in the fight against smog after making a crucial discovery—what caused it.   

Join author Carl R. Oliver as he delves into the sixty-year battle to clear the air in Los Angeles.

The untold story of the Bolsa Chica Gun Club, one of Southern California's most important power centers.

Before the rise of Huntington Beach, the Bolsa Chica Gun Club stood as a captivating testament to power and ambition. Influential figures like Jared Sidney Torrance and Henry Huntington were members of this exclusive haven where businessmen, politicians, and even stars of early Hollywood gathered to relax and socialize. Once rapid development and the discovery of oil began encroaching on the club lands, it slowly faded into memory, but its influence remains.

Join author Chris Epting as he explores the remarkable and sometimes controversial events that unfolded on the club's hallowed grounds.

Ghost stories from the Capital of Silicon Valley have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!

Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms.

Did you know a ghostly bride stalks the corridors of the Sainte Claire Hotel? Or that a spectral janitor still carries out his duties at Overfelt High School? Can you believe that at the La Forêt Restaurant, long-dead miners from the New Almaden are rumored to appear in rooms they once called home? 

Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see San Jose forever, and have you sleeping with the lights on!

Calaveras County is one of the original 27 counties created when California was formed in 1850. At the time, it encompassed Alpine, Amador, and Mono Counties. Amador was the first to be separated in 1854, with Mono County following in 1861 and Alpine County in 1864. With the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill on January 24, 1848, Calaveras County saw immigrants from every corner of the world. These pioneers brought with them the drive to make it rich and to make their lives and their families’ lives better. Some did, and some lost their lives trying. Between 1848 and 1965, the county produced about nine million ounces of gold, valued today at over $18 billion. Today, tourism in Calaveras County supports approximately 2,400 jobs and contributes about $6 million to state and local taxes. Miners still find gold in the streams and rivers, families drive the back roads exploring the old towns and mines, and wine lovers enjoy wine tastings at the more than 50 tasting rooms scattered throughout the county.

This book chronicles the once-vibrant hot rod scene in California's San Fernando Valley--from the iconic Bob's Big Boy drive-in to the San Fernando drag strip.

Author and Los Angeles native, Tony Baker, grew up in Hollywood during the height of the sixties hot-rod scene. He has written six books on the subject of motor sports in California for Arcadia Publishing and has had articles published in Hot Rod magazine, Hot Rod Deluxe , and Rodder's Journal as well as regional history publications like the Ventura County Historical Society Quarterly Journal . He currently lives in Ventura, California.

In 1853, Alameda County was formed on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay. On the land route to the California goldfields, the primarily agricultural county had problems with cattle rustling and thievery. It had the reputation of being one of the most lawless areas around. From famous lawmen like Harry Morse to infamous outlaws like Joaquin Murietta, the sheriff and deputies of Alameda County had their hands full. As the county changed, so did the law enforcement challenges. By the 20th century, the sheriff’s office was dealing with antiwar demonstrations, riots, kidnappings, suburban and rural crime, earthquakes, and other disasters that found the men and women of

county law enforcement always ready to respond. Often the challenges became newsworthy. During the 1960s and 1970s, the sheriff’s office riot squad became internationally known as the “Blue Meanies.”

Steven Minniear, a local historian, collected and assembled photographs and information from throughout Alameda County to bring to light the forgotten stories of the sheriff’s office. Many of these previously unseen photographs come from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Archive. In that process, he uncovered the lost stories and forgotten incidents that shaped the office and the communities it serves.

On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941 the world changed for the North State—and the nation.

A national call to arms by President Franklin D. Roosevelt after the bombing of Pearl Harbor spurred local residents to action, and the normal rhythm of life immediately and dramatically changed. By Christmas of that year, everyone understood their roles. Those who could enlist served in Army and Navy operations in the Pacific and Europe. The rest gave their all to support the war from the home front. Residents volunteered their time and skills, served as Red Cross workers, airplane spotters and scrap metal collectors. Local factories and canneries ramped up production. And building the Shasta Dam to provide power became a crucial part of the war effort.

Author Al M. Rocca recounts the determination and tribulations of North State citizens during World War II.

Cursed awards, haunted estates, and deadly sets.   Hollywood is supposed to be the place where dreams come true, but it's also where nightmares come to life. Spirits haunt the halls of renowned studios, legendary cafes, and lavish estates, while rumors of curses lurk in the shadows of the rich and famous. It's said that stars like James Dean, Carrie Fisher, and Prince once predicted their own deaths, while slain screenwriter Paul Bern tried in vain to warn Sharon Tate about her own fate. Ghosts reportedly linger in the corners of the El Coyote Café and the Falcon Lair boasts sightings of Rudolph Valentino long after his death./ Join author and paranormal historian Brian Clune for a star-studded tour of the dark side of Hollywood.

In the early 1800s, Spanish missionaries were the first to plant vineyards in the area now known as Temecula Valley. Over the next two centuries, the region became known for raising cattle, farming, and as a stop for stage and rail. In the late 1960s, Temecula began to attract a new breed of pioneers. These intrepid individuals believed that the soil, sun, and cool ocean breezes through the coastal mountains made the valley ideal for grape growing. Temecula wine country has been on an upward trajectory ever since. Today, more than two million visitors enjoy the area’s 50 or so wineries every year. Chosen by Wine Enthusiast as one of the top 10 wine travel destinations in the world, Temecula Valley’s diverse and delicious wines consistently win awards in state and national competitions. 

Digging into a forgotten past – and the dead left behind.

San Francisco is famous for not having any cemeteries, but the claim isn’t exactly what it seems. In the early 20th Century, the city relocated more than 150,000 graves to the nearby town of Colma to make way for a rapidly growing population. But an estimated fifty to sixty thousand burials were quietly built over and forgotten, only to resurface every time a new building project began. The dead still lie beneath some of the city’s most cherished destinations, including the Legion of Honor, United Nations Plaza, the Asian Art Museum and the University of San Francisco.

Join author Beth Winegarner as she maps the city's early burial grounds and brings back to life the dead who've been erased.