Flourishing with Good Fill and The Book Bus If you're a fellow plant lover, you've likely shopped local house plant shop Let It Grow Fresno on Shields and Van Ness. However, if you haven't been in recently, there have been a lot of fun changes in store that I think you'll really enjoy. Owner Kelly Replogle is all about supporting local businesses and has frequently hosted local artisans and … [Read more...]
Join the Jane Austen Society for a special event this weekend
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who love the writing of Jane Austen and those who do not. I personally love her and enjoy reading her books except, honestly, for Mansfield Park. Although I fully expect you to know who Jane Austen is, I guess there's a chance you don't, in which case I disown you. If you want to be written back into my will, you should read on to find … [Read more...]
Fresno attorney and judge pens mystery novel
Fans of mystery novels, there's a new book available, and it has a local connection. Fresno attorney James A. Ardaiz, former presiding justice of the California Fifth District Court of Appeal, has made his debut as a mystery novelist with Fractured Justice, which launches this month with a book signing on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 2 p.m. at A Book Barn in Clovis. Copies of the book … [Read more...]
Explore Highway 99 history with author Stephen Provost
At first glance, the highway doesn't seem all that exciting. Made of crushed rocks and Caltrans plans, it can seem like a wasteland of black pavement and potholes that we ignore on long car trips, focusing on oleander bushes in the median or the Slug-Bug game instead. Why should we care about a highway? Because it carries people to funerals and weddings. It takes us to new … [Read more...]
Clovis Toddler Inspires New Children’s Book
A Clovis toddler has inspired her mom to write a children’s book with a message of perseverance, determination, goal setting, and family encouragement. Jill Harold’s 3-year-old daughter, Brooklynn, was born with clubfoot, a condition in which an infant’s foot is turned inward. “Even though clubfoot is treatable, the process and treatment is hard,” Harold says. “This is my gift to … [Read more...]
Fresno Native Getting National Attention for New Parenting Book
Growing up in Fresno has had a huge impact on how author Jill Simonian raises her two daughters in posh Los Angeles. “I raise my kids in a very down-to-earth ‘Fresno’ way,” Simonian says. “I tell them to go outside and play a lot. We eat popsicles sitting in the front yard on the grass. Things like that.” After graduating from Sanger High, Simonian moved to Los Angeles for college. She … [Read more...]
“Pen the Tale, Oogie” is a Book for Anyone Who Has Struggled
For anyone who has tried hard and failed, there's a new book available about a bear that'll encourage you (and possibly tempt you to eat a honey sandwich). Pen the Tale, Oogie is the product of local skill and imagination – both the author, Karen J. Moore, and illustrator, Doug Hansen, are Central Valley residents. Of course, I couldn't miss the opportunity to hear them speak at an Author … [Read more...]
Owls, Wizards, and Golden Snitches- Barnes and Noble’s Magical Holiday Ball
This year all the Barnes & Noble bookstores, including our local Fresno location, hosted a Magical Holiday Ball inspired by the Harry Potter books. (Specifically the Yule Ball highlighted in the fourth book, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". Not to be obsessive or anything!) It promised to be a fun evening packed with Harry Potter-themed activities, and attendees were encouraged to … [Read more...]