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Members who wish to submit a blog entry should send it to sandiegowriterseditorsguild@gmail.com. A review committee will consider each submission for membership interest and may suggest edits before publishing the submission to the blog. For more information, see Blog or Be Blogged.

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  • 20 Sep 2025 11:38 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    History buffs will love Richard Carrico’s new book, El Presidio de San Diego: Excavating Southern California’s Lost City. The author’s preview to European colonization is short but extensive. Carrico’s greatest focus is upon the presidio in San Diego, which was a Spanish military post as well as the first Catholic mission and settlement in California.

    Begun by Franciscans, the El Presidio de San Diego was used as a stepping stone to spread Spain’s northern empire in California, which grew into twenty-one missions and four presidios. These settlements housed soldiers, wives, native workers, and passing travelers. Sometimes, acting as the only form of law, the post declared and carried out justice. As a result, it held a few prisoners.

    Carrico states, “Erase any thoughts you might have about metal-helmeted conquistadors, soldiers in matching colorful uniforms, or purebred Spaniards living within the adobe walls. Except for the small contingent of Catalonian soldiers from Spain, few presidial occupants had ever set foot in Europe. Their homeland was in the New World, in the ever-expanding Spanish empire.”

    The book shares fascinating findings of excavations done in and around the El Presidio de San Diego that began with limited digs in the late 1920s. Attention was renewed in 1965, and then more extensive archeological studies were performed between 1968 and 1976. The author shares intimate details about the digs in which he was involved.

    From artifacts discovered, archaeologists pieced together how people lived in the late 1700s to the mid-1800s. Grave excavations also revealed diseases and deformities of the residents and how long people likely lived.

    Below is an excerpt shows how Carrico can make historical events seem exciting:

    “One of the major items sought from the Spaniards by the Kumeyaay was cloth. When Serra and his companions told the village leaders that no more cloth would be provided to them, a group of Kumeyaay sailors launched reed canoes and attacked the San Carlos anchored in the harbor. The disgruntled Native men attempted to slash the canvas sails and take them as overdue tribute. They were repelled by on-board guards. In response, additional guards were sent to the ship for protection, leaving the little Spanish camp nearly defenseless.

    “In August 1769, realizing that most of the soldiers had gone north with Portolá or were on board the San Carlos, insurgents led by a powerful Kwaapaay named Naguasajo, attacked Serra’s little encampment. In what was described as a pitched battle, several persons on both sides were wounded and one young Spanish boy, a valet or servant from Guadalajara, was shot through the throat and killed. Ironically, seven years later, Serra met with Naguasajo in his prison cell at the presidio. Naguasajo had been arrested for his part in the sacking of the mission in November 1775. He remained steadfastly anti-Spaniard and recalcitrant.

    “Over the next several months and then years, expeditions to the north continued, and new missions were established at Carmel, Padua and San Gabriel. Short on supplies, threatened by local Kumeyaay and with many of the sailors and soldiers still suffering from scurvy, the new outpost hung by a tenuous thread. From his command post to the north in Monterey, Lieutenant Pedro Fages bristled at the thought that he was expected to protect the missionaries. This set the stage for decades of competition between the military and the church, leading at times to outright animosity.

    “For five years, the new settlers toiled on the hill to build a small church, housing for the troops, bastions to mount their two cannons and other elements of the fort. The term presidio, derived from presidium, meaning “to preside,” was applied to the settlement although it was not officially recognized as a royal presidio for several more years. Under Spanish law, the presidio and especially the mission were expected to fend for themselves, with only limited support from the Spanish government in Mexico City, more than eighteen hundred miles to the south and San Blas, thirteen hundred miles distant. The priests and colonists were instructed to grow their own crops; raise successful herds of cattle, pigs and horses; and defend the little hillside settlement from Native and foreign forces. For the first year, the military element consisted of fewer than ten ill-equipped men.”

    About the Writer

    Carrico is an award-winning author of nonfiction and historical fiction with a focus on Spanish borderlands archaeology, indigenous people, and true crime. Carrico grew up in San Diego before serving in the U.S. Army in the late 1960s. He holds a BA in history from San Diego State College and a BA in anthropology from San Diego State University. As a postgraduate, he earned an MA in history from the University of San Diego. He taught history, anthropology, and Native American studies at San Diego State University for thirty years before retiring in 2024. 

    For more than forty years, Carrico participated in archaeological studies in California, Baja California, Arizona, and Hawaii. He directed the San Diego Presidio excavations for two seasons and conducted research on the site for more than forty-five years. He has authored more than twenty academic articles that appeared in professional journals and at least twenty articles in popular magazines, including SkyWest Spirit, San Diego Home & Garden, San Diego Reader and Ranch & Coast Magazine. He has published five books on a variety of topics.

    This book is Carrico’s second publication with Arcadia Publishing/The History Press. His book Ramona, in the Images of America series, was a well-received portrayal of a rural community. His Strangers in a Stolen Land, the story of San Diego County’s Native Americans, is used as a textbook at several universities. His most recent book, Monsters on the Loose, won second place at the 2024 Book Fest and was a Silver Falchion Award Finalist at the 2024 Killer Nashville event. His short story “Animals Who Talk, Sing, and Dance” received an Honorable Mention Award from Writer’s Digest Magazine. His most recent piece, Habla Espanol? If You Rodeo You Do was published in Cowboy Up rodeo magazine.



  • 4 Sep 2025 6:50 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The contest, in its 8th year, received over 500 entries and raised more than $5,000 for the San Diego Public Library system. The contest is an annual event, with the next one set to open for submissions on October 1, 2025

    Impact: The contest is a fundraiser for the Library Foundation SD, with all proceeds supporting the San Diego Public Library system

    Submission: Entries are accepted online through the Library Shop SD website and are limited to fit inside a standard matchbook. 

    Prizes: The winner receives 50 matchbooks featuring their story, a $50 Library Shop gift card, their story published in the Library's newsletter, and an exhibition in the Hervey Family Rare Book Room's tiny book display.  

    Event: The winning story is celebrated at the "Shorties" event, which also includes readings from other finalists. 

    Sponsored By: San Diego Public Library Foundation


  • 4 Sep 2025 5:56 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    Festival U

     A day of online learning

    Saturday, September 20, 2025

    9:00 am - 5:00 pm

    $60 for seven sessions

    Register:  Eventbrite



    Key Speakers & Sessions

    Keynote: Actor, writer, and environmental activist Ed Begley Jr.

    AI for Writers: A workshop led by Alma Katsu, an author with extensive intelligence experience.

    Unleashing the Power of the Flash Essay: A session on essay writing led by Sue William Silverman. 

    The Art of the Children's Book: A session with Dr. Judith Orloff

    Your participation helps keep the in-person San Diego Writers Festival free and accessible to everyone.


  • 9 Aug 2025 9:29 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Thomas Wing, releases Against All Enemies. This gripping thriller ominously shows us a violent but possible reaction to America’s tariff war China launches a full-scale surprise attack on the U.S. Capitol, Pentagon, military bases, and communication satellites. With weakened communications and a destroyed Congress, disorder descends upon Washington, DC.

     Bill Wilkins, captain of the naval carrier, Nautilus, strikes back at the enemy in the South China Sea with surprising success. Thomas Wing, a retired Navy Surface Warfare officer, creates realistic interchanges while Wilkins attacks China’s naval fleet in three battles.

    Meanwhile, Russia launches full-scale invasions on Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltic states, and NATO is left in shambles. While U.S. attention is elsewhere, Russia sends nukes to England, which then returns arms in kind.

    Against All Enemies is gripping and enlightening about the U.S. military’s weaknesses and strengths. It  provides an eerie depiction of the contemporary world sliding from our current military conflagration to global wars that destroy civilians in unimaginable numbers.


     


  • 4 Aug 2025 3:38 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    Saturday, August 23, 2025

    10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

    Reserve your free general admission tickets now!

     

     

    Let’s bring our community closer together through the shared experience of reading and discussing great books! The inaugural KPBS San Diego Book Festival on the University of San Diego campus is a free event for book lovers of all ages. Attendees will enjoy panel discussions with award-winning authors, activities, live entertainment, exhibitors including local authors and independent booksellers, and more.

    Check out over 70 author exhibitors joining us this year in The Writers' Block area of the festival. Authors are listed in alphabetical order. The Writers' Block will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

    https://cdn.kpbs.org/6f/66/b947777e4a79a25803a20c32cb60/book-graphics2.svg

     


  • 4 Aug 2025 2:07 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    • August 23 — Visit the Library Shop SD booth at the KPBS San Diego Book Festival featuring workshops, activities, photo booths, live entertainment, and award-winning authors. Registration is encouraged. Parking at USD is free.
    • SeptemberLibrary Card Sign-up Month is the time San Diego joins libraries nationwide to promote library card sign-ups and the power and perks of the card.
    •  October 1 - November 1 — The Library Shop SD's Matchbook Story Contest opens for entries into our San Diego's shortest story contest.


  • 2 Aug 2025 6:12 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    In partnership with the San Diego Writers Festival and Coronado Public Library, Acorn Publishing is launching a nationwide contest to discover one exceptional unpublished author.

    The winner will:

    --receive a full-service publishing package valued at over $11,000.

    -- be announced live on stage at the 2026 San Diego Writers Festival in Coronado, CA.

    Key Dates

    • Submissions Open: August 15, 2025
    • Submission Deadline: November 15, 2025
    • Winner Announced: March 28, 2026 (Live at the Festival)

     Submit

     Eligibility Snapshot

    • Open to unpublished authors (no prior published novels or memoirs)
    • Novels or memoirs only (50,000–95,000 words)
    • Submission fee: $35
    • Writers must be 18+ and submit an original manuscript in English

     The winner will be selected based on voice, execution, and overall breakout potential.

     Learn More

    Contact: Holly Kammier, Co-Founder, Acorn Publishing CONTACT@ACORNPUBLISHINGLLC.COM

    www.acornpublishingllc.com www.sandiegowritersfestival.com https://www.facebook.com/AcornPublishingLLC https://www.instagram.com/acornpublishing/ https://www.instagram.com/sdwritersfest/


  • 31 Jul 2025 5:40 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    It isn’t the trauma that almost ruins Lavender, it is the shame she swallows when she keeps a sexual assault she experiences at a college party a secret. As she pushes away those closest to her, she finds herself alone and lonely.

    To her former fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Gordon, she’s the reliable babysitter; to her devoted extended family, she’s the beloved daughter, niece, and cousin; and to Jana, who attends the same high school, she is best friend. But her assault at a college party, leaves Lavender terrified of being truly seen and known.

    Lavender unexpectedly forms loving relationships with a boy pen pal in Cuba that she’s never met, and a grandmother who usually doesn’t remember who Lavender is.

    When her lies begin unraveling in a very public way, how will others treat Lavender?

    This book kept me glued to the page, wondering how it would end for Lavender.


  • 25 Jul 2025 12:47 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    SDWEG member, Debbie Wastling has released her third book in the Bell Family Series.

    In the early 20th century in Northern England, Elizabeth writes to her two daughters, sharing her memories as she is dying of ovarian cancer.

    She tells of her travails when both her parents died while she was in grade school. Her oldest brother, an estranged bastard offspring of her parents, runs the family pub and quickly runs it to the ground. After that, Elizabeth and her younger brother, not yet finished with schooling, struggle to survive with the help of wealthy family members.

    At 19, Elizabeth meets the love of her life while she distributes suffragette pamphlets. Percy is not high-born, but he is hard-working. He, too, lost his parents at a young age. He and Elizabeth form a strong friendship that helps each of them bear and overcome life’s challenges.

    Through Elizabeth’s stories, the reader learns what daily life is like for women living before and after WWI. During the war, she becomes an ambulance driver, and her husband, though not enlisted, is separated from the family to oversee the repair of damaged ships.

    Women fill men’s jobs while men are away at war; however, when men return home, many resist allowing women to fill men’s jobs or even to wear trousers. It is even frowned on for a woman to bicycle to work. These, and other facts, portray the culture and customs related to British females. By the end of the book, women over 30 years old have gained the right to vote.

    Wastling brings history to life by sharing details of daily life down to cooking, sewing family members’ clothes, knitting and crocheting sweaters, and even how to get around using an outhouse in the winter; in this way, we see how women and their families lived in pre-industrial times.

    Whether you are a history buff or a general fiction lover, this book is an enjoyable read.



  • 18 Jul 2025 6:58 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    M. Lee Buompensiero, has released her first novel in the Spirit Club Mystery series. Something Wicked features a reluctant heroine, Sophie Lawton, who not only sees and talks to ghosts, she solves crimes with their help. An aunt Sophie has never met, dies and leaves Volare Investigations to her.

     A librarian by training, Sophie resists the calling to run her dead relative’s investigative services. However, her first case involves a kidnapping that very much resembles her birth mother’s unsolved case. With the help of a ghost secretary, Maude, and Maude’s deceased, disgraced police investigator ex-husband, Sophie becomes convinced to join forces with the couple to solve a girl's disappearance. It's a race against time to save the girl before a serial killer makes the girl his next trophy victim. Sophie battles against the odds to find the missing girl before it's too late.

    I like the idea that ghosts might be helpful to a detective and that they are unpredictable; often disappearing just when they are about to disclose valuable information. I highly recommend this book, even to people who are afraid of ghost stories.

    Marcia has published a mystery novel: Sumerland, which was winner of the 2017 San Diego Book Awards, Best Published Mystery category. Writing under the pseudonym "Loren Zahn," she has published the Theo Hunter mystery series: Dirty Little Murders (2009/2017), Deadly Little Secrets (2015), and Fatal Little Lies (2018). Deadly Little Secrets was a finalist in the 2015 San Diego Book Awards unpublished manuscript division.

    Marcia acted as Managing Editor and publisher of ten anthologies for the Guild between 2013 and 2019. She is the publisher of five novels and biographical work for authors, including members of SDWEG. She holds the office of Treasurer as a member of the Guild's board of directors.


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