Erik Pedersen

Romance bookstores are giving Southern California readers a reason to swoon The brick-and-mortar stores popping up around So Cal, thriving online romance community and the $1 Billion in revenue proves the power of a happily ever after.

Check out a terrific story by @byemilystmartin.bsky.social on the rise of romance bookstores.

“That Sunday we opened, it was crazy,” said the owner of Temecula’s In Bloom Bookery. “We had over a thousand people lined up.”

*gift link*

www.ocregister.com/2025/07/30/r...

Meet the artists who paint book murals on LA’s North Figueroa Bookshop Natalie Cruz and Jazmin Navarro say their work makes them feel part of community.

Meet the artists who paint the book murals on LA’s North Figueroa Bookshop #books #art

www.ocregister.com/2025/07/25/m...

At 70, Godzilla keeps on smashing expectations, buildings Steve Ryfle, co-author with Ed Godziszewski of ‘Godzilla: The First 70 Years,’ discusses the monster and its movies over the years.

“I remember as a child asking a bookstore clerk if there were books on Godzilla, and he actually laughed at me.”
— Steve Ryfle discusses his massive new #book with Ed Godziszewski, “GODZILLA: The First 70 Years” out from Abrams.

*Gift link*

www.ocregister.com/2025/07/18/a...

33 summer book recommendations featuring some of 2025’s best novels and more Here are some great choices for fiction, nonfiction, essays, memoir and more to keep you busy through the hot summer months.

Don’t miss Friend of Books @michaelschaub.bsky.social as he recommends 33 novels, story collections, nonfiction titles and more #books this summer.

*Gift Link*

www.ocregister.com/2025/07/15/3...

LA’s Now Serving cookbook bookstore has a recipe for renewal after the fires In the Book Pages newsletter this week, cookbooks, memories and the work one store is doing to replace what was lost in the Eaton and Palisades fires.

@nowservingla.bsky.social is wrapping up its drive to collect cookbooks for those impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fires (but you can still help). #books

www.ocregister.com/2025/07/11/l...

Comics legend Jeff Lemire on ‘10,000 Ink Stains,’ DC & Marvel, and creative freedom His illustrated memoir arrives in stores on July 15.

@jefflemire171.bsky.social talks about the “total freedom” of making his own comics ahead of the publication of his @darkhorse.com memoir, “10,000 Ink Stains.”

www.ocregister.com/2025/07/11/c...

Images of the Southern California News Group Playlist print sections featuring stories about books as the cover story.

We cover books (and put books on the cover).

I recommend reading this to yourself in a President Thomas J. Whitmore voice. (Then buying some small-press books from your favorite indie store.)

33 new books you’ll want to read this summer from independent publishers Looking for something new or a fresh take on a favorite genre? Check out these small-press titles.

Celebrate your independents with @michaelschaub.bsky.social’s list of small-press #books out now or coming this summer. #booksky

www.ocregister.com/2025/06/24/3...

The NEA cut their funding. But California’s independent publishers press on How Red Hen Press, Transit Books, Two Lines Press and the literary journal Zyzzyva plan to keep going in the face of government funding cuts.

“We are not going anywhere.”

California’s independent publishers talk about funding cuts, the future and what you can do.

@transitbooks.bsky.social @zyzzyvamag.bsky.social
@catranslation.bsky.social
@redhenpress.bsky.social
@clmporg.bsky.social

www.ocregister.com/2025/06/13/t...

The NEA cut their funding. But California’s independent publishers press on How Red Hen Press, Transit Books, Two Lines Press and the literary journal Zyzzyva plan to keep going in the face of government funding cuts.

“It had this snowball-coming-down-the-mountain effect." CAT President Michael Holtmann on our NEA grant termination news.

Thank you @erikpedersen.bsky.social for including us and our Bay Area neighbors @transitbooks.bsky.social & @zyzzyvamag.bsky.social.

www.ocregister.com/2025/06/13/t...

How Robert Macfarlane’s book ‘Is a River Alive?’ delivers a call to action Plus, the author discusses the Star Wars series ‘Andor,’ a reason for hope in California and why he doesn’t like the word ‘environment.’

“It’s the book I’ve been learning how to write all this time.” —
@robgmacfarlane.bsky.social on “Is a River Alive?”

*gift link* to interview

www.ocregister.com/2025/05/29/h...

A book truck called The Fleuria is bringing romance to Southern California readers The rolling store’s owner, Stephanie Pao, wants to bring together LA’s romance-reading community.

The Fleuria book truck is taking romance on the road, reports @dcteachild.bsky.social

www.dailybreeze.com/2025/05/23/a...

#books #romance

THE LAST AMERICAN ROAD TRIP cover

Text from review https://www.ocregister.com/2025/05/20/12-new-books-to-send-restless-readers-on-a-summer-road-trip/

Why look at that! A summer book guide written by an actual human being listing real books written by other actual human beings! And I'm one of them! More here: www.ocregister.com/2025/05/20/1...

I can attest that these books do actually exist! Sincerely, Michael Schaub, human

​12 new books to send restless readers on a summer road trip Start your summer road trip with a curated list of far-reaching fiction and nonfiction.

Here’s a 2025 summer reading list with real books, no AI. Check out picks from @michaelschaub.bsky.social for road trip reading.

*gift link*

www.ocregister.com/2025/05/20/1...

How a surprising Shakespeare discovery was found in a letter used as scrap paper And what he says it might mean for our understanding of the playwright’s life and work.

“This suggests an alternative scenario…”

After his surprising Shakespeare news this week, @matthewsteggle.bsky.social answers our questions about what it might mean.

www.ocregister.com/2025/04/24/h...

Nora Lange’s ‘Us Fools’ looks at outcast sisters growing up in the 1980s The novel, which was named a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction, is set during the farm crisis.

US FOOLS alert:

Highly recommend this interview with Nora Lange by @michaelschaub.bsky.social for @ocregister.bsky.social ❤️‍🔥

Big thanks to @erikpedersen.bsky.social for publishing

www.ocregister.com/2025/04/09/n...

Why ‘Star Trek’ star LeVar Burton is coming to the Altadena library after the Eaton fire The longtime host of ‘Reading Rainbow’ will read from his children’s book during an event to welcome the community back.

“Every generation owes a debt to the one that follows,” @levarburton.bsky.social ahead of his Altadena library appearance on March 22.

www.pasadenastarnews.com/2025/03/21/w...

Jason Isbell’s powerful solo show at Walt Disney Concert Hall rich with new songs The singer-songwriter dedicated nearly half of his set to new material from his excellent, just-released solo album.

www.dailynews.com/2025/03/15/j...

Sonya Walger lost her home to wildfire just weeks before her debut novel published The author and actor, known to many as Penny on ‘Lost,’ discusses the Palisades fire, why she writes fiction and a stunning post-fire gift.

“He was larger than life," she says. "He just isn't necessarily who you want as your dad.”

Sonya Walger discusses her @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social debut and losing her home in the Palisades fire.

www.ocregister.com/2025/03/13/s...

Burbank horror bookstore Dark Delicacies is closing its doors Unlike other genre types, horror, says Del Howison who owns the store with wife Sue, is connected to current events: ‘Horror is about us.’

@darkdel.bsky.social bookstore in Burbank is closing, and Liz Ohanesian spoke with co-owner Del Howison about it.

Unlike other genre types, horror is connected to current events, says Howison: "Horror is about us."

www.dailynews.com/2025/03/03/b...

How the Altadena and Pasadena paintings of Keni Arts aim to help the healing ‘Painting is the way I cope with things,’ says the artist.

www.pasadenastarnews.com/2025/02/14/h...

Andy, I’m sorry for your loss. I hope you and all who loved her can find peace and comfort in good memories. All the best to you and yours

How bookstores in Pasadena and Monrovia became local aid resources after wildfires Independent booksellers across Southern California have been helping by transforming into distribution hubs and providing other services.

They’re never just a place where you go to buy books,” says Underdog Bookstore’s Kealie Martell-Carrera about how bookshops like Octavia’s Bookshelf, Black Cat Fables and DYM are aiding those impacted by the wildfires. #Bookthreads

www.pasadenastarnews.com/2025/02/10/h...

“If you want to be good at something — whether it’s music, solving mysteries, writing books — you have to be willing to take chances, and that means [bleeping] up.” — Sara Gran

‘Little Mysteries’ author Sara Gran created ‘the best detective in the world.’ No joke. The Marina del Rey-based author and publisher of the Claire DeWitt books is coming to Skylight Books with Tod Goldberg on Feb. 11.

Sara Gran, creator of the Claire DeWitt books, talks about her new book, “Little Mysteries,” and what she learned from the sitcom “Three’s Company.”

She’ll launch the book at @skylightbooks.bsky.social with @todgoldberg.bsky.social on Feb. 11

www.ocregister.com/2025/02/05/l...

Author Gary Indiana’s library came to Altadena. Hours later, it burned in the Eaton Fire The author’s archive – which is held by New York University – was not affected.

www.pasadenastarnews.com/2025/01/29/a...

How LA’s Skylight Books is teaming with Altadena Seed Library after the Eaton Fire Plus, information on other bookstore efforts to aid those impacted by the Eaton, Palisades and other wildfires.

www.pasadenastarnews.com/2025/01/24/h...

A Pasadena bookstore owner lost his Altadena home in the Eaton fire. His staff responded. Tom Rogers, owner of Book Alley, is back at work at his Colorado Boulevard store. His employees set up a GoFundMe to help.

Book Alley in Pasadena is a classic browser’s bookstore full of books and vinyl you didn’t know you were looking for.

Owner Tom Rogers talks about losing his home in the Eaton fire, and the GoFundMe set up for his family.

www.pasadenastarnews.com/2025/01/17/a...