Authors from around San Diego and Riverside counties have been busy of late, with novels, self-hoop books and poetry collections:
Encinitas' Allison Maslan has written "Blast Off!: The Surefire Success Plan to Launch Your Dreams Into Reality" ($24.95, Morgan James Publishing), a guide for reaching your personal and professional potential.
Cindy Fisher Traisi of Ramona and Jill Bhowmik of San Diego both contributed stories to "The Ultimate Bird Lover: Stories and Advice on Our Feathered Friends at Home and in the Wild" ($14.95, HCI), a collection of anecdotes and tales about America's third-most popular pets.
Cardiff's Martha Belknap contributed the story "Snitterfield" to "Chicken Soup For the Soul: True Love" ($14.95, Chicken Soup for the Soul).
Patricia Ariadne of Escondido has written "Drinking the Dragon: Stories of the Dark Night of Soul" ($19.95, DynastieBooks), an exploration of how people survive and even thrive during moments of crisis.
Oceanside's Norman Alcott has written "The Black Ghost" ($15.32, CreateSpace), a collection of poetry.
North County physician Dr. Diana E. Hoppe has written "Healthy Sex Drive, Healthy You" ($15.95, Health Reflections Press), which contains information for women ages 25 to 65 about maintaining a healthy sex life.
Ramona resident Linda Brewton has written "The Myth of the White Knight: Financial Planning for Women" ($18.92, lulu.com), which shows women how to get their finances in order.
Oceanside's Hank Jordan has written the e-book, "How to Graduate: From Self-Employment to Controlling a Business You Can Exit" ($9.99, Smashwords), which shows how to find financial security while working for yourself.
Cardiff resident Wroughta Knightly has written "Mom's on Vacation" ($16.95, PublishAmerica), the story of a young girl growing up with a mother who spends time in a mental hospital to treat her psychoses.
Jill Shure of San Diego has written "Night Glitter" ($14.95, Syntax Books), a sequel to her Benjamin Franklin Award-winning "Night Jazz." Both books are built around Jeri Devlin Rose, a modern woman transported back to 1920s Hollywood.
Justin Price of San Diego has co-written "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Functional Training Illustrated" ($18.95, Alpha Books), which shows readers how to prepare their bodies for everyday activities, from carrying a suitcase to doing yard work.
Ocean Beach resident Larry Kuechlin has writiten "Along a Ruined Sea" ($16.95, Avalon Press), a collection of poems.
Temecula's Natalie Tinti, a 10-year-old student, has written and illustrated "Sewing a Friendship" ($15.95, TintiNatie Press), a children's chapter book about five girls from very different backgrounds who forge a friendship.
Murrieta's Daniel J. Rocca has written "Love's Crooked Road Poetry, Lyrics, Thoughts, & Wisdom" ($15.30 Eloquent Books), a collection of poetic observations on love.
Menifee's James E. Horn has written "DiDiDawDawDiDi" ($24.99, LHB & Associates), an extended essay on the causes of 9/11 written by a former U.S. diplomat and Navy veteran.
Barry Hurd of Temecula has written "The Jaded Parachute" ($27.95, PublishAmerica), a novel about a man who travels back in time to World War II to try to save his uncle's life.
Winchester resident Judy Scharfenberg has written "Secure Families in a Shaky World" ($13.99, Pleasant Word), a collection of advice for mothers, expectant mothers and grandmothers on creating a healthy family environment.
Temecula dietitian Meri Raffetto has written "The Glycemic Index Diet for Dummies" ($16.99, Wiley Publishing), which shows how low-glycemic diets can control symptoms of diabetes and bring other health benefits.
Former Hemet resident Lisa Johnson Mandell has written "Career Comeback: Repackage Yourself to Get the Job You Want" ($24.99, Springboard Press), in which the entertainment reporter shows midcareer women how to look younger, fresher and savvier on paper and in person.
