World champion mixed martial arts fighter and Laguna Beach resident Frank Shamrock will hold a demonstration of fighting techniques and a signing for his new book Saturday, Oct. 27 at 11 a.m at Optimus Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 31151 Niguel Road in Laguna Niguel. Laguna Beach Books will host the signing for Shamrock’s book, “Uncaged: My Life [...]
“A Life of Mountain Bike Adventures,” a photo essay, offers a detailed glimpse into the 25-year career of Laguna Beach resident and professional mountain biker Hans Rey, riding in beautiful and remote places. Rey’s adventure traversed Machu Picchu in Peru, the glaciers of the Alps, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Himalayas, and the jungles of Borneo. The [...]
Laguna Beach resident and author Kaira Rouda makes her first local appearance Sunday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. at Laguna Beach Books, 1200 S. Coast Hwy. Rouda’s latest work, “All the Difference,” is a mystery novel.
Gil Thibault, Laguna Beach resident and newly minted author of the children’s educational book “Bristlecone Pine Tree, The World’s Oldest-Known Living Tree,” will be sharing his expertise in local talks. On Oct. 3, he will be at the Dana Point Library at 7 p.m.; before the Laguna Beach Rotary Club at noon on Friday, Oct. [...]
Ron McElroy knows what it is like to come from the wrong side of the tracks. A native of Hawaii who grew up in southern California and now lives in Laguna Beach, McElroy comes from a family that battled mental illness, abuse, drugs, and alcohol. Despite the overwhelming odds, he went on to enjoy a [...]
By Robin Pierson, Special to the Independent Niki Smart is living, thriving proof that transformation is possible and that a horrendous childhood can be overcome. Molested by her grandfather at 9, drinking by 12, having sex at 13, all the while living with a bizarre, scandalous, mentally ill mother incapable of mothering, Smart plunged [...]
In the days preceding the Jewish New Year celebration, Maggie Anton, award-winning author of the trilogy of historical novels, “Rashi’s Daughters,” will speak about her new book, “Rav Hisda’s Daughter,” at Laguna Beach Books ,1200 S. Coast Highway, on Sept. 9 at 5 p.m. Anton’s historical novel is based on actual Talmud texts and populated with its rabbis [...]
Local entrepreneur Marian Keegan, owner of Laguna’s Art of Fitness & Spa, has released a children’s book entitled “Baluka & Friends” ($17.95, hardcover, ages 3 to 8), which is the story of a whimsical yet awkward character who spends all of his days and nights trying to fly inspired by Keegan’s daughter Victoria. Keegan invites [...]
Have you ever felt the expectations of the Southern California lifestyle pressing in on you? Does it ever seem like “keeping up with the Joneses” is driving you into the ground? Do you regret that family time is often supplanted by soccer practice and deadlines, and, well … just life? What do you do when [...]
Local entrepreneur Marian Keegan, owner of Laguna’s Art of Fitness & Spa, has released a children’s book entitled “Baluka & Friends” ($17.95, hardcover, ages 3 to 8), which is the story of a whimsical yet awkward character who spends all of his days and nights trying to fly inspired by Keegan’s daughter Victoria. Keegan invites [...]
Resident Anna Krajec continues to wrest meaning from her family’s courageous journey battling their young son’s inoperable brain tumor. Along the way, the Krajecs encountered an extraordinary outpouring of community support before Christofer’s death in 2008, short of his 4th birthday. Drawing from her own bittersweet parenting experience, now Krajec aspire to prepare would-be parents [...]
University of Arizona professor and author Gloria McMillan will present her mystery novel “The Blue Maroon Murder,” at 2 p.m. Friday, June 29, at the Laguna Beach Library, 363 Glenneyre St. McMillan will answer questions and discuss the writing of her book.
By Justin Swanson, Special to the Independent Gilbert G. Thibault, a 36-year Laguna Beach resident, recently published his first nonfiction work, “I Am the World’s Oldest-Known Living Tree,” a children’s book about California-native bristlecone pines. Becoming a self-published author is unchartered territory for Thibault, a real-estate broker by trade. However, the facets of education [...]
Longtime Laguna Beach resident Stephen Ricker (also known as Len, the wine guy), is hosting a book launch and signing of his 450-page novel, “The Kaserne,” Sunday, June 24, from 1-4 p.m. at Laguna Coffee Company, 1050 S. Coast Highway Ricker worked in Europe for 14 years as a civilian Defense Department cold-warrior until 1989 [...]
Local Author Sets Romance Novel in Her Hometown Dana Point author Anita Hughes, author of the novel “Monarch Beach,” visits Laguna Beach Books on Friday, June 22, at 6 p.m. The debut novel is about a woman’s journey back to happiness after an affair splinters her perfect marriage and life. The main character spends the [...]
Police Use Taser to Subdue Assault Suspect
An assault involving three men escalated into a struggle with Laguna Beach police, who ultimately deployed a taser twice to subdue the younger combative suspect in the 300 block of Cozumel around 1:15 a.m. Friday, May 10, police said. Police ultimately arrested Laguna Beach resident Sergio Gabriel Borgognone, 51, for allegedly resisting arrest and his [...]
