City-Wide Read Author Discusses Growing Up Bipolar
Laguna Beach Books and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church have organized the next installment of their ongoing City-Wide Read program, and all residents are encouraged to attend a free discussion and book-signing event 
for Terri Cheney, author of “The Dark Side of Innocence: Growing Up Bipolar,” to be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 28, at St. Mary’s, 428 Park Avenue.
As a young girl, Cheney’s life looked perfect from the outside. She was pretty, smart and popular, and she lived in a lovely home with doting parents. But starting with her first suicide attempt at age 7, it was clear that her inner world was anything but perfect.
Cheney, a former attorney turned mental illness advocate, wrote “Manic,” a memoir that revealed her adult struggle with bipolar disorder. “The Dark Side of Innocence” excavates her formative years, providing an insider’s look into the childhood bipolar disorder.
For more information, call 494-4770.
Working Toward a Sea Change
In 2008, after 18 years of real estate marketing, Duffy and Elizabeth Healey of Laguna Beach decided to sell their publication business and completely change focus on promoting their passion: the ocean.
They were dumbfounded by public ignorance about threats to the ocean: in the last five decades, 90 percent of large fish have been consumed; ocean acidification is rising; corral reef destruction is spreading; blue fin tuna are on the brink of extinction.
“We felt it was our duty as surfers and ocean lovers and parents of two children to get this information to the pubic in a positive way as well reaching all the demographics,” Mr. Healey said.
The couple recently published “Sea Voices,” a book in a question and answer format that involves some unconventional people. There are interviews from ocean experts such as Dr. Sylvia Earle, a top oceanographer, to Dr. Robert Ballard, who discovered the Titanic. Author and ecologist Carl Safina, Capt. Paul Watson from Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and the television show “Whale Wars,” British adventurer David de Rothschild, and Jacques Cousteau’s grandchildren, Alexandra and Fabien also contribute. The Healeys also interview champion surfer Kelly Slater, musician Jack Johnson, actress Daryl Hannah and environmental lawyer Bobby Kennedy, Jr.
In all, the authors interview over 100 people from 25 nations to include a global perspective.
The self-published book is available at www.SeaVoices.com.
Bricks and Mortar Store Finds Patrons Online
Laguna Beach book lovers no longer have to choose between reading digital and supporting their local bookstore. Laguna Beach Books is now selling Google eBooks online at lagunabeachbooks.com. Google’s eBook program is partnering with participating local bookstores so they can provide an easy way for their customers to discover, read, and buy e-books at competitive prices.
“More and more of our customers are buying both traditional books and eReaders,” said Laguna Beach Books owner Jane Hanauer. “Google eBooks now allows us to remain the store of choice for our loyal customers who are reading digital, and to serve new customers.”
Local Author Donates Books to Troops
Laguna Beach author Ron Stock has donated 2,000 books to Give2theTroops.org, which also donates 70-pound care packages of loving letters and gifts.
His book, “Moses, God’s Blessed Donkey,” is the story of a donkey named Moses, present at Jesus’ most defining moments.
