My California: Journeys by Great Writers

California is the only state in the Union that has flourished beyond all expectations, primarily because it has always been all things to all people. And like the seduction of the Muses, she always appears in the garb of our own desires...

So writes Thomas Steinbeck in “Montalvo, Myths and Dreams of Home,” one of twenty-seven stories featured in My California, an extraordinary creative outpouring from the state’s literary community in support of the beleaguered California Arts Council.

Fly-fish the pristine waters of the Owens River. Step up to the microphone in a California honky-tonk. Surf the biggest waves California has ever seen. Mingle with ducks in an urban oasis. Roller skate through LA’s Union Station. My California (June 2004) is a personal journal, a collection of narrative travel and adventure essays by some of California’s most prominent authors.

This special anthology is a collaboration between Santa Monica-based Angel City Press and CaliforniaAuthors.com. All publishing proceeds will benefit the California Arts Council, an agency forced to suspend school writing, arts education programs and other grants in 2003 because of massive state budget cutbacks.

To make the project possible, all of the writers donated their work. Malloy Incorporated has generously donated the first printing of the book. The CaliforniaAuthors.com editor and creative director and the team at Angel City Press — including the sales manager and representatives who work with Angel City Press — are also contributing their services and talents. Los Angeles Publicist Jackie Green is donating her services, too.

In addition, world-renown artist David Hockney and the J. Paul Getty Museum have contributed use of Hockney’s "Pearblossom Hwy (11-18th April 1986 — second version)" on the cover.

These authors and journalists are featured in My California:

Pico Iyer, author of Abandoned and many other books about the romance between cultures, including the upcoming Sun After Dark. He has written the book’s introduction, “California From A Distance of 6,000 miles.”

Michael Chabon, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay and other books. His contribution is “Berkeley.”

T. Jefferson Parker, Edgar-winning author of eleven novels, including the upcoming California Girl. His contribution is “Showing Off the Owens.”

Aimee Liu, author of Flash House and past president of PEN USA West. Her contribution is “Transients in Paradise.”

Thomas Steinbeck, author of Down to a Soundless Sea. His contribution is “Montalvo, Myths and Dreams of Home.”

devorah major, San Francisco?s 2002 poet laureate and author of street smarts, where river meets ocean and other books. Her contribution is “Cotton Candy Mirrors.”

Dana Gioia, award-winning Sonoma County poet, critic and literary anthologist, currently chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, D.C. His contribution is “On Being a California Poet.”

Edward Humes, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of School of Dreams and six other nonfiction books. His contribution is “The Last Little Beach Town.”

Rubén Martínez, Emmy-winning journalist, poet, performer and author of Crossing Over and The New Americans. His contribution is “The Line.”

Patt Morrison, L.A. Times columnist, NPR commentator and author of Rio L.A. Her contribution is “Flirting with Urbanismo.”

Mark Arax, Los Angeles Times reporter and co-author of the bestseller, The King of California. His contribution is “The Big Valley.”

Percival Everett, USC English professor and author of numerous novels, including the upcoming American Desert. His contribution is “909.”

Carolyn See, author of nine books, including Making a Literary Life, and recipient of Guggenheim and Getty fellowships. Her contribution is “Waters of Tranquility.”

Kathi Kamen Goldmark, author of And My Feet Keep Walking Back to You and producer of the coast-to-coast radio show “West Coast Live.” Her contribution is “California Honky-tonk.”

Matt Warshaw, former editor of Surfer magazine and author of Maverick’s and The Encyclopedia of Surfing. His contribution is “Surfacing.”

Mary Mackey, author of four volumes of poetry, a novella, and nine novels and Writer in Residence at California State University in Sacramento. Her contribution is “The Distant Cataract About Which We Do Not Speak.”

Deanne Stillman, author of the best-selling Twentynine Palms. Her contribution is “Rocks in the Shape of Billy Martin.”

Héctor Tobar, South American correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and author of The Tattooed Soldier. His contribution is “Ode to Caltrans.”

Firoozeh Dumas, author of the best-selling Funny in Farsi. Her contribution is “Bienvenidos a Newport Beach.”

David Kipen, San Francisco Chronicle book critic. His contribution is “How Many Angels.”

Veronique de Turenne, journalist and screenwriter whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Salon and other publications. Her contribution is “Centered.”

Anh Do, Asian affairs columnist for the Orange County Register and a vice president at Nguoi Viet Daily News. Her contribution is “My Little Saigon.”

Derek M. Powazek, designer, performer and author who has written San Francisco Stories, a website and book of his true tales of life in the city. His contribution is “The Nicest Person in San Francisco.”

Chryss Yost, an award-winning poet and writer who co-edited California Poetry: From the Gold Rush to the Present and Poetry Daily: A Year of Poems. Her contribution is “Returning After Fire.”

D.J. Waldie, author of Holy Land, a Suburban Memoir, and Where We Are Now: Notes from Los Angeles. His contribution is “An Ordinary Place.”

Gerald Haslam, author of Coming of Age in California and other books. His contribution is "Almost Home."

Dan Weintraub, columnist and political blogger for The Sacramento Bee. His contribution is “The un-California.”

"These 27 essays prove once again that California is the Golden State." Ray Bradbury

Fly-fish the pristine waters of the Owens River. Step up to the microphone in a California honky-tonk. Surf the biggest waves California has ever seen. Mingle with ducks in an urban oasis. Roller skate through L.A.'s Union Station. See California through the eyes of 27 of the state's finest writers. All of the contributors to MY CALIFORNIA donated their work so proceeds of this book can benefit the California Arts Council, an agency forced to suspend school writing and arts education programs in 2003, and on the brink of extinction because of the state's financial meltdown. Join contributing authors: * Michael Chabon * Thomas Steinbeck * Dana Gioia * Matt Warshaw * Patt Morrison * T. Jefferson Parker * Edward Humes * Mark Arax * Deanne Stillman * Rubin Martmnez * Percival Everett * Kathi Kamen Goldmark * Mary Mackey * Gerald Haslam * Aimee Liu * D.J. Waldie * Hictor Tobar * Firoozeh Dumas * devorah major * Carolyn See * Chryss Yost * Anh Do * Derek M. Powazek * Daniel Weintraub * David Kipen * Veronique de Turenne in a good read for a good deed!!