A California Magazine with Local Focus and Global Appeal:
Community - Entertainment - Human Interest

Weekly issues every Saturday morning and other special articles throughout the week — there's something for everyone. Check out our sister site KRL News & Reviews for even more articles every week.

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →

Real People and Real Neighbors: Jeff and Jill Aiello

FROM THE January 9 ISSUE

IN THE Community SECTION

by Tom Sims



On December 24, Christmas Eve, Jeff Aiello posted these words to his Facebook friends: “Christmas Eve marks the official end of the Creek Fire.”
It was a great Christmas gift after four months of High Sierra burning.

[click to continue…]

Fields’ Guide to Dirty Money By Julie Mulhern: Review/Giveaway/Guest Post

FROM THE January 9 ISSUE

IN THE Cynthia Chow SECTION

by Cynthia Chow
& Julie Mulhern


Former teen celebrity and current secret-spy Poppy Fields may have risked life and limb on missions through Paris, New Orleans, and Egypt, but it’s her current one that may finally push her over the edge. Poppy’s uber-famous, narcissistic mother Chariss Carlton is getting married (again), and she is demanding that her Maid-of-Honor daughter fulfill her assigned duties by finding the perfect site for her wedding shower.

[click to continue…]

Twice the Crime This Time By Maggie Pill: Review/Giveaway/Interview

FROM THE January 9 ISSUE

IN THE Cynthia Chow SECTION

by Cynthia Chow


In the Beautiful Bird Over-55 RV Park, known to the trailer park residents as the B-Bird, the seniors of this Florida closed community are very aware of one another’s going ons and quickly take notice of anything unusual. The conclusions they make may often be a little questionable, but their innate nosiness has very recently even enabled them to solve a murder.

[click to continue…]

Serve Reedley

FROM THE January 9 ISSUE

IN THE Helping Hands SECTION

by Jim Mulligan


When Alicia, a single mom of two exuberant boys, found herself in need of some basic items for her new apartment, she didn’t know where to turn. Alicia, because of some family issues, needed to strike out on her own with her boys. She was eventually able to get an apartment, but had exhausted her financial resources doing so. While they had a roof over their heads, they didn’t have much else.

[click to continue…]

New Tricks On BritBox Streaming

FROM THE January 9 ISSUE

IN THE Kathleen Costa SECTION

by Kathleen Costa


“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is a well-worn adage that seems better suited to illustrate cultural and generational differences than an older generation incapable of learning something new. However, maybe it is a better and more successful strategy to combine the old with the new rather than scrapping one for the other. My new find, New Tricks, has a contemporary, yet seasoned, female detective superintendent being placed in charge of three older, retired, male detectives.

[click to continue…]

Martha Wells’ Mysterious Murderbot

FROM THE January 9 ISSUE

IN THE Mysteryrat's Maze SECTION

by Sharon Tucker


The best reads for many of us continue to be mysteries. For me, the mystery genre offers the challenge to discover a problem on the page then a solution that sets the world to rights again, something hard to accomplish in the world. I love the ones set in a time or place unfamiliar to me and for so long in the beginning, Golden Age Mysteries did the trick. Having read so many of those classics, after a while I looked for mystery in other times, in other genres. I’m still making discoveries and among them are the series of short novels (and one full length one) of Martha Wells, called the Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red (2017), Artificial Condition (2018), Rogue Protocol (2018), Exit Strategy (2018), and Network Effect (2020).

[click to continue…]

Shelter-In-Plays From the Fresno State Experimental Theatre Company

FROM THE January 6 ISSUE

IN THE Education SECTION

by Lorie Lewis Ham


The Fresno State Experimental Theatre Company is presenting more virtual theatre available to watch as of this weekend. We recently chatted with one of the students involved, Teya Juarez, whose show is called Z.

[click to continue…]

Peace, Love, and Crime: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of the ’60s

FROM THE January 6 ISSUE

IN THE Mysteryrat's Maze SECTION

by Claire A. Murray


The 22 tales in this anthology, although inspired by the songs of the ’60s, don’t all take place in that decade. Some will step you back in time, others contemporary, all evoking the sense of the song or its meaning in tales of theft, robbery, kidnapping, dating, family, and other relationships. From the UK to Canada and the US, these authors crafted stories that range from nostalgic to humorous, but all deadly and inspired by songs whose opening riffs are mostly familiar. If not, pull out your old LPs or CDs or log onto YouTube and have a listen as you read Peace, Love, and Crime: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of the ’60s.

[click to continue…]

Writing: Can a Dog Change Everything for a Main Character?

FROM THE January 6 ISSUE

IN THE Mysteryrat's Maze SECTION

by Kelly Brakenhoff


Not everyone loves dogs.
Shocking statement, I know. A series of dogs have left their indelible marks on me from childhood through today. As a young girl, my constant companion was Susie our Beagle, who should have been named Houdini, because she escaped on a weekly basis. Recently, our family said goodbye to Sadie, a fifteen-year-old black Cockapoo. She grew up with our sons and daughter, entertained them with her tricks, and cuddled anyone sitting on a couch.

[click to continue…]

The Best Pet Insurance for 2021

FROM THE January 4 ISSUE

IN THE Pets SECTION

by staff


Ever wondered what makes Pumpkin pet insurance perfect? In fact, what would make the best pet insurance overall? Well, there are a few things that we believe to be absolutely necessary when you are getting your hands on a pet insurance plan for your furry friend. Here they are.

[click to continue…]

How To Make Your Studio Apartment Look Amazing

FROM THE January 4 ISSUE

IN THE Community SECTION

by staff


Everyone dreams of buying a house. Some make it happen, and others choose to hop from one apartment to another. Anything works – as long as you are happy.

[click to continue…]

Animal Rescue of Fresno: Red Girl Roxanna

FROM THE January 2 ISSUE

IN THE Animal Rescue Adventures SECTION

by Wendy Hunter


Well kids, we did it. We made it through the holidays. We made it through the fudge, the popcorn balls, and way too many bottles of vino. We noshed on trays of appetizers, dips of all kinds, and cookies by the dozens. We popped Christmas crackers, shared classic stories, and vowed that 2021 will be a much better year. We remembered those we lost and toasted to the ones we still have.

[click to continue…]

Mystery Catch Up Group For Your New Year Reading!

FROM THE January 2 ISSUE

IN THE Cynthia Chow SECTION

by Sandra Murphy &
Cynthia Chow


We are starting off the new year with another catch up group of mysteries published over the last few months-A Deadly Edition: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery by Victoria Gilbert, A Death Long Overdue: A Lighthouse Library Mystery by Eva Gates, and Death by French Roast: A Bookstore Café Mystery by Alex Erickson.

[click to continue…]

Stealth: A Mystery Short Story

FROM THE January 2 ISSUE

IN THE Mysteryrat's Maze SECTION

by Merrilee Robson



It was a small sound but enough to wake her. Enid listened, holding her body still, quietening her breath so she could hear.
What was that sound? The door, that was it, the soft snick of the latch. Someone had come in.

[click to continue…]

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →

  • Arts & Entertainment

  • Books & Tales

  • Community

  • Education

  • Food Fun

  • Helping Hands

  • Hometown History

  • Pets

  • Teens

  • Terrific Tales