We’re delighted to report that three more California cities — Santa Barbara, Sacramento, and Whittier — have just selected My California as their One City, One Book picks.

Wow!

Santa Barbara will be reading the anthology in late September-October, in connection with the Santa Barbara Book and Author Festival. Sacramento is reading My California in October as a companion to the California Uncovered anthology, another terrific collection. And Whittier is planning its My California-fest for February 2007.

We love that My California is keeping company with To Kill A Mockingbird, Tuesdays with Morrie, Grapes of Wrath, and Fahrenheit 451, just a few of the classics that California communities have read in recent years.

[A bit of background for new readers to this site: My California is a collection of narrative travel stories by twenty-seven of California's best writers. The anthology is a collaboration between Angel City Press and CaliforniaAuthors.com. All of the contributors donated their work so that proceeds could benefit the California Arts Council and writing programs for children statewide.]

At book festivals, libraries, campuses, bookstores, and living rooms around the state, the anthology inevitably inspires people to talk about their own California stories. They often share their concerns about the lack of arts funding in their schools and communities and their disappointment that neighborhood libraries are closed a lot more often than they used to be. Many readers have told us they like the opportunity to sample so many of California’s finest novelists, nonfiction authors, and poets all in one volume. Everyone loves the beautiful cover. (Artist David Hockey and the J. Paul Getty Museum generously donated use of Pearblossom Hwy).

In March, Long Beach became the first California city to read My California. The Long Beach Public Library Foundation printed a special edition — copies of My California are now in every Long Beach school and library. The Press-Telegram sponsored a citywide “My California” essay contest. Venues across town hosted book discussions, lectures, a training session for teachers, art workshops, and celebrations of California food, art and history. Long Beach has been a pioneer in the One City, One Book movement, and we have to say that the city really gave My California the royal treatment.

Stay tuned for more details about the next three cities savoring this little book with a great big heart.

P.S. Nice mentions of our news at LAObserved and Ghost Word.