Carquinez Review

Writings from the Carquinez Strait shoreline communities

Benicia's Literary Society and book publisher, Benicia Literary Arts have launched a new book of short stories, Carquinez Review, encompassing selected prose writers from Benicia and throughout the North Bay region. Benicia Literary Arts' editor in chief, Mary Eichbauer describes the collection as “26 introspective pieces set in disparate places, from Vermont and Oklahoma, to Mars and beyond.”

There were many submissions and the stories selected by a panel of six judges represent the best of the region's growing community of talented writers. "Benicia's poets and authors, as well as our artists, are familiar names at open mics, in bookstores and at exhibits throughout the Bay Area," says Jim White, Carquinez Review's Project Editor in his introduction.

Great writing is nothing new for the North Bay and Carquinez Review is following in the footsteps of a precursor. "If this book were a ship, it would be on its second sailing, not its maiden voyage," Jim adds. An earlier edition, published in 2000 by Dave Badtke, showcased Benicia and the North Bay region’s artists and writers with an eclectic mix of memoir, fiction, poetry, photography, and art.

Carquinez Review will be available for purchase on Amazon and at local bookstores, such as Bookshop Benicia.

Benicia Literary Arts encourages reading and writing in the community by producing events, creating a community of writers and readers, encouraging their development, and publishing works of high quality in all genres. Previous Benicia Literary Arts publications include, The Book of Joel, Late Harvest Green, poetry anthologies and collections by Benicia poets.

Wildflower, A Tale Of Transcendence

Local author Dr. Teresa Van Woy’s new book Wildflower, a Tale of Transcendence will also be released in November. It is a memoir that begins in 1974, when Teresa's much anticipated summer vacation falls apart when 5 of her 8 siblings board a Greyhound bus in California headed back to their home in Florida. Teresa demonstrates that her survival in overcoming poverty and abuse leads to finding a life of abundance, meaning, and inspiration.

Dr Teresa Van Woy currently lives in Benicia, California with her husband and three daughters. She is a board certified podiatrist with a passion for world travel, writing, photography, martial arts, and woodworking.

Bookshop Benicia

Reading in the Time of Pandemic

Jeannine Mendoza Ed.D

Longtime Bookshop Benicia proprietor Christine Mayall has never had a year quite like 2020. Her bookstore on First Street is a veritable fixture, having moved from the Southampton Shopping Center in 2012, where she first set up shop in 1993. Her cheerful store has a wide selection of books for children and adults, as well as book-related merchandise, like toys, cards and gifts. Book signings, book clubs, book reviews and other literary events were commonplace. Book orders and online sales were welcomed. Business was booming, and then the pandemic hit.

In the beginning of the COVID pandemic, people were too stunned and distracted to concentrate much on reading. Suffering from news overload, facing isolation from friends and family, and discarding one’s daily routine, threw everyone for a loop.

As the days and weeks passed, people became accustomed to the pandemic lifestyle. They began ordering books; picking them up at the store, and ultimately staying home more, Christine noticed that people were reading about other pandemics, in particular the 1918 Spanish Influenza. Readers were also drawn to science fiction that pertained to dystopias, other worlds and fantasy universes. Mid-May the store reopened with limited shoppers and the requisite facemasks, and Christine noted that readers began binge-reading books much as they were bingewatching television series. The main choices were comfort books, favorite authors, beloved classics and lighter fare. As the summer wore on, non-fiction titles dealing with racism and politics became popular, reflecting the issues Americans are facing nationally. Now that school has started online, Christine has found that many parents are purchasing books, workbooks and other materials for their school-aged children.

Benicia has always had a reputation as a reading community. Benicia Unified School District has continuously had stellar test scores and an enviably high standing in the state. BUSD is aligned with community activities such as Benicia Reads, an early literacy program that offers support for all children from birth to age five, and community programs with the Benicia Public Library, as well. The consequence of this enlightened community attitude and support for reading is that Christine’s Bookshop Benicia is not facing financial failure like other area bookshops, and is solvent, so far. Benicians understand that small businesses underscore and extend a desirable quality of life in a community, and show their regard for restaurants, mom and pop stores and independent bookstores with their muchappreciated patronage. And this attitude benefits us all.