Authors With Ties to Pacific Palisades Have Recently Published Books
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Recent books by authors with ties to Pacific Palisades cover everything from memories of the ’50s to a memoir about caring for one’s aging father. From children to adults, these books offer something for every aged reader.
“Jimmy Dunne Says”
By Jimmy Dunne
Songwriter, screenwriter/producer of television series, entrepreneur, Palisadian Citizen of the Year and author Jimmy Dunne recently published a collection of his column, “Jimmy Dunne Says: 47 Short Stories That Are Sure to Make You Laugh, Cry—and Think.”
The column—an homage to Will Rogers’ column, “Will Rogers Says”—has been published in the Palisadian-Post since it launched in August 2021.
“‘Jimmy Dunne Says’ is a collection of author Jimmy Dunne’s best bite-sized stories that Americans everywhere are spreading and sharing,” read the book description. “These stories are heartfelt, smart and thought-provoking, and some will have you absolutely belly-laughing.”
Column topics have ranged from new fatherhood to the importance of family and friends, celebrating local events, down-sizing the family home, and slowing down to take it all in—some of which have gone viral online, amassing hundreds of thousands of comments and 35,000-plus shares.
“One thing is for sure,” the description concluded. “They’ll remind you how truly blessed you are—to be alive right now, with so much possibility knocking on your amazing door.”
“Blank”
By Zibby Owens
Marquez Knolls resident Zibby Owens—founder and CEO of Zibby Media, which includes publishing house Zibby Books, online magazine Zibby Mag, Zibby’s Book Club and more, and owner of Zibby’s Bookshop in Santa Monica—is the author of recently published novel “Blank.”
“A wife, mother and frustrated writer faces an impossible deadline for turning her life around in a hilarious debut novel about family, friendship, success and exhilarating self-(re)discovery,” read a synopsis of the book.
Fortyish-year-old Pippa Jones is a “former literary sensation” with a fear that “she will be a one-hit wonder.” With a looming deadline of five days left to finish her currently blank book, Jones follows a “brilliantly original idea.”
“From the courtyards of posh Beverly Hills hotels and Malibu mega-mansions to Brentwood and Santa Monica bookstores, Pippa races against time—in her used Volvo—and discovers more about her career, marriage, family, friends and herself than she ever could have dreamed up,” the synopsis concluded.
“Trajectory”
By Cambria Gordon
Author Cambria Gordon—a Palisadian for more than three decades—wrote “Trajectory,” a historical fiction novel geared toward young adults.
“The stirring and dramatic story of one young woman who must find a way to overcome her deepest fears in order to unlock the secret that will help America and the Allies to victory as World War II rages on,” read a synopsis of the book.
When it came to creating the main character, Eleanor, the Riviera resident said she hopes that readers are able to see themselves on the page: “Even if the characters lived 80 years ago.” The story is crafted around the previously unknown role women mathematicians played during World War II.”
“Seventeen-year-old Eleanor is nothing like her hero Eleanor Roosevelt,” read the synopsis. “She is timid and all together uncertain that she has much to offer the world … when a chance encounter proves her to be a one-in-a-generation math whiz—a fact she has worked hard all her life to hide—Eleanor gets recruited by the U.S. Army and entrusted with the ultimate challenge: to fine-tune a top-secret weapon that will help America defeat its enemies and secure the world’s freedom.”
“Time to Thank: Caregiving for My Hero”
By Steve Guttenberg
Longtime Palisadian Steve Guttenberg—who most recently served as grand marshal of the town’s Fourth of July festivities—pivoted from his work to take care of his father following a kidney failure diagnosis about six years ago, which he shared through a memoir: “Time to Thank: Caregiving for My Hero.”
“Steve dropped everything—put his career and life on hold … including moving back to the West Coast from New York City so he could be closer to tend to his father,” read a statement about the book, “ultimately becoming one of his father’s caregivers—a task he took on with his sister.”
Guttenberg—a former honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades and known for roles in films like “Diner,” “Police Academy” and “Short Circuit—became a trained dialysis technician so he could treat his dad at his home, driving back and forth between the Palisades and Arizona each week.
“During this journey, which is two-fold—physically (he drove about 800 miles roundtrip) and emotionally—Steve wrote a book, almost like a journal,” the statement continued. “The book chronicles his life as an adolescent in New York/Long Island, his road to Hollywood and his latest role, caretaker to his father, his hero.”
“Imperfect Environmentalist: How to Reduce Waste and Create Change for a Better Planet”
By Sheila Morovati
Environmental activist Sheila Morovati—founder of Habits of Waste and Crayon Collection—wrote “Imperfect Environmentalist: How to Reduce Waste and Create Change for a Better Planet” to share “her expertise and passion for sustainable living.”
The Highlands resident aimed to offer “readers practical and actionable strategies to make a positive impact on the planet,” according to a statement. The book follows her journey creating Crayon Collection and Habits of Waste, exploring “the impact and motivation” behind her “desire to mitigate the impact of waste.”
“I believe that everyone can make a difference, regardless of how big or small their actions are,” Morovati wrote. “People regularly asked me how I was able to create so much change. This book is the story of how I did it, and how you can too.”
The book offers “sustainable action” items, like switching to eight plant-based meals per week, opting for reusable ware, and using or repurposing materials already available.
“Lil Redfoo’s Ridiculous Adventure”
By Nancy Leiviska and Stefan “Redfoo” Gordy
Music, plant-based lifestyle, solar power, rescue animals, a trip to an island on a boat … all fit into one children’s book: “Lil Redfoo’s Ridiculous Adventure” is written by Palisadian Nancy Leiviska and Stefan “Redfoo” Gordy.
Both authors are well known for their work in the music industry: Gordy for being part of international pop duo LMFAO (“Party Rock Anthem,” “Sexy and I Know It”) and Leiviska as “a pioneer in the music video world.” Leiviska has lived in the Palisades since 1976, and Gordy graduated from Palisades Charter High School and played sports in the community.
“Lil Redfoo’s Ridiculous Adventure” follows Momfoo and Lil’ Redfoo—characters inspired by their likeness. Lil’ Redfoo wakes up from a “ridiculous” dream where the two of them head off to Dogalina Island—inspired by Catalina Island. There are QR codes placed in the book, which, when scanned, play Gordy’s song “Let’s Get Ridiculous”—which is also the inspiration for the title of the book.
“We pledge to always include music, plant-based lifestyle, animals and plenty of fun to share with your children,” the authors said in a statement. “Thank you for taking the time to read to your children.”
“Memory-Go-Round: Ride of a Lifetime” and “With Or Without Camel: Reporting from India, Atlantis, the Santa Barbara jail … ”
By Stewart Slavin
Palisades High School alum Stewart Slavin, who graduated with the Class of 1964, wrote not one, but two books that were published in 2024: “Memory-Go-Round: Ride of a Lifetime” and “With Or Without Camel: Reporting from India, Atlantis, the Santa Barbara jail … ”
Slavin—who retired after a 40-year career in journalism, covering the Asia-Pacific region as a foreign correspondent in addition to other places as a reporter and editor—said that he wondered what to do next, but knew that he had to keep writing.
“‘Memory-Go-Round: Ride of a Lifetime’ is a compilation of short stories I have written, along with photos, many involving the Palisades of the 1950s through the ’70s,” Slavin said of the book. “I found myself drawn to the memories I had growing up, and the people and places that had fascinated me. I dove into newspaper archives to discover even more tales of the past.”
It includes “mini histories and personality profiles of Hollywood stars,” restaurants (including The Hot Dog Show and House of Lee), music, events and more.
“With Or Without Camel” covers Slavin’s two-decade-plus career with a wire service, United Press International.
“Reporters and foreign correspondents are supposed to report the news, not wind up in the headlines themselves,” Slavin wrote, “but that’s exactly what happened to me … ”
Now residing in Asheville, North Carolina, Slavin grew up in Rustic Canyon and was editor of Pali High’s newspaper, Tideline. He then attended UCLA and UC Santa Barbara before his career as a journalist.
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