Inside Sacramento

24/01/2025

THE MORNING FORK

The Morning Fork opened on 21st Street in 2019. Owners Keith and Jennifer Swiryn took over the site occupied by Lucky Cafe. They updated the menu, dining room and experience. The Morning Fork is one of the most popular breakfast restaurants in town.

One glance tells the story. Open the front door and notice every stool taken along the counter. You’ll find steaming cups of coffee on every table. You’ll see the grill get a workout, producing fried eggs, pancakes and crisped hash browns.

Service is prompt and friendly. The morning shift brings a ray of sunshine with them. Coffee is fast and frequent. Check-ins are quick and casual.

A standout fried chicken is a favorite. The batter is spiked with sage and more than 11 herbs and spices, the perfect combo of crispy and juicy.

There’s more. Alongside the chicken is an indulgent side of sausage gravy that puts every bite over the top. A piece of Morning Fork’s fried chicken smothered in homemade gravy is the stuff of breakfast dreams and cardiology nightmares.

Other creative offerings arrive from the sweet side. The “Waffle Queen” takes a thick Belgian waffle and tops it with marshmallow butter, banana, dark chocolate shavings, toasted coconut, Reese’s crumbles and rainbow sprinkles.

Not recommended by dentists, it’s a favorite of sweet breakfast lovers.

The Morning Fork is tuned into what this breakfast diner wants: a classic, retro, homey spot with dialed-in modern cooking.

Written By Greg Sabin
Photography By Linda Smolek

24/01/2025

Champions of Breakfast
Two Midtown winners start the day right
Two Midtown breakfast spots span the spectrum from old-fashioned to new-fangled. Both create delightful mornings with excellent cooking.

THE MORNING FORK
The Morning Fork opened on 21st Street in 2019. Owners Keith and Jennifer Swiryn took over the site occupied by Lucky Cafe. They updated the menu, dining room and experience. The Morning Fork is one of the most popular breakfast restaurants in town.

One glance tells the story. Open the front door and notice every stool taken along the counter. You’ll find steaming cups of coffee on every table. You’ll see the grill get a workout, producing fried eggs, pancakes and crisped hash browns.

Service is prompt and friendly. The morning shift brings a ray of sunshine with them. Coffee is fast and frequent. Check-ins are quick and casual.

A standout fried chicken is a favorite. The batter is spiked with sage and more than 11 herbs and spices, the perfect combo of crispy and juicy.

There’s more. Alongside the chicken is an indulgent side of sausage gravy that puts every bite over the top. A piece of Morning Fork’s fried chicken smothered in homemade gravy is the stuff of breakfast dreams and cardiology nightmares.

Other creative offerings arrive from the sweet side. The “Waffle Queen” takes a thick Belgian waffle and tops it with marshmallow butter, banana, dark chocolate shavings, toasted coconut, Reese’s crumbles and rainbow sprinkles.

Not recommended by dentists, it’s a favorite of sweet breakfast lovers.

The Morning Fork is tuned into what this breakfast diner wants: a classic, retro, homey spot with dialed-in modern cooking.

SUNNY SIDE BREAKFAST & ASIAN FUSION
Two blocks away, a new breakfast and brunch restaurant opened in October and is generating buzz. Sunny Side Breakfast & Asian Fusion combines traditional American favorites with breakfast and brunch treats from Asia.

Sunny Side is on 19th Street at Capitol Avenue. Gelato lovers may remember the location as home of Devine Gelateria. Gone are the cold cases and Italian street scene photos. New are TV monitors playing footage of waterfalls and lush foliage.

If you don’t follow food trends on social media, you might not know Asian breakfast is having a moment. Sunny Side draws influence from Japan, Korea and Taiwan, and throws in a Hawaiian flair.

The hallmark is omurice. The Japanese dish, featuring a pile of rice topped with a soft omelet and sauce, is an internet star.

Start with a pile of fried rice, add a spiral-swirled “tornado omelet,” add a piece of grilled eel, then finish with eel sauce, and garnish with micro greens and sesame seeds. The dish is no small undertaking to make or devour. It’s delicious.

Don’t overlook Sunny Side’s version of Loco Moco, Korean fried chicken and waffles, and Korean noodles with pork belly and fried egg. All exciting dishes, done well.

The Morning Fork is at 1111 21st St.; (916) 476-6765; themorningfork.com. Sunny Side Breakfast & Asian Fusion is at 1221 19th St.; (916) 594-9384.

Written By Greg Sabin
Photography By Linda Smolek

Greg Sabin can be reached at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: .

24/01/2025

23/01/2025

CHILDREN’S MUSICALS
NorCal Arts and Fairytale Town have partnered to provide fun, free and engaging live musicals and plays at the popular children’s park.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Fairytale Town to introduce little guests to the magical world of live performance that we hope will foster a big love of the arts,” says Michele Hillen-Noufer, NorCal Arts’ executive director.

Now playing is “Little Bird’s Second Chance” created by NorCal Arts playwright Dorothea Bonneau and composer and musical director Rob Broadhurst. The 25-minute musical is perfect for children ages 2–6.

Performances are weekends at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. in the Children’s Theater and are free with park admission.

For information, visit norcalarts.org and fairytaletown.org.

23/01/2025

Risk Averse
Self-defense is more than throwing punches
One recent afternoon, I stood in a Midtown workout studio called Her Elevated, dressed for movement with other women. We were learning to defend ourselves.

I was ready to throw some punches. But when instructor Lisa Thew, owner of self-defense training company Diamond Defense, started the class, I was handed a binder and asked to sit on a couch.

For the next hour, Thew took the group through lessons in risk assessment and awareness that form the basis of R**e Aggression Defense.

It’s a system of self-defense that uses unique strengths of the female body. The system works for women of all ages and physical abilities.

No punches were thrown until the next hour. Then we learned techniques from the Korean martial art form hapkido to resist and escape an attack. The main point was not to stage our own superhero action sequence.

“The RAD approach is holistic—you don’t just throw punches,” says Thew, who was introduced to the defensive system 20 years ago. “We talk a lot about how to prevent ourselves from ever having to deal with that in the first place, how can we not be targets.”

“It’s like wearing a seat belt,” she continues. “You never want to be in a car accident, but when we get in a car, you put it on. I think about self-defense like that. You never want to have to use this, but you want that seat belt on just in case.”

After her introduction to the defense technique, Thew was hooked. She felt joy “watching my fellow co-workers learn and become empowered throughout the three-day course.”

She took so many defense classes that an instructor suggested Thew get certified. Five years later, she founded Diamond Defense.

Thew taught classes on and off between jobs. When she and her wife, Kelley Ogden, moved to Sacramento in 2005, Thew did sales and marketing for Outword Magazine. Then she moved into box office management at Sacramento Theatre Company.

She worked as executive assistant for the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce and did box office duty for Capital Stage and B Street Theatre. She eventually landed at UC Davis School of Medicine, managing the standardized patient program.

Throughout her career, Thew wanted to devote more time to training women and girls to defend themselves. When a neck injury sidelined her for months and forced her to leave her job, Thew decided, “I need to be doing (Diamond Defense). This is the time.”

She planned a class schedule and built relationships with women fitness studio owners to host classes. Thew teaches at KSMY Martial Arts on Riverside Boulevard and Her Elevated on S Street.

“If you’re a human female, you have options to defend yourself,” Thew says. “It’s important to learn what those options are, and they’re not the same for everyone. We figure out what yours are and teach you how to use them. We all have options. Learn yours.”

As I strode outside after class, I felt more capable in my own abilities, less afraid and more aware walking down the street. Self-defense is a girl’s best friend.

For information, visit diamonddefense.com and on Instagram.

Written By Jessica Laskey
Photography By Aniko Kiezel

Jessica Laskey can be reached at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: .

22/01/2025

That’s Italian
East Sac hot spot builds its legacy on old favorite
Eight years ago, the Selland Family Restaurants debuted their newest concept, OBO’ Italian Table & Bar. The Folsom Boulevard space once housed Andiamo, a beloved East Sacramento institution. OBO’ kept the Italian fire burning and became a neighborhood favorite.

Similar to Selland’s Market-Cafe, OBO’ combines hot case and cold case foods—beet salad, Caesar salad, chicken breast, mac and cheese. The similarities stop there.

OBO’s menu runs deep into Italian recipes and preparations. Pasta dishes and Italian sandwiches fill the menu and leave room for pizza.

First let’s talk about the building. The low-slung, handsome brick edifice seems from another age, industrial and weathered. Step inside and the brightness of a sunny day fills the space at lunch. High ceilings and modern lights soften the room at dinner.

Large wooden tables, some for communal dining and others for parties, spread across the room. Window walls lend an ethereal air.

A marble-topped bar fills one corner. A towering shelf of Italian liqueurs and American favorites rise to the ceiling. The bar feels like a departure from Selland’s other fast casual eateries.

Unlike those grab-and-go spots, OBO’ feels like a place where you can sit, have a drink, eat a plate of pasta and catch up with a friend.

At lunch, employees from the adjacent Sutter Heath campus arrive, alongside neighborhood regulars enjoying a languorous meal. The buzz is constant with to-go orders.

At dinner, afterwork parties spend time at the bar while their pizzas bake. Or Sutter workers take something home for the family. The room gets loud and boisterous for those who come for a night out.

The menu has plenty to choose from, but the pasta plates are serious. This is no Italian deli that serves tortellini as an afterthought. These are crafted dishes with undeniable intentions.

The short rib lasagna is intense and decadent, a dense rectangle of short rib ragu, pancetta, tomato, parmesan and toasted breadcrumbs.

The rigatoni with bolognese hits all the marks. A seasonal plate of gnocchi with sage, sausage and butternut squash was well executed.

The sandwiches hold their own. A Chicago-meets-California Italian beef comes together with shaved short rib, fontina, giardiniera and spicy lemon mayo on a toasted hoagie. The meatball sub is foundational with classic meatballs covered in marinara and mozzarella, all on a ciabatta roll.

The pizzas are in line with Selland’s other pies at the market-cafes. The crust is just past tender, bordering on crackery. Toppings are generous, combinations creative. A seasonal pie with pear and prosciutto hits the top rank, edging out the sausage and alfredo, with a generous helping of kale, potato and parmesan.

OBO’ Italian Table & Bar has everything you want from an East Sac (or Midtown or Downtown) restaurant: quick and hearty lunches, easy takeaway dinners, fresh and seasonal entrees, and a happening bar.

Thanks to OBO’s enviable location near health care facilities and East Sac homes, it survived the pandemic. It’s fair to say OBO’ fills the gap Andiamo left and will fill it for decades.

OBO’ Italian Table & Bar is at 3145 Folsom Blvd.; (916) 822-8720; oboitalian.com.

Written By Greg Sabin
Photography By Linda Smolek

Greg Sabin can be reached at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: .

21/01/2025

January HOME featured in Inside Sacramento

21/01/2025

Living History
Land Park home honors architect who shaped the city
The 1937 Spanish Revival-style duplex in Land Park is the perfect place for retired architect Peter Saucerman and his wife Susan Twining.

The house features an owner-occupied unit of 2,200 square feet and another 1,100-square-foot rental. The owner’s side has three bedrooms and two bathrooms on two floors connected with a curving staircase, plus a two-car garage.

Local architect Leonard F. Starks designed the property for himself and his wife Eleanor. One of the city’s most prolific architects, Starks designed the Elks Tower, C.K. McClatchy High School, Downtown Post Office and Alhambra Theatre, the latter demolished but still missed.

Starks lived in the home until his death in 1986 at age 94. Saucerman bought the property in 1995 after it sat for nine months and was nearly repossessed by a bank.

Saucerman was smitten the moment he walked in and saw the luminous windows and wood-beamed living room ceiling. “The details were just amazing,” Saucerman says. “The light was so interesting since it came from various directions.”

He was stunned when he realized the connection to Starks. “I found that Starks had been a founder of the architectural firm Nacht & Lewis, where I once worked. But I had never met Leonard. I remember that architectural partner Dick Lewis used to visit him and look out for him.”

Saucerman was in no rush to update the home, but that changed when he and Twining married in 2003. The couple started with a kitchen remodel that honored the architectural heritage. Later they remodeled the upstairs bathroom with the same respect for history.

The kitchen remodel opened the closed, dark space to the dining room. The dining room ceiling beams have the same stenciled designs as the living room.

“Before and after our wedding and honeymoon, we were busy finishing all the cherry cabinets in the kitchen by hand,” says Twining, a retired nurse. “We had the cabinets custom made but we were very particular about the exact finish.”

The home faces Riverside Boulevard and has a tiny yard. The couple turned the yard into an outdoor patio. They built a painted brick wall to match the home’s white exterior, added concrete pavers and a semi-circle fountain to extend the planter detailing.

Lush landscaping with climbing vines and sago palms creates an interesting green backdrop. A seating area for dining and relaxing highlights the area.

“Getting the duplex onto the Sacramento Register of Historic Resources in 2022 was a pandemic-era project for me,” Saucerman says.

He was encouraged by his friend and neighbor Curtis Popp, a designer who did the same for his Art Moderne home down the street. Saucerman worked with Don Cox and Paula Boghosian, a husband-and-wife team who owned Historic Environment Consultants.

“This home always represented an opportunity for us, but also a responsibility to preserve it into the future,” Saucerman says.

Starks helped with the historic registration process. He left a trove of drawings and photo albums dating from 1915. The treasures showed people and projects from the architect’s life.

“On many occasions I referred to his original drawing to make decisions on things to restore,” Saucerman says. “Susan and I act more like curators than anything else. We never felt a need, or even really a reason, to do any great remodels or big changes to it. Painting, repairs and HVAC upgrades are really all we’ve done. Even the windows are mostly original.”

Now in their early 70s, the couple plans to age in place as Starks did. “We have a small bedroom and full bath on the lower level if we ever need it,” Twining says. “Otherwise, we can easily accommodate a chair lift on the staircase. And right outside our door is a bus stop to get anywhere.”

When it’s time to pass along their perfect place, Saucerman says, “We hope the next owner will continue to honor the magnificent history of this home. And love it as much as we do now.”

Written By Cecily Hastings
Photography By Aniko Kiezel

Cecily Hastings can be reached at [email protected]. To recommend a home or garden, contact [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: .

20/01/2025

Day Tripping
County program gives shelter dogs a break
Cinnabon is a cinnamon-colored pit bull, all muscle with a tongue that dangles from a smile stretching the limits of her wide jawbones.

Okapi, a solid black German shepherd, has gigantic puppy paws that, at 4 years old, she has yet to grow into.
Tom is a senior—an 8-year-old mix of rottweiler, shepherd, perhaps a little pit bull.

All three dogs are gentle, calm and curious. They are ideal candidates to get out of the county animal shelter and walk a park trail, lounge on shaded grass, sneak favors on a restaurant patio—even for just one day.

Last year, the county’s Bradshaw Animal Shelter launched Barks & Recreation, a program that gives shelter pups a daylong break from kennels, a respite from the stress of living behind bars.

“Barks & Recreation is not just about giving dogs a break from the shelter—it’s about enriching their lives and preparing them for a forever home,” Shelter Director Annette Bedsworth says.

Field trips help dogs develop social skills and meet potential adopters. “Plus, it’s a great way for the public to enjoy the company of a loving dog without a long-term commitment,” Bedsworth adds.

Appointments to pick up a dog are seven days a week, every 30 minutes from 9–11 a.m. Up to five dogs get outings each day.

To ensure a good dog-to-person fit, questions include preferred size and breed. Shelter staff pre-select well-mannered canines who are less likely to be adopted and have been at the shelter for long stretches. Shepherds, huskies and pit bulls dominate.

“Small dogs are eligible for the program but are adopted quickly,” Bedsworth says. “Medium and large dogs, who are often overlooked and stay in our care longer, benefit the most.”

Matches are made based on the canine’s energy level and the person’s handling experience. Will the day’s activities be couch cuddling at home with a movie, short strolls and people watching, or long hikes and maybe some swimming?

Cinnabon’s day began with a 3-mile trek around Ancil Hoffman Park, followed by lunch at La Bou in Carmichael and squirrel surveillance at William B. Pond Recreation Area.

Okapi crossed Tower Bridge to walk along the West Sacramento waterfront, toured Old Sac, took treats on Selland’s patio on H Street and strolled around McKinley Park.

Tom led the way along the American River Parkway near Nimbus Dam, made friends at Jack’s Urban Eats in Gold River and wandered the Old Fair Oaks shopping district.

Bradshaw provides a backpack with dog treats, collapsible water bowl, p**p bags and emergency contact information.
Dog parks and interactions with other animals are off limits, but human encounters offer hope for adoption. Bedsworth says, “Barks & Recreation showcases their wonderful personalities to potential adopters one adventure at a time.”
Make an appointment to take a dog out at animalcare.saccounty.gov, under “About.”

Written By Cathryn Rakich

Cathryn Rakich can be reached at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: .

17/01/2025

Garrison Keillor Tonight
GD Theatres

Saturday, Jan. 18, 7:30 p.m.

Enjoy an evening of stand-up, storytelling, song and poetry with the iconic “one man, one microphone.”

Crest Theatre
1013 K Street, Sacramento

crestsacramento.com
Tickets: $56–$78

17/01/2025

Deep Impression
Chris Daubert inspired generations of art students
Chris Daubert had a great attitude.

“Chris was exciting to be around,” says artist Jill Estroff, who met the late artist, educator and curator in Daubert’s art history survey class at Sacramento City College.

“His boundless enthusiasm for art infused his classes and everyday conversation with an energy that was catching and gave students courage to develop their skills and put their work out there.”

Over the decades, Daubert inspired countless students and fellow creatives. When he died of organ failure in May 2023, he left an impression on the local artistic landscape that continues today. He was 72.

“His best work was reliant on his manipulation of how we perceive the world and art,” says artist Fred Dalkey, a longtime Sac City colleague.

Daubert’s work included drawings, paintings and large-scale mixed-media installations. Estroff remembers one exhibition that involved an “environment of entangled branches that emitted almost musical and haunting sounds as you wandered. Another creation was activated by movement and sound. These experiences stayed with you.”

Several Daubert pieces were displayed in a memorial exhibition at Twisted Track Gallery on R Street in December, curated by Nisa Hayden, who adored the artist.

“Chris hadn’t had a solo show in Sacramento for some years and I felt it would be appreciated,” Hayden says. “He was such a beloved figure in the art community. I also hoped—and do hope—that some of the work sells and finds a home outside of his studio.”

While Daubert’s work has been celebrated, his gifts as a person and mentor stick most with people.

“In addition to being an artist whose work we both deeply admired, he was a wonderful person and so giving of his time and expertise to many,” says Victoria Dalkey, longtime art critic and wife of artist Fred Dalkey. “He was a superb artist and teacher and a mentor to many artists who were just starting out.”

Estroff recalls Daubert’s efforts to support colleagues and his community, including helping build a studio for a fellow artist and an entrance ramp for a friend injured in a fall.

He curated more than 100 exhibitions for educational institutions and galleries, including Beatnik Studios, Richard L. Nelson Gallery at UC Davis and Sac City’s Gregory Kondos Gallery where he served as curator for 12 years.

Daubert and his wife of 50 years, Dana, donated $1 million to establish the Christopher D. and Dana Daubert Endowment for Art Education to support the Gregory Kondos Gallery.

His death spurred remembrances and tales of the artist’s keen eye, honesty, generosity and creativity that still inspire.

“Mentor and dear friend, he nurtured so many people’s dreams for a creative life,” Estroff says. “His presence will long linger and influence those of us lucky enough to have known him.”

Written By Jessica Laskey
Photography By Linda Smolek

Jessica Laskey can be reached at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: .

16/01/2025

LIVE PERFORMANCE

Global Rhythms
Dance and Music of Our World
African/Mexican/Chinese/Aerial/Hmong/Brazilian

This multi-cultural dance and music showcase features African, Mexican, Chinese, Ukrainian, Hmong, Brazilian and Aerial Aboriginal performances.

Images Theatre Company
GUILD THEATRE
2828 35rh Street
Sacramento

Saturday, Jan. 18, 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 19, 2 p.m.

imagestheatrecompany.org
Tickets: $23 adults; $17 students/kids

16/01/2025

Criminal Intent
City breaks law by hiding bridge records
One difference between City Hall today and a dozen years ago when I worked there is we tried to follow the law.

I can’t say we followed every rule to black-letter perfection. But we respected our civic duties. Most of the time.

OK, we took liberties with personal phones. We pretended anything texted or emailed on our private, non-city phone accounts was off-limits to snoops who file public records requests.

We were wrong to hide city business on personal phones. We broke the rules. Shame on us.

These days, City Hall is far more brazen when it comes to violating state laws that guarantee public access to public documents.

Now if the city doesn’t like your records request, the strategy is to stall and make up reasons to hide information. A favorite trick is to bury embarrassing material under a tombstone called “exempt” communications.

What’s an “exempt” communication? Anything the city wants to conceal.

Public records aren’t complicated. They include texts, emails, reports, phone logs, agreements, meeting notes and photos produced by bureaucrats, consultants, contractors and elected officials doing public business.

For the past six months, my friend Jim Geary has tried to obtain city documents about the Interstate 5 Land Park bicycle bridge fiasco.

The city continues to play games with Jim. First, he was told there’s nothing to see. Case closed. Then he was informed there might be records. But only “non-exempt” records.

You know about the bridge. It’s supposed to connect the Sacramento River Parkway levee bike trail with the Del Rio Trail. The $12 million structure is next to a 1970s railroad span over the freeway and Riverside Boulevard near Land Park.

When the bike bridge was supposed to open last summer, the city realized something was wrong. Officials examined the new span and discovered—surprise!—inferior concrete and rebar.

What to do? Tear the bridge down and start over, the city told the contractor.

My friend Jim is a retired lawyer with a curious mind. He figured there must be bridge documents swirling around City Hall that would make interesting if not incriminating reading.

Jim wants to know how the city blundered into the bridge mess. He wants to know who’s responsible.

He—and everyone reading this—has a right to those records. State law falls heavily on disclosure’s side.

Residents have a right to learn how their city allowed unacceptable concrete and rebar to find its way across a 10-lane freeway. Citizens have a right to know why months passed before anyone figured out something was wrong.

When Jim began chasing documents, the city posted a public notice: “We understand the frustration and desire for greater communication and transparency, but we also need to manage legal risks in disclosing information prematurely.”

Jim smelled a rat. He says, “‘Legal risks’ is simply a scam to avoid disclosure. How can there be a risk of disclosure of communication between the city and the bridge builder, other than the risk to make the city look bad?”

He reviewed the California Public Records Act and confirmed his suspicions. The law says, “A document is protected from disclosure only if it was specifically prepared for use in litigation.”

Jim wants records dating back several months. None were prepared for litigation purposes.

The city’s “legal risk” makes disclosure essential. Jim tells me, “The public interest in the activities of a public agency is quite likely to be highest when the agency is being sued. That is exactly the time when members of the public become aware of possible misdeeds or undesirable practices on the part of the agency.”

The city’s refusal to release embarrassing documents about the bike bridge—excuses cloaked in garbage about “non-exempt” communications and “legal risks”—is a coverup.

A dozen years ago at City Hall, we hid political stuff on personal phones. We burned some bridges. But never across a freeway.

Written By R.E. Graswich
Photography By Aniko Kiezel

R.E. Graswich was special assistant to Mayor Kevin Johnson 2009–2012. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: .

15/01/2025

Glass, China & Pottery Sale
International Depression Glass Club

Saturday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 19, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

See and purchase vintage and mid-century glass, china, pottery, jewelry, linens, kitchenware, silver and more.

Scottish Rite Center (6151 H St.); idgc.org

Admission: $6 ($5 if you mention Inside Sacramento);
2-for-1 on Sunday

14/01/2025

Jill Estroff
Jane Gallery
Jan. 3–Feb. 18
1000 Alhambra Blvd, Sac
Revel in the artist’s loose, abstract style with vivid color and texture at this new gallery owned by artist Jane Mikacich next door to the Limelight.

janegallery.com
To schedule a viewing outside of gallery hours, please call (916) 573-0575

Second Saturday, January 11 from 5pm-8pm
Meet the Artists, January 18 from 2pm-4pm
Second Saturday, February 8 from 5pm-8pm

14/01/2025

POCKET AUTHOR KEEPS HER READERS GUESSING
I love a good mystery, especially when the main characters are small town newspaper reporters. Set the story in the Sacramento Delta and I’m hooked.

Award-winning author Michele Drier writes to my tastes. A longtime Pocket resident, she’s produced 18 books that include mysteries and paranormal romance.

I met Drier at the State Fair. She was part of a program where authors introduce their books to the public. When Drier mentioned living in Pocket, I had to learn more.

A fifth-generation Californian, her family settled in San Francisco in 1849. Born in Santa Cruz, she was named Michael, after actress and writer Blanche Oelrichs, who wrote under the name Michael Strange.

“Eventually my mother changed my name to Michele so people would know I was a girl,” Drier says.

Drier spent several years as an investigative reporter at the San Jose Mercury News. She also edited newspapers in Modesto and Lodi.

She loves talking about writing and helping authors. In 2020, she co-chaired Bouchercon, the oldest and largest convention for authors and fans of mystery and detective fiction. Drier is past president of Capitol Crimes, a local group for mystery lovers.

A history buff, Drier spends hours researching historical locations and events for her books. Characters include bits and pieces of herself and acquaintances.

In “Labeled for Death,” she mentions the Grands, Sacramento women savvy in local politics. The group is based on real women Drier met through a neighbor, Illa Collin, the late former county supervisor.

“I used them in the book because it seemed sensible that Amy Hobbes, the editor of a local newspaper, would relish a chance to get behind-the-scenes information about local politics,” Drier says.

The book is part of the “Amy Hobbes Newspaper Mysteries,” published in 2011. Characters in the three-book series are based on Drier’s newspaper coworkers.

“The Kandesky Vampire Chronicles” are 11 books in the paranormal romance genre. “My heroines are modern-day women who travel to Budapest, where they fall in love with men who just happen to be vampires. My vampires don’t kill anyone. There’s more s*x on the page than violence,” she says.

In 2019, Drier published “The Stained Glass Mysteries.” She says, “I wanted to write a cozy mystery with an edge.”
These days, she’s busy with critique circles and speaking engagements. Of her work habits, she says, “I wish I were a more disciplined writer. I’ll set aside two or three days a week to write. In my head, I usually know the beginning and ending of a story. The middle evolves as I write. I often lull myself to sleep creating the next chapter.”

Drier always finishes one book before she starts another. She’s writing the 12th book in the vampire series, with plans for another mystery. The plot involves tracking down stolen art around Europe. Her memoirs are also planned.

The books are available on Amazon and in local libraries.
For information, visit micheledrier.me.

Written By Corky Mau
Photography By Aniko Kiezel