Jessica Blough - Profile and Journalist Details

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• 10 New Books for March

  By Jessica Blough, Maisie Hurwitz| altaonline.com@ Books10 New Books for March10 New Books for MarchThis month, we’ve got our eyes on The Pacific Circuit, Coastal: 130 Recipes from a California Road Trip, The Dream Hotel, and seven other titles from authors of and on the West. 1THE ANTIDOTE, BY KAREN RUSSELLKnopfA Prairie Witch, the witch’s apprentice, a farmer, and a scarecrow. These are not the characters of an L.

  By Jessica Blough, Maisie Hurwitz · altaonline.com

  Feb. 28, 2025

• Sara Sligar’s “Vantage Point” portrays a cursed family

  By Jessica Blough| altaonline.com@ Sara Sligar begins her second novel, Vantage Point, in the depths of the ocean, as a character is in the middle of drowning. It’s a warning that we have entered a sinister territory. Then the scene shifts to land, where we meet siblings Teddy and Clara Wieland. Teddy, the older, appears to be the voice of responsibility; he became his sister’s guardian after their parents died. Clara has been in and out of eating disorder rehabs and has a history of drug use and hallucinations.

  By Jessica Blough · altaonline.com

  Jan. 20, 2025

• Female Leaders of the Northern California Literary Scene

  By Jessica Blough| California Book Club@ Something remarkable is happening in the Bay Area. Particularly in the past decade, women in the Bay Area have taken the helm of presses, festivals, and community organizations, leading a vibrant post-pandemic revival of a literary community that continues to grow. As of 2019, cis women outnumber men in the publishing industry nearly three to one, with particular dominance in the children’s-book industry. In 2020, women passed men in the number of books published that year.

  By Jessica Blough · California Book Club

  Dec. 24, 2024

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Company Info

Alta Online

With a mix of stories as diverse and vibrant as the place it covers, Alta Journal demystifies and illuminates California and the West for our readers. From provocative essays to investigative pieces, original fiction to cultural commentary, sumptuous photos to topical cartoons, the quarterly examines this compelling and complex region through a literary lens. The journal's large pages, full-bleed photos, and perfect binding celebrate the power and beauty of print. Founded in 2017 by William R. Hearst III, Alta Journal provides an exciting—and much-needed—literary perspective on the West, sparking conversations that are as diverse and vibrant as the place itself. Alta's commitment to literature extends beyond the magazine. Our free, monthly California Book Club provides a carefully curated, intimate online interview series hosted by John Freeman. Guests included Hua Hsu, Isabel Allende, Dave Eggers, Jennifer Egan,and Andrew Sean Greer. We invite CBC members—12,000 and counting—to examine and reflect upon each title through regular essays and articles leading up to each event. We also produce several weekly newsletters, as well as digital and in-person events. We aim to bring the Alta experience directly to our deeply engaged audience. From our weekly Zoom program called Alta Live, our version of a chat show featuring writers, artists, and culture makers from the pages of Alta, to our regular Monday Book Review focused on new releases from West Coast authors, to issue launch parties hosted in partnership with independent bookstores, we've built an ever-growing community of captivated—and satisfied—readers. In this era of rapid change, the award-winning Alta Journal offers an immersive literary experience like no other.