Man hospitalized after being shot multiple times in Santa Ana

• July 10, 2024

A man suffered multiple gunshot wounds in Santa Ana on Tuesday, July 9, police said.

The shooting occurred around 5:19 p.m. in a residential area on the 700 block of South Townsend Street. The man, whose identity was not released, was hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper torso, Santa Ana Police Officer Natalie Garcia said.

The suspect has not been identified and the investigation is ongoing. Details on the circumstances leading up to the shooting were not immediately released.

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​ Orange County Register 

Lionel Messi, Argentina beat Canada to reach Copa América final

• July 10, 2024

By RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Lionel Messi scored his 109th international goal and first of the tournament, leading defending champion Argentina over Canada, 2-0, on Tuesday night and into the Copa America final.

Julián Álvarez put the Albiceleste ahead in the 22nd minute and Messi redirected Enzo Fernández’s shot in off the face of goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau in the 51st. Messi has 28 goals in his last 25 matches for Argentina and 14 in Copa America play, three shy of the record.

Only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo with 130 has more international goals than Messi, who turned 37 on June 24. Iran’s Al Daei had 108 or 109 from 1993 to 2006, with a lingering dispute over whether a goal against Ecuador in 2000 occurred in a full international match.

With a victory on its independence day, Argentina extended its unbeaten streak to 10 games. The Albiceleste will be playing for a record 16th Copa title when they square off with Uruguay or Colombia on Sunday in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Trying to string together championships in consecutive Copa Americas around the 2022 World Cup championship, Argentina is trying to match the feat of Spain when La Roja won the 2008 and 2012 European Championships along with the 2010 World Cup.

Argentina fans gathered in Times Square on the eve of the match and filled the streets on Manhattan before heading to MetLife Stadium, site of the 2026 World Cup final. The crowd of 80,102 on a night with an 82-degree temperature and 82% humidity was overwhelmingly pro-Argentina, with only a few sections dominated by red-clad Canadian supporters.

It was among the biggest games for Canadian soccer, which went 0-6 in its only World Cup appearances in 1986 and 2022 and won its only major title at the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Argentina had beaten Canada, 2-0, in the tournament opener on June 20.

Canada star Alphonso Davies limped off after his right leg was caught in a clean challenge with Gonzalo Montiel and he was replaced in the 71st minute.

Making his 38th Copa America appearance, Messi had missed Argentina’s group stage finale with a leg injury and was subdued while playing 90 minutes in the quarterfinal win over Ecuador.

He was just wide from the top of the penalty area in the 12th minute after exchanging passes with Ángel Di María, then wide again in the 44th and put a chip over the crossbar in first-half injury time.

MetLife’s temporary grass surface appeared heavy, with water splashing and sand popping up during dribbles.

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Argentina went ahead after Rodrigo De Paul from the center circle played a long pass to Álvarez, who took a touch at the top of the arc to control the ball from Moïse Bombito. Álvarez took another touch to create space from Bombito and from near the penalty spot slipped the ball between the legs of Crépeau for his ninth goal in 35 international appearances.

Messi scored following a throw-in. He centered the ball to De Paul, who ran to the end line and cut the ball back. Koné’s attempted clearance went to Fernández, who teed up a shot that Messi redirected from just inside the 6-yard box.

Jonathan David was thwarted by Emiliano Martínez from close range in first-half stoppage time, and Martínez made a kick save on Tani Oluwaseyi in the 80th.

More to come on this story.

​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers’ Bobby Miller has worst start of career in loss to Phillies

• July 10, 2024

PHILADELPHIA — The Dodgers have a problem and it’s only getting worse.

On the same day they put Tyler Glasnow on the injured list for a midseason break, they watched Bobby Miller struggle through the worst start of his young career. Miller allowed a career-high nine runs on 10 hits in four innings Tuesday night as the Philadelphia Phillies bludgeoned their way to a 10-1 victory over the Dodgers.

“Tonight was embarrassing,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

“We still have a chance to win the series. That’s kind of where my head is, trying to flush this one and focus on tomorrow.”

It would help if they got a good start – something that has disappeared from their game recently.

With Miller’s debacle, Dodgers starters have allowed 45 runs in 44 innings over their past 10 games. The group is fooling no one – they have given up 51 hits, including 12 home runs, in that time.

Playing from behind on a nightly basis, the Dodgers have lost six of those 10 games and did not look to be on the same plane as the Phillies who have the best record in baseball.

The poor starting pitching has also overextended the Dodgers’ bullpen and they wound up sending Kiké Hernandez to the mound against the Phillies – in the seventh inning.

“I know that winning baseball games, sustaining winning, stems and starts with starting pitching. That’s a fact,” Roberts said. “Clearly we haven’t got the consistency out of that.”

Tuesday’s pounding was the latest low point for Miller, who has not looked right since returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for two months earlier this year. He didn’t pitch well on his minor-league injury rehabilitation assignment and now has a 9.87 ERA in four starts since rejoining the Dodgers’ rotation.

“I’m shocked. I’m a little shell-shocked right now, given what he’s done, expecting him to continue to take steps forward and to see where we’re at,” Roberts said of Miller.

After going 11-4 with a 3.76 ERA in 22 starts last season, Miller was expected to be a reliable member of the rotation this season. That hasn’t happened.

“It’s been tough. It really has,” Miller said. “But I’m going to use that as motivation in my next outing whenever that is. And yeah, just use this failure as motivation going into my next outing.”

The hard-throwing Miller has just nine strikeouts in 17⅓ innings since returning. His fastball velocity is down and has been all season. Batters are hitting .338 (24 for 71) against this version of Miller with five home runs. It’s all an indication that his shoulder might be back at full strength (he insists it is) but his stuff is not.

“Execution and getting ahead on everybody, just being in attack mode – that’s when I’m at my best when I’m on attack mode, get ahead of guys and put them away instead of going 0-2 and working to 3-2 a lot,” Miller said.

“Velocity is a little down, too. Stuff just doesn’t have enough bite to it right now and not putting guys away fast when I get deep into the count. A lot of 3-2 counts, a lot of walks, just everything all put together. I’m going to get back to where I need to be. I know that for sure.”

Miller couldn’t offer an explanation for why his velocity is down and his stuff doesn’t have as much “bite.”

“I couldn’t tell you,” he said. “I’m trying everything I can. Shoulder is strong right now so it’s probably just mechanics. It’s a little bit of everything. I’m still trying to figure that out.”

Roberts said the Dodgers are confident that Miller’s struggles are not an indication his shoulder has not healed.

“We’ve done all the stuff as far as on the testing, talking to Bobby as far as how he feels,” Roberts said. “Everything that we get lines up too. The strength’s there. He’s healthy. I think it might be more on the delivery side of it where we can tap into more velocity and commanding of the baseball. It could be. But like I said, we’ve done a lot of things and a lot of conversations that would argue that he is healthy.”

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Miller’s troubles against the Phillies started with two outs in the second inning. Miller walked Brandon Marsh, who promptly stole second base and scored on a single by Rafael Marchan. Johan Rojas beat out an infield single and both moved up on a wild pitch by Miller. Kyle Schwarber drove them in with a single, doing Miller a favor by being thrown out at second base.

Two innings later, the roof caved in on Miller.

The first five Phillies batters reached base, including three consecutive hits by the final three batters in the Phillies’ order. That trio (Marsh, Marchan and Rojas) went 5 for 5 with a walk, a double, two RBIs and six runs scored in Miller’s four innings.

Trea Turner hit a grand slam and Bryson Stott a solo home run for a six-run inning before Miller could escape to the air-conditioned, cheesesteak-scented safety of the Dodgers’ clubhouse.

He soon had plenty of company. Roberts began pulling his regulars from the game in the fifth inning.

Phillies starter Zack Wheeler left after five innings with lower back tightness. But all the Dodgers could muster was a solo home run by Cavan Biggio in the fifth inning.

​ Orange County Register 

This week’s bestsellers at Southern California’s independent bookstores

• July 10, 2024

The SoCal Indie Bestsellers List for the sales week ended July 7 is based on reporting from the independent booksellers of Southern California, the California Independent Booksellers Alliance and IndieBound. For an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound.org.

HARDCOVER FICTION

1. James: Percival Everett

2. The God of the Woods: Liz Moore

3. All Fours: Miranda July

4. Funny Story: Emily Henry

5. The Midnight Feast: Lucy Foley

6. The Women: Kristin Hannah

7. Table for Two: Fictions: Amor Towles

8. Good Material: Dolly Alderton

9. Same As It Ever Was: Claire Lombardo

10. The Paris Novel: Ruth Reichl

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

1. The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir: Griffin Dunne

2. The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness: Jonathan Haidt

3. The Creative Act: A Way of Being: Rick Rubin

4. The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War: Erik Larson

5. On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service: Anthony Fauci, M.D.

6. An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s: Doris Kearns Goodwin

7. The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder: David Grann

8. The Singularity Is Nearer: When We Merge with AI: Ray Kurzweil

9. Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk: Kathleen Hanna

10. Somehow: Thoughts on Love: Anne Lamott

MASS MARKET

1. 1984: George Orwell

2. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: Douglas Adams

3. Children of Dune: Frank Herbert

4. Mistborn: The Final Empire: Brandon Sanderson

5. The Picture of Dorian Gray and Three Stories: Oscar Wilde

6. The Hobbit: J.R.R. Tolkien

7. Dune Messiah: Frank Herbert

8. Slaughterhouse-Five: Kurt Vonnegut

9. Dune: Frank Herbert

10. The Name of the Wind: Patrick Rothfuss

TRADE PAPERBACK FICTION

1. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: Gabrielle Zevin

2. A Court of Thorns and Roses: Sarah J. Maas

3. Beach Read: Emily Henry

4. Happy Place: Emily Henry

5. Just for the Summer: Abby Jimenez

6. Lady Tan’s Circle of Women: Lisa See

7. Wellness: Nathan Hill

8. The Idiot: Elif Batuman

9. Play It As It Lays: Joan Didion

10. Not in Love: Ali Hazelwood

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​ Orange County Register 

LAFC ready for U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal after Houston postponement

• July 10, 2024

With the postponement of the Los Angeles Football Club’s match in Houston on Sunday, the Black & Gold hustled to leave town as Hurricane Beryl closed in on the Gulf Coast of Texas.

A few days after Beryl became the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record as it roared over the Caribbean, LAFC was scheduled to travel to Shell Energy Stadium and face the team it had vanquished to reach the MLS Cup final last year.

With the storm’s outer bands soaking the area in the first part of the day and a later downpour swamping the field amid lightning strikes, the MLS regular-season contest with the Dynamo, which had been pushed up two hours, was called off.

The decision gave Coach Steve Cherundolo and his squad a chance to leave instead of hunkering down and riding it out.

“Once we’re there obviously we all wanted to play,” Cherundolo said. “I think both clubs. But Mother Nature had other plans, and so we were thankful to get out in time before things got pretty bad. Looking at pictures it did get bad, so we were happy to land safely in L.A.”

The deadly Beryl left 3 million Harris County residents without power.

Flights in and out of the region’s two airports were canceled for much of Monday, with limited service the following day.

Not wanting to get marooned, LAFC rushed from the stadium and got its gear packed. The players, coaches and staff then waited for a Sun Country Airlines charter plane that was parked in Dallas to pick them up, which it did around 10 p.m. local time – an 90 minutes earlier than they were likely to leave had the game been played.

Boarded and seated on the tarmac, Beryl’s strong winds buffeted the plane.

From takeoff until they broke through the cloud cover, the ride was nervy.

Eduard Atuesta’s first run-in with a hurricane “was a little bit scary for me,” the midfielder said. While Beryl came within 300 miles of Atuesta’s native Colombia, the LAFC midfielder got a much closer look than he ever would have wanted.

“When you hear that it’s a hurricane you feel like, ‘Wow, what is that? It’s something big,’” Atuesta said. “But thank God we came back good. We wanted to play to continue winning games in that good phase that we have right now. But it’s OK.”

Cherundolo planned to rotate the lineup against Houston, leaving Atuesta, Ilie Sanchez, Ryan Hollingshead and Kei Kamara on the bench. Starting goalkeeper Hugo Lloris didn’t make the trip. Neither did midfielder Timothy Tillman, who was supposed to be suspended for the match due to yellow card accumulation but that will be served against the Columbus Crew on Saturday.

When New Mexico steps on the field at BMO Stadium for the first time, Tillman will start in a strong lineup that features Lloris in his U.S. domestic cup debut.

If there’s a silver lining in traveling but not playing Houston, it’s that during the club’s most congested stretch of games this year the players have one less game in their legs.

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Before Wednesday night’s U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against New Mexico United FC and three key league tilts – the MLS Cup rematch; high-flying Real Salt Lake; and Seattle as it rounds into shape – that’s a positive.

New Mexico comes into the single-elimination game in good form, winning seven of its last nine to occupy the top spot in the USL Championship’s Western Conference, ranking third overall in the table.

Besting the Las Vegas Lights FC and Loudoun United FC in May, a physical and experienced New Mexico should be LAFC’s toughest second-division opponent seeking to block its path to a prestigious trophy the franchise has never won before.

NEW MEXICO UNITED FC AT LAFC

What: U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal

When: Wednesday, 8 p.m.

Where: BMO Stadium, Los Angeles

TV/Radio: Apple TV+ – Free710 AM, 980 AM

​ Orange County Register 

Copa America: Uruguay looks to slow surging Colombia in semis

• July 10, 2024

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Uruguay is two wins away from a record-setting 16th Copa America title. Colombia is red hot, having gone 27 consecutive matches without a loss.

Something has to give Wednesday night when the two South American powers clash in the tournament’s semifinals (5 p.m. PT, FS1) at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The victor advances to face the Argentina-Canada winner in the championship game on Sunday in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Uruguay’s Manuel Ugarte scored the winning goal in the fifth round of a 4-2 penalty kick victory over Brazil in the quarterfinals after the teams played to a scoreless draw Saturday night.

It was a physical match that included 41 fouls and just four shots on goal.

But it was a costly win. Uruguay’s Nahitan Nández was sent off with a red card in the 74th minute for a dangerous tackle and defender Ronald Araújo sustained a muscle injury. Both are out against Colombia.

Now comes another tough test in surging Colombia, which steamrolled into the semis with a dominant 5-0 victory over Panama as Jhon Córdoba, James Rodríguez and Luis Díaz all scored in the first half.

“It is a team that has been working together for a while, and that allows them to have a good start together,” Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa said.

Bielsa said the choppy nature of the match against Brazil made it difficult for both teams to show their skills, but he expects a much more entertaining matchup against offensive-minded Colombia.

Colombia has outscored its opponents 11-2 so far in the tournament.

“We have great players and they have great players,” Bielsa said. “Both teams are going to adjust.”

While it might not have been pretty, the win moved Uruguay a step closer to reaching the final for the first time since winning it all 13 years ago.

Uruguay’s resilience – and pesky defense – was on full display after holding Brazil scoreless over the final 15 minutes despite playing a man down.

“Of course it gives us confidence because we eliminated Brazil,” Uruguay midfielder Maximiliano Araujo said. “It reassures us.”

The win impressed Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo.

“Uruguay has a strong competitive spirit and that is the main challenge for us,” Lorenzo said.

Still, Colombia’s momentum has been building throughout the tournament.

Cordoba, Díaz and Daniel Munoz have each scored two goals and Rodriguez has a tournament-high five assists. Their passing has been on target, their shot selection superb and game management strong.

But they’ll face a Uruguay team that is largely built on its defense. Uruguay has only allowed one goal in its previous four Copa America matches.

“(Colombia) has very important weapons,” Maximiliano Araujo said. “It’s going to be a very demanding game for us.”

Bielsa believes slowing down Díaz is key.

“If we defend with 40 meters behind us, Díaz is going to lick his lips. But if we defend the entire game in front of our area, he likes it too,” Bielsa said. “In games you imagine him attacking and preventing the opponent from attacking.”

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Colombia is looking to advance to the championship game for the first time since 2001, when it beat Brazil, 1-0.

Lorenzo knows his team is playing well.

“The (unbeaten) streak is not something that I mention ever,” Lorenzo said. “Tomorrow is our most important match.”

He also knows how important the game is to the country, which has rallied behind the national team.

“We have gotten to the semifinals because we have been focused,” Lorenzo said. “We are confident in the plan we have put together for every team. Having made it this far, every detail matters.”

​ Orange County Register 

Ben Joyce primed for closing opportunities with Angels

• July 10, 2024

ANAHEIM — As his success would suggest, Ben Joyce is ready for the next step as a major league reliever.

Angels manager Ron Washington said Joyce is now one of the pitchers the Angels would consider for save situations if closer Carlos Estévez is not available.

Luis Garcia is also in that group.

That’s particularly relevant because Estévez is likely to be traded before the July 30 deadline, and Garcia might also be moved. That could clear the way for Joyce in the ninth inning.

“Maybe when Esty is down and if Garcia has been used, (Joyce) will be our guy we use to close games,” Washington said. “No doubt about it.”

Joyce had a 3.65 ERA going into Tuesday night’s game, including an ongoing streak of eight straight scoreless outings. That hot streak coincides with Joyce adding a sinker to his repertoire. That’s helped him get some quicker outs on weak contact, as opposed to just going for strikeouts with his 102 mph fastball and his slider.

“He’s showing he’s learning how to throw the ball over the plate and be efficient with his pitches to get outs,” Washington said. “He’s not using 25 pitches any more to get three outs. I’ve seen him do it in eight, seen him do it in 12, seen him do it in 11, seen him do it in 13. That’s efficiency coming out of the bullpen, something he’s never done.”

“He’s growing, man. He’s starting to believe in himself and his ability to throw the ball over the plate. If he can do that, he’s going to be a real good one.”

RENGIFO UPDATE

Infielder Luis Rengifo said the hand specialist who evaluated him on Monday determined that there was no structural damage, only inflammation.

There is still no timetable for him to return, but the diagnosis is good news.

“It feels good, it feels better,” Rengifo said on Tuesday. “Every day it feels better. My mind is to be on the field as soon as possible.”

Rengifo was hitting .315 with an .800 OPS when he was hurt on a swing last week in Oakland.

“Now we just gotta wait for the swelling to go down and see what he can do it that it doesn’t bother him,” Washington said. “At least right now we know nothing has to happen other than just rest.”

HIURA’S GLOVE

Angels infielders have been working on the fundamentals with Washington’s familiar series of drills ever since the start of spring training, but Keston Hiura is just getting started now.

Hiura was signed as a free agent in June, and he was in Triple-A until being called up to the majors over the weekend. Hiura plays first and second base.

Hiura has always been known more for his bat than his glove, and Washington is working to change that.

“Every day we gotta do something with him to correct things,” Washington said. “It’s hard to believe a guy has been in the game as long as he’s been in the game and he has those type of deficiencies. Simple deficiencies. Knowing how to feed the ball. Knowing how to cover the bag. Knowing how to throw.

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“The game is really doing a lot of these kids an injustice and it’s sorry to see. It is what it is. He’s here, so we’re going to touch him. And we’re going to try to help him to fix all of that. And he’s working so it won’t be long. He does have some catching up to do.”

NOTES

Infielder Brandon Drury, who missed most of the first half with a hamstring injury, had three hits in two games on Sunday and Monday. All six of his hits since he came off the injured list have been singles, though. “The expectation on him is more than just getting singles,” Washington said. “We need some damage. We just hope in the next few days he finds the damage. If he finds the damage, then we can talk about him being back.” …

Anthony Rendon reported to Washington that he felt “much better than expected,” a day after his first game in more than two months. Rendon was back in the lineup at DH on Tuesday, and he’s scheduled to play third base again on Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Rangers (RHP Michael Lorenzen, 5-4, 3.21 ERA) at Angels (RHP Griffin Canning, 3-9, 4.87 ERA), Wednesday, 6:38 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM

​ Orange County Register 

Long Beach author Elise Bryant goes from YA to the PTA with ‘It’s Elementary’

• July 10, 2024

Elise Bryant is the NAACP Image Award-nominated author of the YA novels “Happily Ever Afters,” “One True Loves,” “Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling,” and she’s now publishing her first novel for adults, “It’s Elementary.” Bryant, who spent years as a special education teacher, lives with her husband and two daughters in Long Beach.

Bel Canto Books in Long Beach will be hosting Bryant’s book launch at KUBO LB in Long Beach at 4 p.m. on July 7, and the author will also appear with Tembi Locke at 7 p.m. on July 9 at Reparations Club in Los Angeles.

Q: Please tell readers about your new book.

“It’s Elementary” is my first novel for adults after publishing three YA rom-coms (“Happily Ever Afters,” “One True Loves,” and “Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling”). It’s a cozy mystery that follows Mavis Miller, an overworked and overwhelmed single mom who gets voluntold to join the PTA by the very intense and slightly terrifying PTA president, Trisha. When the school principal goes missing, and Mavis sees Trisha dragging giant black trash bags and cleaning supplies out to her minivan in the middle of the night, Mavis jumps to the worst conclusions. Determined to get to the bottom of things, she launches a (very amateurish) investigation, with the (very cute) school psychologist as the Watson to her Sherlock.

Q: What are you reading now?

I’m currently reading (and loving!) “What You Leave Behind” by Wanda M. Morris. It’s a thriller about a lawyer who returns to her hometown and uncovers a conspiracy to steal and redevelop land. It’s ominous and propulsive and I haven’t been able to put it down.

Q: How do you decide what to read next?

I’m definitely a mood reader, so it all depends on how I’m feeling! Sometimes I want to fly through a mystery, and sometimes I want the sweet, swoony pick-me-up that only a good romance novel can provide. And it also depends which of my library holds have come in – I’m constantly racing against that 21-day clock.

Q: Do you remember the first book that made an impact on you?

“The Princess Diaries” by Meg Cabot was life-changing for me! I was in sixth grade when I read this book for the first time, and I remember thinking, You’re allowed to write like this? And it’ll be published? It was so voice-y and snarky and fun and completely unlike all the books people were always telling me were important – but it became the most important book to me. I found my own writing voice through reading Mia Thermopolis. It’s like Meg Cabot gave me permission to write however I wanted.

Q: Can you recall a book that felt like it was written with you in mind (or conversely, one that most definitely wasn’t)?

“Who Put This Song On?” by Morgan Parker was a revelation for me. It’s a YA novel about a Black girl growing up in suburbia, who is trying to figure out her identity when everyone else keeps telling her what it means to be Black. I wish I had it as a kid, so I would have felt less alone.

 Q: Is there a genre or type of book you read the most – and what would you like to read more of?

I’ll read almost anything – lit fic, mystery, romance, memoir, graphic novels, children’s literature…and so on! It’s all interesting to me. And I’ve always been this way. As a kid, I used to sneak my mom’s Sue Grafton and Faye Kellerman novels at the same time I was reading Megan McCafferty’s Jessica Darling books and “Lord of the Rings.” I just need to be reading something at all times, so I bring my Kindle or a paperback everywhere.

Books by Elise Bryant. (Courtesy of Berkley Books)

Q: Is there a person who made an impact on your reading life – a teacher, a parent, a librarian or someone else?

Mrs. Tennison, my third-grade teacher at Cerritos Elementary, made me fall in love with reading, constantly supplying me with stacks of books that met my every curiosity. I remember she used to decorate her classroom based on the book we were reading – a barn for “Charlotte’s Web” – and it made it such a magical, immersive experience. She’s also the first person who made me feel like a writer. She would “publish” my work, binding all my stories and poems into books and sharing them with the class. It’s where my dream of becoming an author began.

Q: What’s a memorable book experience – good or bad – you’re willing to share? 

I’ve been reading the Percy Jackson series to my eight-year-old before bed for the past few months, and it’s been such a gift to watch my kid who used to proudly declare, “I hate books!” (her form of rebellion in our book-loving family) fall in love with reading. Seeing her eyes light up with each plot twist, the negotiations for just one more page, discussing all of her theories over breakfast the next day – it’s just the greatest joy!

Q: What’s something about your book that no one knows?

Well, I am a very nosy person, so I spend a lot of time observing and eavesdropping and spinning stories from the tiniest details in my most inconsequential interactions. My friends keep asking me if “It’s Elementary” is about our kids’ school, where I’ve volunteered with the PTA for many years. But my characters and plots are much more likely to bloom from a conversation I overhear in line to get coffee or a person I pass in the aisles of Trader Joe’s.

Q: If you could ask your readers something, what would it be?

How far would you go to give your kids the very best? That’s the question Mavis asks of her suspects – and herself – in “It’s Elementary.” I’m so curious to hear what readers think of these PTA moms behaving badly. Are they going to be horrified or will they relate? I think it’ll be a little of both!

For more information, go to elisebryant.com

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​ Orange County Register