Chris Epting

In her extraordinary swimming career, Shirley Babashoff set thirty-nine national records and eleven world records. Prior to the 1990s, she was the most successful U.S. female Olympian and, in her prime, was widely considered to be the greatest female swimmer in the world.Heading into the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Babashoff was pictured on the cover of Sports Illustrated and followed closely by the media. Hopes were high that she would become ?the female Mark Spitz.”All of that changed once Babashoff questioned the shocking masculinity of the swimmers on the East German women’s team. Once celebrated as America’s golden girl, Babashoff was accused of poor sportsmanship and vilified by the press with a new nickname: ?Surly Shirley.”Making Waves displays the remarkable strength and resilience that made Babashoff such a dynamic champion. From her difficult childhood and beginnings as a determined young athlete growing up in Southern California in the 1960s, through her triumphs as the greatest female amateur swimmer in the world, Babashoff tells her story in the same unflinching manner that made her both the most dominant female swimmer of her time and one of the most controversial athletes in Olympic history.

In her extraordinary swimming career, Shirley Babashoff set 39 national records and 11 world records. Heading into the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Babashoff was pictured on the cover of Sports Illustrated and followed closely by the media. All of that changed once Babashoff questioned the shocking masculinity of the swimmers on the East German women's team. Here, Babashoff tells her story in the same unflinching manner that made her both the most dominant female swimmer of her time and one of the most controversial athletes in Olympic history.

Where One Hears the Rain is a comprehensive, entertaining, and informative guide that explores the art of memoir writing and provides aspiring authors with the tools and inspiration to craft their own compelling personal narratives. Drawing on his journey as an author, collaborative writer, and decade-long tenure as a memoir writing workshop instructor, Chris Epting offers invaluable insights and practical advice to guide writers to their unique voice and shape their personal stories. This book delves into the essential aspects of memoir writing, from uncovering inspiration to developing compelling narratives to organizing and structuring the autobiographical narrative for maximum emotional impact. What sets Where One Hears the Rain apart is Epting’s incorporation of lessons learned from his mentor, the legendary author John Cheever. Epting weaves Cheever’s teachings seamlessly into the fabric of the book, enriching readers’ understanding of the craft and exposing them to the wisdom passed down from one literary generation to another. This book is a treasure trove of knowledge for aspiring memoirists, covering every aspect of the writing and publishing process, including the intricacies of the publishing industry. Epting’s exhaustive approach ensures that readers are equipped with the tools and know-how to navigate the path to publication successfully. Moreover, the inclusion of personal anecdotes from Epting’s own writing experiences adds depth and authenticity, making the book both engaging and instructional. Where One Hears the Rain: Finding Your Voice and Crafting Your Story, from Inspiration to Publication is an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to embark on the memoir writing journey. Chris Epting’s expertise, combined with his passion for storytelling, makes this book an invaluable companion that will inspire, educate, and empower writers as they strive to share their own unique narratives with the world.

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Dave Mason found early success with the band Traffic, establishing himself as a skilled guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter who penned the classic "Feelin' Alright?". Departing the band for a solo career, Mason earned three gold albums-Alone Together, Dave Mason, and Mariposa De Oro - and a platinum album, Let it Flow, which included the hit single "We Just Disagree." In addition to his prolific solo work, Dave has been a member of Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, the original lineup of Derek & The Dominoes, a duo with Mama Cass Elliott, an ill-fated version of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, and the legendary Fleetwood Mac. Along the way, he appeared on some of the most acclaimed recordings in music history, including The Spencer Davis Group's "Gimme Some Lovin,'" George Harrison's All Things Must Pass, The Rolling Stones' "Street Fighting Man," and close friend Jimi Hendrix's classic "All Along the Watchtower." Additionally, he has recorded with Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, David Crosby, Leon Russell, and Paul McCartney, who recruited Dave to play guitar on Wings' first number one hit, "Listen to What the Man Said." From sell-out performances at Madison Square Garden to touring arenas with Peter Frampton, Dave was riding high as a bona fide rock star by the mid-1970s. But the successes didn't come without challenges. Bad business deals, cocaine, and a seemingly endless touring schedule began to take their toll. Workmanlike in his dedication, however, the determined craftsman never gave up. Here, for the first time, Dave shares some of the great untold tales in rock and roll- his complicated relationship with Traffic, his wild legal episodes with record companies, his battle with addiction and the loss of a child, and his eventual induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Traffic. He dives deep into the music and shares inside stories featuring a cast of characters that includes Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Gram Parsons, Eric Clapton, and many others. Dave Mason's reputation as a "quiet giant" has long been one of music's great mysteries. Featuring over 150 photographs-as well as guest contributions from family members and friends such as Bonnie Bramlett, Mick Fleetwood, and Graham Nash-one of rock's true heroes finally shares his colorful, unique, and ultimately triumphant journey through a life in music.

Since forming in 1889, Orange County, California has become famous all over the world for being home to such popular attractions as Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. But there are also many other places that helped establish the county as not just a popular tourist destination, but also home to countless cultural landmarks that served the local communities for generations. Stretching across the 34 cities that comprise “The OC,” Lost Landmarks of Orange County brings back fabulous memories of music venues, restaurants, theaters, theme parks, attractions, and more. Everybody knows the aforementioned Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm, but Orange County was also home to Lion Country Safari, the California Alligator Farm, the Buffalo Ranch, Japanese Village and Deer Park, Movieland Wax Museum, the Orange County International Raceway, and many other large-scale attractions. Concert venues including the Golden Bear, Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, and the Cuckoo’s Nest all featured some of the biggest names in rock and roll and popular music. Tiki bars, airports, drive-in movie theaters, themed restaurants . . . these were the places where generations of OC natives and visitors from around the world created memories that would last a lifetime. Today, all of these locations are gone, but utilizing firsthand accounts, rare photos, artifacts, and other resources, Lost Landmarks of Orange County keeps the colorful memories of Orange County’s past alive.

A co-founder of the legendary band Traffic, Dave Mason’s musical path started strong and only grew more significant over time. In addition to his renowned work as a revered guitar player and singer-songwriter (who penned “Feelin’ Alright,” one of rock’s most-covered anthems, when he was only 21), Mason has appeared on some of the most acclaimed recordings in music history, including The Spencer Davis Group’s “Gimme Some Lovin,’” George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass album, The Rolling Stones’ “Street Fighting Mam” and close friend Jimi Hendrix’s classic “All Along the Watchtower.” After leaving Traffic, Dave’s popularity exploded with the release of his debut solo album, Alone Together, igniting one of the most successful careers of the 1970s—marked by sell-out performances at Madison Square Garden and requests from artists such as Paul McCartney, who recruited Dave to play guitar on Wings’ #1 hit “Listen to What the Man Said.” But the triumphs didn’t come without hurdles. By the mid-1970s, cocaine and a seemingly endless touring schedule began to take their toll. Workmanlike in his dedication, however, the determined craftsman never gave up. Here, for the first time, Dave shares some of the great untold tales in rock and roll—his complicated relationship with Steve Winwood, his wild legal episodes with record companies, his tenure in Fleetwood Mac, his battle with addiction and the loss of a child, and his eventual induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He dives deep on the music, from “World in Changes” to “We Just Disagree,” and shares inside stories featuring a cast of characters that includes Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Cass Elliot, Delaney and Bonnie, Eric Clapton, and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Dave Mason’s reputation as a “quiet giant” has long been one of music’s great mysteries. Now, one of rock’s true heroes finally shares his colorful, unique, and ultimately triumphant journey through a life in music.

Author Chris Epting established a new genre in book publishing when a trio of titles in the early 2000s—James Dean Died Here: The Locations of America’s Pop Culture Landmarks, Elvis Presley Passed Here, and Marilyn Monroe Dyed Here—were released to critical acclaim and introduced readers to a groundbreaking travel concept: The pop culture road trip. Epting promptly followed these hugely popular and influential titles with two more legendary books: Led Zeppelin Crashed Here and Roadside Baseball. A Booksense 76 pick at the time, James Dean Died Here was covered by such major news outlets as NPR’s "All Things Considered," USA Today, Los Angeles Times, and Publishers Weekly. Everyone from Ken Burns to The Sporting News to the New York Post expressed their love for Roadside Baseball, while Led Zeppelin Crashed Here was recommended for all public libraries by Library Journal and outlets from the Associated Press to Newsday encouraged any fan of rock and roll history to buy the book. Now, in honor of the 20th anniversary of James Dean Died Here, Epting has produced It Happened Right Here: America’s Pop Culture Landmarks, which collects the best of the best from all of Epting’s prior books, and then adds dozens and dozens of new sites, many of them based on the pop culture of the 21st century.It Happened Right Here once again takes you on a journey across North America to the exact locations where the most significant events in American popular culture took place. It’s a road map for pop culture sites, from Patty Hearst’s bank to the garage where Apple Computer was born. Fully updated, the book includes such new entries as: • The locations featured in such television series as Stranger Things, Breaking Bad, and Curb Your Enthusiasm • Locations celebrating the legacy of legendary musician Prince • The dorm room where Facebook was created • The location of the opening freeway sequence from La La Land • The locations featured in the cult film Napoleon Dynamite • The Jay-Z, Beyonce, Solange elevator incident • The Jussie Smollett Subway sandwich shop location • Steve Bartman's seat location at Wrigley Field • and dozens and dozens of other new sites! Featuring hundreds of photographs, this fully illustrated, updated, and revised encyclopedic look at the locations of the most famous and infamous pop culture events includes the fascinating history of over a thousand landmarks—as well as their exact location. With up-to-date information for the sites included in Epting’s five original titles, plus dozens and dozens of new additions, It Happened Right Here is an amazing portrait of the bizarre, shocking, weird and wonderful moments that have come to define American popular culture.

Bingo!: Forty Years in the NBA is the memoir of legendary Los Angeles Clippers and sports broadcaster Ralph Lawler. Bingo! covers Lawler’s extraordinary life and career, from his childhood in Peoria, Illinois; through his time at Bradley University; to the beginning of his sports announcing career at the Riverside International Raceway; his years spent in Philadelphia with the Flyers, Phillies, and 76ers; his stint in San Diego with the Sails and the Chargers; and culminating in his 40-year career with the Clippers. Along the way, basketball and the NBA is the focus of the book, with Lawler’s observations and stories about players, coaches, and teams from the 1940s through his retirement at the close of the 2019 season forming the core of the narrative. Included among the myriad stories and reflections are his relationships with NBA legend Bill Walton, infamous Clippers owner Donald Sterling, Clippers GM and NBA great Elgin Baylor, and a variety of famous players, coaches, and fellow broadcasters from throughout the NBA. As Lawler used to memorably say from behind the microphone, “Fasten your seatbelts!” Bingo! is a fun-filled journey through professional basketball, with plenty of “Oh me, oh my!” moments, including the definitive answer to the burning question all NBA fans want to know: What are the origins of Lawler’s Law?

When a wildfire destroyed her home and worldly possessions in the hills above Los Angeles, it didn’t take Megan Edwards long to recognize an opportunity. It took her husband a little longer (“Give me five minutes to grieve!”), but they were both soon planning to make the most of their sudden “stufflessness” and hit the road. They did so a few months later in a freshly built four-wheel-drive motorhome that was even more unusual because of the office in the back instead of a bedroom. This all happened back when “Internet” had not yet entered the lexicon but “email” had. The mobile office would allow Edwards to file stories with the newspapers she wrote for by cell phone. That was the idea, at least. At the beginning of 1994, cell service was patchy, unreliable, and expensive. They also thought they’d be traveling for six months or so, when, they believed, they’d settle down and get back to normal. But five years and thousands of miles later, they were still on the road. In that time, they’d watched the Internet grow from a mysterious fad prized by people in remote locales into an unstoppable universal phenomenon. They started a website, RoadTripAmerica.com, to share road tripping tips and ideas. Slowly, their dream of being “at work, at home, and on the road, all at the same grand time” became a reality. This edition marks the twentieth anniversary of Edwards’s memoir, which was first released in 1999. At its heart a story of making lemonade when life gives you lemons, this memoir is also a riveting and at times hilarious look at the early years of the World Wide Web. With a new introduction by the author and a foreword by Chris Epting, enjoy an armchair adventure across North America when the Internet was young. This edition also includes 22 photos dating from when the author lived on the road.

Former teen idol Leif Garrett bares his soul for the first time ever, revealing his deepest secrets about the extraordinary highs and devastating lows he has survived over the years. He was a hardworking child actor in the early 1970s, appearing on dozens of popular films and TV programs. Then he was offered a chance to make a record and “Leif Garrett, teen idol” was born. Millions of teenage girls all over the world covered their walls with his picture. His face adorned hundreds of international magazine covers as he became one of the biggest and most desired heartthrobs in history. There were jet-setting tours, TV specials, and hit records, along with an endless supply of beautiful women, alcohol, and ultimately, the drugs that sent this shooting star into the darkest depths of addiction. Idol Truth is a harrowing survivor’s story as well as a charmed tale filled with compelling pop culture characters—from Michael Jackson and Brooke Shields to John Belushi, Freddie Mercury, and many more. It’s the first time ever that Leif Garrett has come clean about his life, revealing all the details of his spectacular journey.

Capturing such quintessentially American pastimes as baseball and road trips in one fascinating work, the updated and expanded third edition of Chris Epting’s Roadside Baseball chronicles more than 500 important events in baseball history, with detailed descriptions of the event and information on each location. Packed with historical data, trivia, photographs, and baseball lore, entries include the birthplaces of baseball legends, ballparks, museums and halls of fame, final resting places, and many locations that are no longer standing. From out-of-the-way spots to the most popular stadiums in the U.S. and Canada, no site is too small or insignificant to be included in this comprehensive guide. The third edition of Roadside Baseball includes hundreds of newly discovered landmarks, including the former locations of stadiums that have been torn down since the last edition of the book (Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, Tiger Stadium, etc.), information on the Negro Leagues Baseball Marker project which has placed headstones around the country to honor forgotten African American ballplayers, new exhibits at existing MLB parks, and suggested daytrip itineraries located near your favorite stadiums. Other new entries include the actual diamond used for the classic film, The Sandlot; the exact location where Mickey Mantle’s legendary 565-foot blast landed; the baseball field in Orange County, California, where many believe Babe Ruth hit the longest home run of his career against the great Walter Johnson (along with extremely rare photos of Ruth both batting and pitching during that very game); the newly marked location in Kekionga, Indiana where the first major league game was played in 1871; all 29 markers along the new “Hot Springs Baseball Trail” celebrating baseball history in Arkansas; and Heckscher Fields in Central Park, New York, where Larry David’s softball team played in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Entries from the previous edition include the Buckminster Hotel in Boston, where the Black Sox planned their fix of the 1919 World Series; the original Little League field and museum in Williamsport, Pennsylvania; the birthplace of Jackie Robinson; the place where Mickey Mantle was discovered by a scout from the New York Yankees; and the site of the original Wrigley Field, erected in Los Angeles in 1925. The third edition of Roadside Baseball is the most comprehensive book ever written on the locations of baseball landmarks, and the perfect gift for baseball fans of all ages!

The Lincoln Highway was the first continuous road to connect the coasts, allowing newly motorized Americans to cross the country by car. This book allows readers to travel across 100 years of the highway, from New York City to San Francisco, with stops at historic landmarks, bridges, taverns, movie palaces, diners, gas stations, ice cream stands, tourist cabins, and roadside attractions. Color maps and stories of the highway take readers through 14 states, with excerpts from memoirs and old postcards giving a feel for what early motoring was like--the good, the bad, and the muddy. The book is organized by state, with narrative information on what the original Lincoln Highway crossed through. There are historical tidbits and nostalgic details, along with information on what remains. This book is a useful treasure for travel planning and armchair reading.

"If starting an underage relationship with a 40 something-year-old Bill Cosby was the solution, then just how bad was the problem?" Dona Speir's new memoir, 'Naked Truth: The Fall and Rise of Dona Speir takes you from the depths of child abuse, drug and alcohol addiction, being preyed upon by powerful men like Bill Cosby, to the rarified world of international modeling and global jet-setting, being a Playboy Centerfold photographed by the world-famous Arny Freytag to being the star of seven Andy Sidaris action adventure films. And that's really just the beginning of her life journey toward recovery. This study of her survival is a provocative, powerful blueprint of how to not just survive, but recover and thrive. Dona is 32 years sober and CEO of Recovery Coaching Experts. She has mentored hundreds of women with substance abuse and behavioral issues, she has also founded women's recovery homes, and her book can help others learn how to identify the traits of sexual predators and prevent your child from falling for their persuasive charms. Dona's experiences can help women understand and survive the social, physical and emotional aspects of substance abuse and lead a peaceful, complete, whole and safe family life. It's a cautionary tale to be sure, but it's also a triumphant one; filled with many uplifting, exciting stories of perseverance that are both timely and timeless. "Dona Speir proves to be as revealing, engaging and entertaining - and, yes, as courageous - as she's ever been on screen in the pages of her riveting autobiography." Joe Leydon, Variety

Now in paperback with new material, a memoir by John Oates of Hall & Oates, the most successful musical duo of all time. John Oates was born at the perfect time, paralleling the birth of rock 'n roll. Raised in a small Pennsylvania town, he was exposed to folk, blues, soul, and R&B. Meeting and teaming up with Daryl Hall in the late 1960s, they developed a style of music that was uniquely their own but never abandoned their roots. John uncovers the grit and struggle it took to secure a recording contract with the legendary Atlantic Records and chronicles the artistic twists and turns that resulted in a DJ discovering an obscure album track that would become their first hit record. This is not your typical rock and roll story. John was focused creating great music. Along the way he achieved incredible success, battling the ever-changing pop music landscape and coming to terms with complex managerial, business, and personal challenges. Daryl Hall and John Oates have over 20 albums together, more than 60 million records sold, and 29 Top 40 hits. They are the most successful pop duo in the world and members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And yet John's story has never been told. Relying on his many hand-written journals, he brings to light many fascinating stories spanning his entire life with a journalist's eye and a poet's heart. In Change of Seasons, John shares his highs, lows, triumphs, and failures. He takes the reader on a wild ride through all the eras, personalities and music that has shaped him into what he is.

But once he joins Def Leppard, it's also an amazing underdog tale featuring a bunch of ordinary working-class lads who rose to mega-stardom, overcoming incredible obstacles - such as the drummer, Rick Allen, who lost an arm in a car crash, and the tragic death of guitarist Steve Clark, Phil's musical soul mate, who lost his fight with alcoholism.

The great acts--from Hendrix to Joplin and from Kiss to Korn--played to the Orange County crowd at such classic venues as Huntington Beach's Golden Bear, the Anaheim Convention Center and Anaheim's Doll Hut. Rock 'n' roll's OC roots include Leo Fender's electric guitar factory in Fullerton and the birthplace for the garage-band standard Louie Louie" in Anaheim. As the music changed, iconic OC groups like Social Distortion and Avenged Sevenfold helped lead the way. Final curtains came down here, too: though killed in England, Eddie Cochran is buried in Cypress, and Bobby Hatfield, half of the Righteous Brothers, is interred at Corona del Mar. Join pop culture expert Chris Epting for the essential big hits plus idiosyncratic flip-side riffs of Orange County's mighty rock 'n' roll history."

Amid the tourist bustle in the biggest beach city in Orange County, hometown personalities and their stories are Chris Epting's business. As a widely published author and columnist for the Huntington Beach Independent," Epting has covered the famous and not-so-famous, the local people, places and events of Surf City's beachscapes and street scenes with a reporter's curiosity, a historian's exactitude and an ambassador's pride. "Huntington Beach Chronicles" offers a diverse collection of stories about the everyday people and extraordinary events that have woven together a community with a charm and character unlike any other."