State of the Blog
State of the Blog: an honest note on where Four Eye Books stands after a quiet stretch. On slow living, the weight of writing, and the reading life ahead.
The Reading Room
Seeing What’s Already There: A Conversation with Matt Tory on Go See America: 118 of the USA’s Greatest Hits (According to a Guy Who Visited Them All)
In this thoughtful conversation, Matt Tory discusses Go See America and why meaningful travel doesn’t require distance — only attention.
Rediscovering Sacramento Through Sacramento Noir
Reading Sacramento Noir changed how I see the city I call home. A reflection on community, representation, and what it means to belong in a place both ordinary and extraordinary.
Author Interview: Shelly Blanton-Stroud on Take as Needed — Generations, Place, and Emotional Codes
Explore silence, caregiving, and emotional inheritance in Sacramento Noir. Watch the Four Eye Books interview with Shelly Blanton-Stroud.
Author Interview – Jen Soong on “Ghost Boy”: Generational Curses, Silence, and the Stories We Carry
Author Jen Soong discusses “Ghost Boy,” generational silence, and Sacramento’s layered histories in this Sacramento Noir author interview.
Author Interview: Jen Soong on “Ghost Boy”: Generational Curses, Silence, and the Stories We Carry
Author Jen Soong discusses “Ghost Boy,” generational silence, and Sacramento’s layered histories in this Sacramento Noir author interview.
Author Interview-Maureen O’Leary on One Thing About Blue, Quiet Grief, and Noir in Sacramento
In this Four Eye Books interview, Sacramento author Maureen O’Leary discusses her haunting story “One Thing About Blue” from Sacramento Noir. Set in Oak Park and Tahoe Park, the story explores grief, survival, and the power of silence. Maureen reflects on emotional restraint, overlooked neighborhoods, and how place shapes identity in noir fiction.
Author Interview – Jose Vadi on “Downriver, November 1949”: Memory, Place, and the California Delta
A reflective conversation with Jose Vadi about his story Downriver, 1949 in Sacramento Noir. Explore memory, place, and hidden histories along the Sacramento River in this Four Eye Books interview.
Interview with David Norman Lewis: The Stories Beneath The Golden Basement
The Golden Basement is weird, wild, and unforgettable—and so was my conversation with its author, David Norman Lewis. For the very first Four Eye Books author interview, we dive into 90s nostalgia, conspiracy zines, and the stories that get buried (literally and figuratively). Don’t miss this inaugural chat—full interview and write-up inside!
Butterfly in the Sky: How Reading Rainbow Inspired Generations and Why It Still Matters
Butterfly in the Sky isn’t just a nostalgic look at Reading Rainbow—it’s a powerful reminder of why books, representation, and public broadcasting matter. More than just teaching kids how to read, Reading Rainbow sparked a love of books, inspired curiosity, and connected children to the real world. But today, book bans are on the rise, and public broadcasting faces new threats. In this post, I reflect on Reading Rainbow’s legacy, LeVar Burton’s unwavering authenticity, and why we need to fight for access to books and stories that shape our world. Because, as Burton always said: “But you don’t have to take my word for it.”