Heyday
@heydaybooks.com
Indie press publishing books on California culture, nature, Indigenous perspectives, and social justice | Publisher of News from Native California
"Our trails are vanishing faster than our ability to maintain public lands," says Dillon Osleger, whose forthcoming book 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙡 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠 explores how the erosion of US trail infrastructure has proceeded in lockstep with mounting political pressure to privatize public land.
The nation’s trails are disappearing - High Country News
Government-issued maps offer a promise for safely exploring our public lands, but they no longer reflect the reality of what’s actually on the ground.
buff.ly
January 20, 2026 at 11:12 PM
"Our trails are vanishing faster than our ability to maintain public lands," says Dillon Osleger, whose forthcoming book 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙡 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠 explores how the erosion of US trail infrastructure has proceeded in lockstep with mounting political pressure to privatize public land.
Greg Sarris writes to make people visible. His classic book, 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘼𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙪𝙚, is @altajournal.bsky.social's California Book Club pick in February. His highly anticipated new novel, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙧 , debuts this summer.
Greg Sarris on Writing ‘Grand Avenue’
Sarris’s Grand Avenue is the California Book Club’s February 2026 selection.
buff.ly
January 7, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Greg Sarris writes to make people visible. His classic book, 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘼𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙪𝙚, is @altajournal.bsky.social's California Book Club pick in February. His highly anticipated new novel, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙧 , debuts this summer.
"Los Angeles and California are an epicenter of a new wave of 21st Century literary culture," writes @lataco.bsky.social, and John Freeman's 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝙍𝙚𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣 casts illuminating insight into the major voices—from Percival Everett to Ada Limón—defining the California literary sensibility today.
The 25 Best L.A.-Centric Books Of 2025 ~ L.A. TACO
While a book cannot stop evil forces, it can educate us, warn us, and prepare us for what’s coming. The books listed here not only meditate on current events like the Los Angeles wildfires, late…
lataco.com
January 7, 2026 at 1:52 AM
"Los Angeles and California are an epicenter of a new wave of 21st Century literary culture," writes @lataco.bsky.social, and John Freeman's 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝙍𝙚𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣 casts illuminating insight into the major voices—from Percival Everett to Ada Limón—defining the California literary sensibility today.
Reposted by Heyday
I highly recommend the 2023 book, "California Against the Sea: Visions for Our Vanishing Coastline", by LA Times environmental reporter Rosanna Xia, on sea level rise issues for California. There's a great discussion about how hard it is politically to do managed retreat from doomed coasts.
The National Weather Service warns that the tidal level in Monterey could threaten record levels this weekend as king tides, storm surge and waves push up water levels in the Central Coast and Bay Area. Friday and Saturday are forecast to be the most impactful days for coastal flooding. #CAwx
Why this weekend’s king tides could cause coastal flooding in the Bay Area
Forecasters said a rare alignment of astronomical tides and gusty winds could send seawater into streets, parks and other low-lying areas — especially during peak tides Friday and Saturday.
www.sfchronicle.com
January 2, 2026 at 5:09 PM
I highly recommend the 2023 book, "California Against the Sea: Visions for Our Vanishing Coastline", by LA Times environmental reporter Rosanna Xia, on sea level rise issues for California. There's a great discussion about how hard it is politically to do managed retreat from doomed coasts.
"This highly readable guide reflects years of accumulated experience and a shared family love of the Sierra and its abundant wildflowers. In many respects, 𝙁𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙙𝙖 is a multigenerational amalgam of science, observation, and passion for the region’s wild beauty."
Flowering Plants of the Sierra Nevada: A Photographic Guide to Over 1000 Wildflowers
New this month from Heyday Books and Sierra College Press, Flowering Plants of the Sierra Nevada: A Photographic Guide to Over 1000 Wildflowers is much more than a photographic guidebook. The…
yubanet.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:21 PM
"This highly readable guide reflects years of accumulated experience and a shared family love of the Sierra and its abundant wildflowers. In many respects, 𝙁𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙙𝙖 is a multigenerational amalgam of science, observation, and passion for the region’s wild beauty."
"This gorgeous new photo book 𝙄𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙜𝙚 showcases the breadth and variety of bird species that can be found throughout the Bay Area, especially on public land."
New book highlights the Bay Area’s birds
The seasonal sleigh bells are a’ jinglin’, and for some hawk-eyed observers around the Bay, that means it’s time to dust off the old binocs and get birdwatching.
buff.ly
December 19, 2025 at 1:52 AM
"This gorgeous new photo book 𝙄𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙜𝙚 showcases the breadth and variety of bird species that can be found throughout the Bay Area, especially on public land."
Obi Kaufmann is a celebrated chronicler of California's ecology and landscape whose bestselling books have changed the way Californians see their state and its first inhabitants. But at least one of his books has been targeted by a new executive order that may pull it from national park shelves.
The Authoritarian Playbook: Authors speak out on right-wing book bans
There have been 23,000 book bans in public schools since 2021, according to PEN America. Authors discuss this surge in censorship and the fight for the right to read.
www.kalw.org
December 18, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Obi Kaufmann is a celebrated chronicler of California's ecology and landscape whose bestselling books have changed the way Californians see their state and its first inhabitants. But at least one of his books has been targeted by a new executive order that may pull it from national park shelves.
When Amy Tan first got started in nature journaling she took heart in advice from Heyday author John Muir Laws: “Just spend five minutes a day drawing a bird," says @amytan.bsky.social, "You have to put in what @johnmuirlaws.com calls ‘pencil miles.’ I have logged thousands of pencil miles.”
Amy Tan shares her best birding tips
The celebrated author wrote a bestseller on birding. This is how she got started.
www.nationalgeographic.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:02 PM
When Amy Tan first got started in nature journaling she took heart in advice from Heyday author John Muir Laws: “Just spend five minutes a day drawing a bird," says @amytan.bsky.social, "You have to put in what @johnmuirlaws.com calls ‘pencil miles.’ I have logged thousands of pencil miles.”
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝘽𝙞𝙧𝙙 𝘾𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙁𝙡𝙮 shares the remarkable story of one man's journey through prison and toward a life of impactful activism on behalf of incarcerated people. It has been blacklisted by the California Department of Corrections.
Banned: California prisoners can't read book by former inmate
Your morning catch-up: Prisoners can't read a former comrade, loss of federal funds threatens L.A. households and more big stories.
www.latimes.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:52 AM
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝘽𝙞𝙧𝙙 𝘾𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙁𝙡𝙮 shares the remarkable story of one man's journey through prison and toward a life of impactful activism on behalf of incarcerated people. It has been blacklisted by the California Department of Corrections.
During WWII, the US incarcerated tens of thousands of people of Japanese descent, including US citizens, without due process. Satsuki Ina, author of 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙞𝙡𝙠 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡, joined Rachel Maddow to unpack this traumatic history. Catch the conversation on The Rachel Maddow Show on December 29.
December 16, 2025 at 7:16 PM
During WWII, the US incarcerated tens of thousands of people of Japanese descent, including US citizens, without due process. Satsuki Ina, author of 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙞𝙡𝙠 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡, joined Rachel Maddow to unpack this traumatic history. Catch the conversation on The Rachel Maddow Show on December 29.
Heyday's 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝙇𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙤 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙢—"packed with beautiful photos [...] as well as compelling stories"—ranks among @nytimes.com's favorite niche field guides.
Liverwort or Moss? Horny Toad or Fence Lizard? Niche Field Guides Can Tell You.
www.nytimes.com
December 11, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Heyday's 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝙇𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙤 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙢—"packed with beautiful photos [...] as well as compelling stories"—ranks among @nytimes.com's favorite niche field guides.
All Heyday books and notecards are now 30% through the end of the year with discount code HEYDAY30 at checkout. Whether shopping for the nature lover, history buff, budding birder, or California devotee, we have something for everyone and books for all ages. 📚
Heyday Winter Website Sale
Now through the end of the year, all Heyday books and notecard sets are 30% off.
www.heydaybooks.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:31 PM
All Heyday books and notecards are now 30% through the end of the year with discount code HEYDAY30 at checkout. Whether shopping for the nature lover, history buff, budding birder, or California devotee, we have something for everyone and books for all ages. 📚
Searching for a special present for the nature-lover in your life? Look no further. The volumes of Obi Kaufmann's California Field Atlas series make for unforgettable gifts. Shop the collection here: www.heydaybooks.com/genre/obi-ka...
December 1, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Searching for a special present for the nature-lover in your life? Look no further. The volumes of Obi Kaufmann's California Field Atlas series make for unforgettable gifts. Shop the collection here: www.heydaybooks.com/genre/obi-ka...
Tribal chairman and celebrated storyteller Greg Sarris invites us into intimate and contemplative scenes from his own life in 𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮. Described as “jewellike” by the San Francisco Chronicle, this memoir-in-essays is a gently powerful guide in the art of belonging. Now available in audiobook.
November 27, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Tribal chairman and celebrated storyteller Greg Sarris invites us into intimate and contemplative scenes from his own life in 𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮. Described as “jewellike” by the San Francisco Chronicle, this memoir-in-essays is a gently powerful guide in the art of belonging. Now available in audiobook.
Collecting over twenty-five essays written by more than fifteen California Indian authors, 𝙆𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙒𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚 surveys myriad ways that California’s Indigenous communities are resisting the legacies of genocide and settler colonialism today. Now available in audiobook.
November 12, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Collecting over twenty-five essays written by more than fifteen California Indian authors, 𝙆𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙒𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚 surveys myriad ways that California’s Indigenous communities are resisting the legacies of genocide and settler colonialism today. Now available in audiobook.
How are Native and Japanese American communities marking a shameful part of American history? Satsuki Ina, author of 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙞𝙡𝙠 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡, shows us how to build solidarity from a national tragedy.
Solidarity as Public Memory — Solidarity Is
How are Native and Japanese American communities marking a shameful part of American history? Our guest, Satsuki Ina, shows us how to build solidarity from a national tragedy.
www.solidarityis.org
November 7, 2025 at 5:21 PM
How are Native and Japanese American communities marking a shameful part of American history? Satsuki Ina, author of 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙞𝙡𝙠 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡, shows us how to build solidarity from a national tragedy.
𝙄 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙮𝙨 is a story of Native resilience based on author Brook M. Thompson’s childhood along the Klamath River in Northern California and the intergenerational fight led by tribal activists that resulted in the largest dam removal project in world history.
Books That Honor Indigenous Peoples and Nations
Explore October’s top book picks honoring Indigenous Peoples and Nations, featuring inspiring stories for children, preteens and teens.
buff.ly
November 5, 2025 at 5:05 PM
𝙄 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙮𝙨 is a story of Native resilience based on author Brook M. Thompson’s childhood along the Klamath River in Northern California and the intergenerational fight led by tribal activists that resulted in the largest dam removal project in world history.
Run, don't walk, to add these books to your shelf.
November 3, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Run, don't walk, to add these books to your shelf.
Thespian-turned-lepidopterist Liam O'Brien shares his passion for butterflies with @kpfa.org:
Avenal Landfill Fire & Butterflies of the Bay Area | KPFA
Avenal Landfill Fire & Liam O'Brien's new HeyDay Publication book, "Butterflies of the Bay Area (and Slightly Beyond) out on September 30th.
kpfa.org
October 27, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Thespian-turned-lepidopterist Liam O'Brien shares his passion for butterflies with @kpfa.org:
Part love letter, part field guide, 𝙊𝙘𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 is an ode to the creatures, currents, weather that you might encounter or be curious about walking along the sand or paddling a surfboard a distance from this world-famous San Francisco shoreline.
Eddy Rubin book an illustrated nature guide to Ocean Beach
The book is partly a love letter and partly a field guide to the creatures, currents, weather that you might encounter or be curious about walking along the sand or paddling a surfboard a distance…
buff.ly
October 24, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Part love letter, part field guide, 𝙊𝙘𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 is an ode to the creatures, currents, weather that you might encounter or be curious about walking along the sand or paddling a surfboard a distance from this world-famous San Francisco shoreline.
Heather Partington Scott, a critic and teacher, argues that when students read essential California books, they develop a sense of authority and belonging.
Literature That Belongs to Us
In this newsletter, drawing on John Freeman’s vision in California Rewritten, a critic and teacher argues that when students read essential California books, they develop a sense of authority and…
buff.ly
October 22, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Heather Partington Scott, a critic and teacher, argues that when students read essential California books, they develop a sense of authority and belonging.
Satsuki Ina was born behind barbed wire, one of roughly 120,000 Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II. Today, as immigrant families are again separated and detained, Ina’s memoir 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙞𝙡𝙠 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡 chronicles her family’s journey.
Satsuki Ina on echoes of Japanese incarceration
Satsuki Ina was born behind barbed wire at Tule Lake, where she became one of roughly 120,000 Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II. Her
www.californiasun.co
October 21, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Satsuki Ina was born behind barbed wire, one of roughly 120,000 Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II. Today, as immigrant families are again separated and detained, Ina’s memoir 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙞𝙡𝙠 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡 chronicles her family’s journey.
Liam O’Brien started his career as a professional actor. At a pivotal time in his life, he traded the spotlight for the quiet, meticulous study of winged beauty, stepping into the world of lepidoptery and publishing the richly illustrated new book 𝘽𝙪𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙖𝙮 𝘼𝙧𝙚𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 (𝙎𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙡𝙮) 𝘽𝙚𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙙.
#121: Metamorphosis: The Actor Who Became a Butterfly Scientist – Liam O’Brien
Liam O’Brien’s metamorphosis from stage actor to butterfly artist and scientist is nothing short of extraordinary. He trades the spotlight for the delicate study of lepidoptery, discove…
naturesarchive.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Liam O’Brien started his career as a professional actor. At a pivotal time in his life, he traded the spotlight for the quiet, meticulous study of winged beauty, stepping into the world of lepidoptery and publishing the richly illustrated new book 𝘽𝙪𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙖𝙮 𝘼𝙧𝙚𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 (𝙎𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙡𝙮) 𝘽𝙚𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙙.
From family letters to poetry and journalism, 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝙍𝙚𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣 author John Freeman traces the origins of his writing life and the call to share extraordinary journeys through words.
Why John Freeman Still Believes in the Power of Story
From family letters to poetry and journalism, John Freeman traces the origins of his writing life and the call to share extraordinary journeys through words.
buff.ly
October 20, 2025 at 5:03 PM
From family letters to poetry and journalism, 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝙍𝙚𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣 author John Freeman traces the origins of his writing life and the call to share extraordinary journeys through words.
Can the nation's best conservation tools survive? Josh Jackson, author of 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙, explores what's at stake as our wild lands face threat of siege and sell-off.
What we stand to lose if national monuments fall - High Country News
National monuments across the West face unprecedented threats, making public voices and vigilance more crucial than ever.
www.hcn.org
October 17, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Can the nation's best conservation tools survive? Josh Jackson, author of 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙, explores what's at stake as our wild lands face threat of siege and sell-off.