All publishing proceeds benefit the California Arts Council, an agency which was forced to suspend school writing, arts education programs and other grants in 2003 because of state budget cutbacks. Since its publication, more than $65,000 from sale of this book has been donated to literary programs in California schools.

To make the project possible, all of the writers donated their work. Malloy Incorporated generously donated the first printing of the book. The CaliforniaAuthors.com editor and creative director and the team at Angel City Press — including the sales manager and representatives who work with Angel City Press — are also contributing their services and talents. Los Angeles publicist Jackie Green is donating her services, too.

In addition, world-renown artist David Hockney and the J. Paul Getty Museum have contributed use of Hockney’s "Pearblossom Hwy (11-18th April 1986 — second version)" on the cover. Read more about the cover here.

Read more about the authors and journalists featured in My California here.

Edited by Donna Wares

Introduction by Pico Iyer (read it at CaliforniaAuthors.com)

Contributors: Mark Arax, T. Jefferson Parker, Mary Mackey, Hector Tobar, Thomas Steinbeck, Edward Humes, Matt Warshaw, Firoozeh Dumas, devorah major, Michael Chabon, Kathi Kamen Goldmark, Percivel Everett, Ruben Martinez, Patt Morrison, Carolyn See, D.J. Waldie, Gerald Haslam, Anh Do, Derek M. Powazek, Daniel Weintraub, Deanne Stillman, David Kipen, Veronique de Turenne, Chryss Yost, Dana Gioia