Stephen King once wrote, “Books are a uniquely portable magic.” So whether you're venturing to a faraway beach vacation this summer or simply looking to escape to your favorite reading nook, we've conjured up a list of 10 magical new books—all published by homegrown authors in 2026—that will inspire, thrill and transport you.
Many celebrities grow up in a place, move to Hollywood, make it big, and never look back. Danielle Moné Truitt is not that kind of celebrity. Her résumé ranges from serving as the visual inspiration for Princess Tiana in Disney’s The Princess and the Frog to starring as Sergeant Ayanna Bell alongside Christopher Meloni in Law & Order: Organized Crime. But Truitt has always kept one foot firmly planted in the River City thanks to her family and also her work, like 3: Black Girl Blues—the one-woman show she performed at the B Street Theatre in 2022. And now, having moved back to Sacramento, she is standing 10 toes down on her hometown, shooting a short film she wrote about her childhood and directing Douglas Lyons’ play Don’t Touch My Hair, which runs June 12–28 at Celebration Arts.
Wheelbarrow races, classic carnival rides, jumbo corn dogs, and more. Here are the five can’t-miss county fairs bringing sunny festivities from May to August in 2026.
