Inlandia

Yes, Virginia, there is a literary scene east of Los Angeles. Gayle Wattawa proves that point with this 400-page anthology of robust writings from Southern California locales east of L.A. Among this collection's greatest strengths is its authentic novelty: Many of the engaging pieces herein were crafted by writers unfamiliar to readers outside the region.

Inlandia, or the Inland Empire, constituting Riverside and San Bernardino counties in Southern California, is one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States. The term was first used in the 1950s to distinguish the region from the Los Angeles area, another Inland Empire with its own unique culture. The desert, the gangs, the tract housing, the ethnic mix: all these aspects of Inlandia and more are presented in this anthology.