Santa Paula Author and columnist publishes book on County Veterans

Jannette Jauregui, author and columnist has released her second book focusing on Ventura County’s military veterans. The book, titled Of War and Life: A Decade of Stories, features more than 150 profiles of veterans who served through World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The book was available Nov. 8, 2013, at a kick-off event at The California Oil Museum in Santa Paula, Calif., where Jauregui is hosting a museum exhibit under the same title.

 For more than 12 years Jauregui’s column, Of War and Life, has captured the first-hand accounts of veterans from throughout Ventura County, Calif.  The Santa Paula native began writing the profiles as a 19-year-old college student, and has continued to serve as a freelance columnist for The Star, writing primarily about those she calls “hometown heroes.” In the past 12 years Jauregui has interviewed more than 200 veterans from throughout Ventura County. Of War and Life: A Decade of Stories includes the first 10 years of the short profiles, all having been previously published in either The Ventura County Star or Santa Paula Times between 2001 and 2011. The book also features short stories describing Jauregui’s journey in getting to know the veterans, many of whom, she says, she has come to consider family.

Jauregui received her bachelor’s degree in communication from California Lutheran University, and her master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. In addition to writing, Jauregui has spent much of her professional life in higher education, working for her alma mater, CLU, in media relations and more recently as an adjunct professor. She also served as a writer and editor for the Pepperdine School of Law. In addition, Jauregui tackled her goal of working in the television industry, spending a year and a half as a production assistant and associate producer for NBC’s Today show.

In addition to the release of her latest title, Jauregui is hosting an exhibit at The California Oil Museum in Santa Paula.  Designed to take visitors back in time, the exhibit will feature a variety of original memorabilia from Jauregui’s personal collection, as well as the collections of some of the veterans included in the book. Items such as World War II uniforms, letters from the front lines of World War II, photos, ration books, telegrams, war bond posters, and logs from Pearl Harbor on the day it was attacked - all original - will be on display. In addition, a variety of recorded interviews with some of the veterans featured in the book will be available to view. 

Of War and Life: A Decade of Stories is Jannette’s third book. Previous titles include Ventura County Veterans: World War II to Vietnam (2011) and Dad’s Song From Heaven (2013).