February 3, 2024
I’d like to send out a warm thank you to the management of Barnes and Noble—Melissa, Jay, Alisa, and Judah—for inviting me to have a…
November 25, 2023
Early in 2022, while reading a book titled America’s National Wildlife Refuges, I became enthralled with a refuge in southwestern Montana called Red Rock Lakes….
May 13, 2023
The 2023 book tour is off to a great start! Two of the recent highlights are giving presentations to Sacramento’s California Fly Fishers Unlimited and…
December 11, 2022
Kathy and I had a ball at last Saturday’s book signing in Orland. The Rusty Wagon’s friendly staff couldn’t have been more gracious. Many wonderful…
November 11, 2022
Hi, Everyone, This week’s long-awaited rain and gorgeous November days prompted me to write. Kathy and I hope you’re doing well and enjoying nature in…
July 24, 2022
The best part of our book tour is meeting and talking with so many friendly and interesting people. What an honor it was to…
June 11, 2022
My recent book signing at The Fly Shop in Redding turned out to be everything Kathy and I had hoped for, and a whole lot…
May 21, 2022
Hi, Everyone, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support of my writing over the years and to tell you…
November 7, 2021
A standing-room-only crowd showed up at the Orland Carnegie Community Center this week to hear me talk about my latest book, The Case of the…
October 23, 2021
Last Saturday’s book signing at the Chico Barnes and Noble was so much fun. We were greeted at the open door by store managers Caitlyn…
October 9, 2021
We had a ball! Being interviewed by Nancy Wiegman on her National Public Radio program, Nancy’s Bookshelf, has been one of the highlights of my…
October 1, 2021
Hi, Everybody, I hope you’re all happy, healthy, and doing well. I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your glowing reviews of…
July 10, 2020
Hi, Everyone, Kathy and I hope you and your families are safe and well.
…
March 13, 2020
Kathy and I have always been fond of California’s Central Coast. We try to make the trip down Highway 1, from Monterey to Morro Bay,…
January 17, 2020
Over the years, Kathy and I have often dreamed of escaping today’s fast-paced, hectic world and moving to an island of our own—an island of…
October 4, 2019
The first time I experienced the awesome grandeur of California’s Eastern Sierra was in 1975, when, as a rookie Fish and Game warden, I drove…
July 12, 2019
When the Outdoor Writers Association of California chose Siskiyou County as the site for this spring’s writers conference, I couldn’t have been more pleased. I’ve…
April 12, 2019
When people describe the desert, words like hot, dry, desolate, bleak, bare, brown, inhospitable, and intimidating are often mentioned. Those descriptions change dramatically when water…
February 24, 2019
Just like in the Statler Brothers’ song, the Orland High School Class of ‘66 had its dreams. In June of 1966, all 138 of us…
December 7, 2018
On most winter evenings, Kathy and I hike to the hilltop near our home in the oak woodlands of Northern California. We usually leave about…
October 26, 2018
The first time I experienced the awesome grandeur of California’s Eastern Sierra was in 1975, when, as a rookie Fish and Game warden, I drove…
September 7, 2018
With camera in hand, Kathy and I have spent much of the last thirty years enjoying nature and searching for wildlife wherever we could find…
March 8, 2018
Late in November 1959, I was an eleven-year-old boy riding in the back seat of our family car as my father drove us north…
December 1, 2017
During the thirty-plus years Kathy and I have lived in the foothills east of Redding, we’ve been treated to occasional visits from black-tailed deer. They…
October 27, 2017
Hi, Everyone, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for supporting my writing adventure. Kathy and I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting…
September 8, 2017
It was early September when Kathy and I arrived in Pacific Grove to find the whole town buzzing with excitement. Something strange was going on,…
July 7, 2017
My first opportunity to visit California’s magnificent Eastern Sierra came in late April 1975, while I was a young Fish and Game warden stationed on…
May 19, 2017
I’ve always believed that our national parks and our national monuments were as secure as Yosemite’s Half Dome: solid as a rock, inviolate, and well-protected…
May 5, 2017
Last week, the Outdoor Writers Association of California presented me with the “Best Outdoor Book of 2016” award for my sequel, The Game Warden’s Son….
April 4, 2017
Last Saturday’s book signing at the Redding Sportsman’s Expo was a fun-filled day for Kathy and me. We made a lot of new friends and…
February 15, 2017
It was a day Kathy and I will not soon forget. Last Saturday’s Chico Costco book signing began with a friendly greeting from Jani, one…
February 6, 2017
Last Saturday’s Redding Costco book signing was special for Kathy and me. We had the opportunity to visit with many old friends, lots of wonderful…
January 29, 2017
The last weekend in April marked the opening of trout season in California’s Eastern Sierra Mountains. This annual spectacle rivals the Mardi Gras in New…
January 24, 2017
Kathy and I have wanted to do a book signing at the International Sportsmen’s Expo in Sacramento for several years now. Thanks to Chad Woods,…
January 15, 2017
I can’t thank the Redding Writers Forum enough for the warm welcome you gave Kathy and me yesterday. Giving my presentation about The Game Warden’s…
January 7, 2017
“That’s strange,” said Berg, pulling to a stop and reaching for his binoculars. “What’s that fancy new car doing out here in the middle of…
December 24, 2016
Kathy and I had a great time last Saturday at our Chico Barnes and Noble book signing. Longtime friends from Orland, Chico, and Fish and…
December 2, 2016
Out of beer and three sheets to the wind, the three deer poachers turned west on Newville Road and headed northeast toward Paskenta. Rounding the…
November 6, 2016
Ask any waterfowl enthusiast to name the most beautiful duck in North America, and he or she will most likely point to the brilliant, multicolored,…
September 24, 2016
Over the years, Kathy and I have often dreamed of escaping today’s fast-paced, hectic world and moving to an island of our own—an island of…
September 20, 2016
Last Saturday, Kathy and I had the pleasure of doing a book signing at Lassen Volcanic National Park‘s Art and Wine Festival. We had a…
September 4, 2016
I’ve often said that the reason I enjoyed the old Andy Griffith Show so much was because I practically grew up there. Growing up in…
August 12, 2016
I have to admit that I was more than a little apprehensive about my upcoming Orland High School class reunion. I hadn’t seen most of…
July 31, 2016
Writing the chapter “The Road to Plaskett Meadows” in my sequel, The Game Warden’s Son, was a trip down Memory Lane for me. In it,…
July 23, 2016
Nothing picks up my spirits like a walk along a mountain stream during these hundred-degree days. The McCloud River is as good as it gets….
July 16, 2016
Kathy and I have always said that the best thing about giving presentations and doing book signings is the interesting people we have the opportunity…
July 2, 2016
I’ve been exploring Northern California’s streams—above and below the surface—for most of my life. One of my most memorable adventures took place on a hot…
June 18, 2016
I love to tell stories. That’s exactly what I did when Tom Wilmer, the award-winning host of National Public Radio’s Journeys of Discovery, interviewed me…
June 10, 2016
When I looked at the list of outdoor activities for this year’s Outdoor Writers Association of California (OWAC) spring conference, a rafting trip down the…
June 8, 2016
Thank you to Tom Amundson and the Red Bluff Rotary for making my presentation yesterday a real pleasure. Kathy and I received a warm welcome…
May 29, 2016
What a thrill it was to receive the “Best Outdoor Magazine Column” award from the Outdoor Writers Association of California (OWAC) for the third year…
May 25, 2016
The book tour is in full swing for The Game Warden’s Son. Two recent stops on the tour were Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and The…
May 17, 2016
I’ve always been fascinated with birds, but I really became hooked on bird-watching, or birding, as it’s often called, during the mid-seventies when I was…
April 21, 2016
Having grown up near Chico and graduated from Chico State, I always enjoy coming back to my old stomping grounds. Last week’s successful book signing…
April 14, 2016
I recently had the pleasure of being a guest on the popular National Public Radio program Nancy’s Bookshelf. What an honor to be interviewed by…
April 7, 2016
Last Saturday’s book signing at the Redding Costco was a huge success, with readers coming from as far away as Chester, Chico, Fall River, Red…
March 27, 2016
This is an excerpt from “Stakeout at Battle Creek,” a chapter in my recently released sequel, The Game Warden’s Son. I’m sometimes asked if I…
March 21, 2016
Fun was had by all—ages nine to ninety—at last Friday’s book signing. Kathy and I would like to thank Julie, Lisa, Jo, Loura, and the…
March 7, 2016
My 2016 book tour got off to a fantastic start last Saturday, with a sell-out book signing at the Nor-Cal Boat, Sport and RV Show….
January 15, 2016
“Dad, can I go with you?” I pleaded. “There’s no school tomorrow.” I enjoyed riding on patrol, weekends and sometimes after school—whenever I didn’t have…
January 9, 2016
I first experienced California’s Channel Islands in 1959, as an excited eleven-year-old passenger aboard the Fish and Game patrol boat Marlin. My father, California Fish…
December 6, 2015
“I’m waiting,” taunted Darrell, his threatening mug now two inches from my face. My stomach churned and my heart pounded furiously as adrenaline coursed through…
October 2, 2015
Thank you to the Altacal Audubon Society for the invitation and warm welcome last week. It was great to be back in Chico, where I…
September 18, 2015
In preparation for the release of my new book in March, we’ve moved my author blog to steventcallan.com.
…
August 30, 2015
The recent killing of Hwange National Park’s beloved icon, Cecil the Lion, has brought to mind a number of outrageous poaching incidents that occurred right…
July 21, 2015
One of the more disheartening, sometimes discouraging, aspects of a wildlife officer’s job is dealing with injured, orphaned, or imprinted wildlife that cannot be released…
July 14, 2015
Kathy and I are on the road again with Badges, Bears, and Eagles. We’re having a ball!
…
June 26, 2015
It was a thrill and a great honor to recently receive the “Best Outdoor Magazine Column” award from the Outdoor Writers Association of California for…
May 25, 2015
In late April, before summer set in, Kathy and I decided to spend a few days in the land of blistering sands and sharp thorns….
April 19, 2015
Just after daylight in September 2014, four California Department of Fish and Wildlife officers and four Nevada County Sheriff’s deputies quietly locked their vehicles and…
April 1, 2015
The 2015 book tour is in full swing and off to a great start! Kathy and I have enjoyed making many new friends, and…
March 6, 2015
“Quick, roll up the windows!” said Kathy. We had just entered the ten-mile auto tour route at Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, when four cars…
January 14, 2015
Last night I had the pleasure and privilege of giving a presentation to a packed house of Wintu Audubon Society members. In addition to discussing…
December 26, 2014
With the north wind blowing off snow-covered Mount Shasta, it was brutally cold that December afternoon in 1960. Sitting in the back seat of our…
November 19, 2014
I’m sometimes asked if I had any favorite places to work during my twenty-one years supervising the warden force in western Shasta County. Lower Battle…
October 9, 2014
Kathy and I recently attended the Outdoor Writers Association of California (OWAC) fall conference on the aptly-named Wild Rivers Coast. Stretching from Port Orford, Oregon…
September 7, 2014
Having had the pleasure and privilege of diving in California’s kelp forests from San Diego to Monterey, I would describe it as a surreal, almost…
July 6, 2014
What an honor it was to be interviewed in Morro Bay by Tom Wilmer, the illustrious host of National Public Radio’s hit program, “Journeys of…
June 26, 2014
My first opportunity to see a northern elephant seal was in October of 1959, as an excited eleven-year-old passenger aboard the Fish and Game Patrol…
May 12, 2014
Recently, my wife, Kathy, and I arrived in Sonora for our first Outdoor Writers Association of California (OWAC) conference. We were a little apprehensive, being…
May 6, 2014
What a thrill to receive the “Best Outdoor Magazine Column” award from the Outdoor Writers Association of California (OWAC). Presented at the OWAC Spring Conference,…
April 25, 2014
Imagine you’re fishing somewhere off the California coast and you hook into a big one. You finally hoist the monster to the deck and discover…
March 26, 2014
Saving California’s remaining abalone fishery from money-hungry poachers is a daunting task. By telling the stories of dedicated wildlife officers in my upcoming sequel to…
March 13, 2014
The other day I came across a thirty-year-old photograph I had taken of my younger brother Matt. Matt was diving into Rock Creek, a tributary…
February 20, 2014
I’m currently writing a sequel to my first book, “Badges, Bears, and Eagles.” One of the chapters in my next book is entitled “The Headhunter.”…
January 29, 2014
Out of Ventura Harbor we sailed this past November, in pursuit of a long-held dream. My wife Kathy and I had been waiting for years…
January 3, 2014
While working on a sequel to Badges, Bears, and Eagles, I recently returned to my old stomping grounds near Orland, California, and the ghost town…
December 16, 2013
What an honor it was to return to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge for my author presentation and book signing last week. I enjoyed visiting…
November 20, 2013
I was recently invited to write an essay for Zocalo Public Square, a nationally-renowned online magazine. The publication of my essay in the magazine’s November…
October 29, 2013
Driving south on Interstate 5 a few weeks ago, I crossed the Stony Creek Bridge, just north of Orland, California. The experience brought back vivid…
October 3, 2013
In 1966, as a high school graduate about to enter college, I was fortunate to find a summer job at the Mount Shasta Fish Hatchery—the…
August 8, 2013
I was recently invited to do a presentation for the Bear Creek Watershed Group, in eastern Shasta County, California. The group is made up of…
August 2, 2013
Receiving praise from one’s peers is always extra gratifying. I am proud to share an excerpt from a review of my book which appeared in…
July 9, 2013
For decades, there have been major concerns about the depletion of California’s marine resources. In 1999, the Marine Life Protection Act was established, mandating that…
June 19, 2013
Did you know that the wildlife trade monitoring network, TRAFFIC, estimates that the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife parts is a ten billion…
June 17, 2013
Our June 14th book signing at the Chico Costco was a huge success! Thanks to Dan Barnett’s great review in the Chico Enterprise-Record and my…
June 4, 2013
My wife and I are fortunate to live on a patch of oak woodland in the foothills of Northern California. Several years ago we…
May 26, 2013
Growing up in the tiny farm town of Orland at the north end of California’s Central Valley, a pheasant sighting was a daily occurrence…
May 6, 2013
Most game wardens or wildlife officers will tell you that the odds of going out on any given day and catching someone in the…
April 30, 2013
We sold out in two hours at the Redding Costco book signing, on Friday. Saturday, we sold out again at the Whole Earth Watershed Festival.
…April 16, 2013
Publishers Weekly published an excellent review of Badges, Bears, and Eagles yesterday: “This engrossing memoir by debut author Callan lets readers in on highlights of…
April 5, 2013
Chapter 23, “Bears and Bad Guys,” describes how California black bears were unlawfully killed for their paws, as well as their gall bladders. These were…
March 29, 2013
We had a fantastic book signing yesterday at Redding’s Sun Oaks Tennis and Fitness. Thanks so much to Julie, Lisa, and the wonderful Sun Oaks…
March 21, 2013
Last weekend, Kathy and I drove over to California’s beautiful North Coast. We were biking through the pasturelands, northwest of Eureka, when we began seeing…
March 11, 2013
Tom Stienstra, columnist and outdoor writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, has written about Badges, Bears, and Eagles in today’s (3/11/13) issue of the San…
March 6, 2013
I am very happy to say that our first book signing event, at the NorCal Boat, Sport and RV Show, was a success. Thanks to…
February 28, 2013
If you think California Fish and Wildlife wardens do nothing but write fishing tickets, read Badges, Bears, and Eagles. You may be surprised!
…
February 21, 2013
In 1991, the freshly slaughtered remains of five elk—two bulls, two cows, and a six-month-old calf—were found near the tiny Northern California community of Fall…
February 17, 2013
My friend Sergio Fainsztein recently posted an underwater photograph of a giant sea bass off La Jolla Cove, San Diego, on his Facebook page. The…
February 13, 2013
Yesterday’s shootout with former LAPD officer Christopher Dorner should dispel any doubts about the dangerous nature of a California Fish and Game (Wildlife) officer’s job….
February 6, 2013
Two members of the Department of Fish and Game’s exclusive and highly skilled scuba diving team were brought in to search the deeper water. On…
January 27, 2013
The other day, my wife and I took a nature walk on the Battle Creek Wildlife Area. We headed downstream from the County Line Bridge,…
January 19, 2013
As day dawned, our previous enthusiasm had given way to absolute misery. To make matters worse, the mosquitoes returned and stuck around until about 7:00…
January 17, 2013
Jessup walked over to a second refrigerator and pulled out another plastic bag, containing four more gall bladders. The four gall bladders in this bag…
January 6, 2013
The hammer of Deputy Eastman’s revolver was millimeters from reaching its apex and beginning its downward trajectory when Musser finally put his gun down and…
January 1, 2013
Early on the morning of February 15, 1985, Inspector Dave Nelson, enforcement chief for the California Department of Fish and Game’s Redding office, arrived for…
November 7, 2012
Welcome! I’m not sure where this blog will take me yet, but it will cover subjects that are dear to my heart and especially those…