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Author Chris Ahrens will host a book talk on his latest novella, “Behold What Is Greater Than Thyself,” at the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library May 19. Courtesy photo
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Place to Call Home: Prolific author Chris Ahrens to host book talk in Cardiff

Chris Ahrens’ bio tells us that in 1972, while living in Australia and wondering about his next meal, he wrote his first story for a surfing magazine for the sum of $50, which opened the door to bylines in various newspapers, magazines and major surfing publications.

He wrote three popular books on surfing and interviewed major celebrities for Risen Magazine where he was editor in chief for seven years.  He wrote and directed an award-winning documentary D.O.P.E (Death or Prison Eventually) which landed him a contract to write the memoirs of legendary skateboarder Christian Hosoi for Harper and Row.

In 1985 he wrote a piece about his mother which was published in Family Circle magazine.   Seems his mother had a fur coat which she always proudly wore on Christmas, however the family was surprised when suddenly she didn’t wear it one year but they soon discovered that she had turned it into Davey Crocket hats for Chris and his brother for Christmas.

He said he was thrilled when his first book was published but the piece about his mom was one of his greatest pleasures.

The many surf books by Ahrens include, “Good Things Love Water,” “Joy Rides,” “Kalea’s Gift,” all of which may be checked out at the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library.

I had always known who Ahrens was but was able to talk to him in length when he did a book talk on his first non-surfing book, “Twilight in the City of Angeles,” a story about his grandfather.

He became a business member of the Friends of the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library and helped in our membership booth at Dog Days promoting his book.

Ahrens is a warm, easy to talk to person with a tremendous sense of humor and enjoys playing tricks.  One April Fool’s day he had a wanted poster made of his wife to hang in the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Post Office.

Surfing brought Ahrens to Cardiff-by-the-Sea in 1970 and he is here to stay.  It goes without saying that he loves surfing but also enjoys spear fishing, is a rock hound and a cat person, which endeared him to me.

He enjoys family life and his two grand children.  He resides with wife Tracey and their cats

Henry and Percy.

Chris Ahrens’s latest surf novella, “Behold What Is Greater Than Thyself,” is available in many Encinitas surf shops or can be purchased online by visiting:  perelandrapub.ecwid.com.

He will be doing a book talk on it in the library community room May 19 at 6:30 p.m.

If you missed his last talk, do not miss this one.

Becoming better acquainted with Ahrens has been a pleasure and if his schedule allows, I am sure you can meet him in the Friends booth at Dog Days this August.  Ahrens is another one of the many reasons that Cardiff-by-the-Sea is the happy, friendly place we all love to call home.

A founding and life member as well as past president and current board member of the of the Friends of the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library, Irene has lived here since 1982.