About the book:

A Holocaust survivor facing eviction, a schoolboy struggling with his identity, a single mother who is on the verge of being exposed for embezzlement, and a speedway daredevil whose bruised body and fragile ego are beyond repair, all find themselves scouring the Southern California landscape for $50,000 in buried cash–the grand prize of a struggling AM radio station’s contest. Unknown to each other but bonded by a common desire for redemption, each is a willing participant in a treasure hunt caught between nostalgia and desperation.

“The Summer of $50,000” unfolds against a California landscape very much in flux, both culturally and geographically. Only one contestant will call on a troubled past to help walk away with the money–and the salvation that they hope it will bring.

About the author:

Alex Cherin is a lawyer and author living in Southern California. He is the author of the “Yesternow” column that appeared in the OC Weekly between 2019 and 2021. His articles, which focused on pop culture history, were given 2 awards by the Los Angeles Press Club where he was also nominated as Journalist of the Year in 2020.