About Robeth Publishing, LLC

by Bobbi Ann Johnson Holmes

        A book can change your life. A well-known writer did not author the book that altered mine. It was not a classic nor was it published by an established publishing house.  It was a simple little paperback book, written by Pearl Comfort Fisher, and published by the San Bernardino County Museum Association.
 
Our Move to Wrightwood, California
            My husband and I had moved our three-year-old son and infant daughter to Wrightwood California in November of 1982. I loved the charming little village, and wanted to learn as much as possible about my new home.  I began reading everything I could find, which included Ms. Fisher’s book, The Mountaineers, a historical account of the area.
            The Mountaineers provide inspiration for my publication, Mountain/Hi-Desert Guide. I had a degree in Communications, and had already learned that I had no interest in reporting hard news.  Instead, I wanted a publication that explored local history, while helping residents and visitors get the most out of the area by making it easy to find local organizations and upcoming events and community activities.
            Mountain/Hi-Desert Guide (the Guide) was born in the summer of 1985. My first advertiser was Willy Williams, of Williams Wrightwood Realty, and his ad remained on the back page of the publication during my time as its publisher.
 
Birth of Robeth Publishing
            Before the Guide, I had self-published Great-Grandma’s Recipe Book. After my grandmothers passed away, I had in my possession their handwritten recipe cards, including some written by my Great-Grandma Clint. I wanted to share the recipes with family and friends, and so I began the arduous task of kitchen testing each one.  Most recipes listed just the ingredients.
         After testing and re-writing the recipes, I published the book for family and friends.  This was the birth of Robeth Publishing.  A bit corny and sentimental, “Robeth” it is a combination of the names of my son (Robert) and daughter (Elizabeth).
         When the Guide went to press, it did so under Robeth Publishing, and it served the communities of Wrightwood, Phelan and Pinon Hills, California.
         In 1988 and 1989, we published an annual full color magazine, Wrightwood Magazine. Mountain/Hi-Desert Guide was a wonderful experience and adventure. I published it from 1985 until 1991, when I sold it to June Woodmansee and Susan Johnson.  My father was terminally ill, and our family needed to leave our beloved Wrightwood, and move to Lake Havasu (where I lived as a teenager), to assist my parents in operating their family business, Havasu Palms.
 
Return to Lake Havasu
         During my time publishing the Guide, I met some wonderful people who helped bring our publication to life, and some who welcomed me into their homes, to conduct interviews, sharing stories of their pioneer families with our readers.
         After I returned to Havasu, I once again returned to what I loved, writing about local history. I wrote and published, Where the Road Ends, about the history of one of the oldest camps on Lake Havasu (Havasu Palms), which, at the time, was our family home.
       Then came the Internet and by 1999 I was publishing an online magazine called Havasu Magazine. Since that time, we have published various books, which are available for sale online, and several websites.
       Robeth Publishing has been absorbed by Robeth Publishing, LLC, whose website is Robeth.com. Today Robeth Publishing, LLC is involved with a variety of small and personal publishing projects.