New Release
No Walk in the Park
A newspaper man’s rise, fall, and redemption—addiction, three broken marriages, a jailhouse miracle, and a life rebuilt through faith, service, and storytelling.
Welcome to Saltyman Press
This is the home for writings by Harry Saltzgaver – the Salty man. You’ll find synopsis of all three of my books, including the most recent, No Walk in the Park: Newspapers, Booze and God.
You’ll also find links where you can buy all three, including the older Passionately Positive: The Beverly O’Neill Story, and 20 Years of Salt in a 10-Pound Bag, a compilation of my early columns.
There’s a bit about who I am here, as well as a picture or two. This is a brand-new website, so we’ll be adding stuff from time to time – and you’ll have something new to see when you visit again!
If you’ve read one or all of the books, please send me a review, and we may add it to the website. There’s an example here – legendary singer/songwriter/actor Paul Williams had something to say about No Walk in the Park. Check it out.
Finally, if you’d like to buy a book signed personally to you, just email me at writerman47@yahoo.com. I’ll handle it myself.
Thanks for visiting.
– Harry
Recent Reviews
Upcoming Appearances
Book Signing
Date: April 3, 2026 - 5:30 PM (Friday)
Details: Bixby Knolls First Fridays County Fair, Expo Center, 4321 Atlantic Ave.
RSVP to writerman47@yahoo.com
Book Signing
Date: April 23, 2026 - 5:30 PM (Thursday)
Details: Historical Society of Long Beach
4260 Atlantic Ave.
RSVP to writerman47@yahoo.com
Stories of Long Beach told with a lifetime of heart, humor, and honesty.
About
Meet Harry Saltzgaver
For more than 45 years, Harry has told the stories of Long Beach and its people as an award-winning journalist, author, and community leader. Discover the life behind A Pinch of Salt and his ongoing dedication to the city he calls home.
Featured Coverage
Harry Saltzgaver has written many stories in his distinguished newspaper career — but he has just written his best one. It’s his own life story, told in a compelling autobiographical book, “No Walk in the Park: Newspapers, Booze and God.”
Harry Saltzgaver, longtime editor of the Grunion Gazette, received the American Journalism Historians Association’s Outstanding Award for Substantial Contribution to the Public Interest, honoring his decades of community storytelling, civic service, and love for Long Beach.
After 31 years as executive editor of the Grunion Gazette, Harry Saltzgaver steps down but keeps his weekly “A Pinch of Salt” column. In a heartfelt farewell, he honors Long Beach’s community, the people who shaped it, and his next chapter with Sunstone Management.
Long Beach’s “Radio Hour Fundraiser” at Catalina Landing brought nostalgia, humor, and community spirit. Harry Saltzgaver’s play, featuring Mayor Rex Richardson and local leaders, created a heartwarming night celebrating talent and the Playhouse’s 90-year legacy.
Passionately Positive
Leadership Through Inspiration
This is her inspirational story, and the story of the way AA lessons turned into an incredibly effective leadership style that changed the lives of not just thousands, but residents throughout Long Beach and beyond.
