Herbs & Spices Bring Us Back to Family, Traveling, and Connecting to Humanity

Orey, a Tribune columnist, is known for her Healing Powers series that goes through a wide variety of different foods and their miraculous healing properties.

Women’s World Magazine chose the new book to be part of their book club — Orey also used to be the weekly nutrition and diet columnist. 

The Healing Powers of Herbs & Spices: A Complete Guide to Nature’s Timeless Treasures is to be released on Dec. 29.

Due to the pandemic, Orey says that there is a spice boom happening because people are now at home cooking and baking more often than usual. This health cookbook and travelogue combo is meant to help educate readers on “old as time” home remedies and groundbreaking discoveries through the use of spices and herbs.

Not only is the book a guide for people who love to cook and bake, but it offers a fun way to learn through legends, stories and many of Orey’s experiences derived from both childhood and present times. "I grew up in California surrounded by beautiful nature,” Orey said. “The mountains and ocean were less than an hour’s drive from our family home — which was a landscape garden suburbia. When my mom cooked and baked in the kitchen, the fragrant seasonings took my vivid imagination to faraway lands like Italy and France, places I saw on postcards she sent to me when she traveled abroad. And that is what ignited my love for European spices and herbs – part of the Mediterranean diet, an underlying theme in my Healing Powers series.”

Orey earned her masters degree in English from San Francisco State University and has been studying health nutrition since.  

Orey shares a wide the powers behind spices and herbs.

Provided

In this book, Orey couples research with personal anecdotes to explore the benefits of various spices and herbs claiming that many can help with weight-loss, bolstering the immune system to stave off colds and the flu, work to defy aging and even mentions about what people used during the plague almost 1,000 years ago. In the book, she also crafted tasty home recipes for each of their uses.

One chapter of the book refers to marjoram which she claims helps with fighting illnesses, germs, viruses and is also an anti-inflammatory. In the book, Orey shares her homemade mediterranean oven-baked garlic and marjoram pizza recipe with readers.

Orey says the most fun part of the book are her stories however. One of the stories she includes is a trip to Alaska that she referred to as a “trip from hell, but fun in hindsight.”

She made the trip in search of fresh herbs, spices and fresh caught salmon, but after many prior failed attempts to get there, she realized she couldn’t find any fresh herbs in the middle of an Alaska winter.

“On the upside: I’m no longer thinking the herbal grass is greener in Alaska, a place where fresh food is not abundant year-round,” Orey said. “But dried herbs, such as the parsley, pepper, and paprika on French fries, did suffice. Drinking plenty of herbal tea made me less homesick and more welcome. Sometimes, you have to go out of your comfort zone to gain hands-on knowledge.

“Spices take us back to nostalgic times,” she added. “They bring us back to family, traveling and connecting to humanity. It keeps us connected to the places we can’t go right now.”

The book is available for preorder at https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/author/cal-orey/

Robots Flooding Market with Cheap, Generic Writing

 Why Human Writing Still Matters for Professional Authors

By Cal Orey, M.A. 

In today’s publishing world, AI is flooding the market with cheap, generic writing. Think bland, dry fast food versus the "premium" alternative. When people use AI to get free content, they are usually looking for "good enough" filler.

However, the glitch is, traditional publishers, human authors, and hungry readers are tired of AI-generated books that lack depth, voice, and accuracy. Accomplished authors, like me, are a subject matter expert (we are the masters of different genres), not just a typist. By sharing writing high-level articles, I can create a book or novel that AI cannot replicate.

      Many companies are now actively avoiding AI because of legal risks and poor quality. I can highlight that my work is 100% human-verified and original. People who need my expertise and my specific voice, is something a machine can never provide. Human authors have paid their dues and have natural talent to be able to write with a voice they earned know they are still the best person for the job. I am not lowering myself to the level of AI; I am rising above it by showing that my work is a professional investment, not a commodity.

Misery: Cuddling up to the Tahoe Shoulder Season

 The Tahoe Shoulder Season Survivalist’s Tricks: 

Eat, Sip, and Flip

By Cal Orey, M.A.

When I woke up, the Sierra mercury decided to play mind games, plummeting from a warm 60 F to a biting 30 F in a single day. “Forget controlling the weather,” I muttered to my shivering tree garden, realizing that nature’s wacky weather is not an obstacle to be cursed, but a tactical challenge to be outsmarted. As the author of the Healing Powers series, I have learned some tricks to ride the season mix from a test of endurance into a masterclass in mountain adaptation. 

• The "High-Altitude" Pantry: When the weather is fickle, stocking the right superfoods prevents the blues that comes with crazy pressure changes. On gray rainy days, think “Cold-Snap" proteins: Fresh fish and poultry. These are heart healthy and low-cal. When the 60-degree days hit, load up on hydrating produce like tomatoes, cucumbers, raw spinach, oranges, and apples. These provide the water content your body craves when the air is dry and thin. 

• Hot-Cold Elixirs: The "Snow-Day" Tonic: A hot tea spiked with raw honey, and a pinch of cayenne pepper acts as a natural vasodilator, pushing blood to your extremities when the wind chill bites. The "Sun-Day" Refresher: Brew a large batch of hibiscus tea. It’s packed with cold and virus-fighting antioxidants, and helps the body manage the oxidative stress of high-altitude UV exposure.

• The "Tactical Alpinist" Garb: If you are wearing the same thing at 10:00 AM as you are at 4:00 PM, you are doing it wrong. The Base Layer: Always wear layered clothing to bundle up in both 30 and 60-degree weather, tossing it off when you’re hot and insulating when you’re cold. In Tahoe, the wind is the real culprit behind the "shoulder season chill.”

As the April winter advisory looms, I shed the layers: shorts are swapped for jeans, and the hoodie is traded for a lighter tee. By night, the electric fireplace hums, paired with the soothing ritual of chamomile tea and lavender honey, cuddled up with the fluffy feline and canine, a final, cozy defense against the chill before the first May flowers signal the sun’s return. 

CAL OREY, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist specializing in topics such as adventure, health, nutrition, and science. She holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from San Francisco State University. Her books include the popular Healing Powers series, and Courage with Paws, Time-Traveling Tabby, the new, revised 2nd edition of The Healing Powers of Honey (pre-order for 2026), and The Healing Powers of Olive Oil, 3rd edition in production.  She is a South Lake Tahoe local. Her website is www.calorey.com

Cultivating a Garden in Spring Takes Patience for Vibrant Blossoms and Leaves

 Plant some green air

News | May 27, 2025

Cal Orey  Tahoe Daily Tribune

Twenty-five years back, upon establishing roots in South Shore, I initiated a deliberate intervention: cultivating a dedicated green space, a personal plant collection. As time progressed, this botanical foothold grew claiming territory on the deck with potted specimens–maples, aspens, even lavender. The outcome wasn’t merely aesthetic; I uncovered a truth: actively engaging greenery wasn’t just nurturing plants…This connection to nature is an observation that gardening can do so much more!

Did you know plants can absorb toxic compounds and provide improve air quality? Being in the presence of plants and trees has been linked to reduced stress levels, lower blood pressure, and decreased heart rate. And nurturing plants and trees can be good medicine for you, especially during summer when windows might be closed due to heat or allergens. Take a look at the power of green air…

Top 5 Plants/Trees…Mind/Body Perks

1. Aspen-Outdoor Deck: Aspen trees are native to the Tahoe region and are suited to the climate. Young trees can be kept in large pots. Watching its vibrant green leaves in summer, golden-yellow foliage in fall, provides a link to seasonal changes and the rhythm of the natural world, fostering a sense of place and grounding.

2. Maple-Outdoor Deck: These native species, like Aspen, grow well on the deck and in large pot. Maples boast super colors. The visual pleasure of the tree’s structure, the changing colors of its leaves through the season, can provide a sense of calm, and enhance mood.

3. Snake Plant-Indoor: A popular and hardy houseplant (I’ve had one for years) does well in our homes with lower light and dry air. Studies by NASA show they can remove toxins from the air, which can lower anxiety related to indoor air quality and support respiratory health.

4. Lavender-Outdoors: Lavender are resilient for Tahoe’s climate and can grow in containers on a deck. The scent released from the plant, when warmed by the sun, can have an effect on relaxation. Having a lavender plant (or several!) on the deck, provides stress reduction via aromatherapy.

5. Spider Plant-Indoor: A popular and easy-to-grow houseplant known for its “spiderettes” or “baby” plantets are good for the mind/body, too. Research suggests that the presence of plants in a workspace can help with mind fatigue. Having a spider plant indoors may also contribute to aiding in concentration and focus during tasks.

The golden rule of green thumb at Tahoe is, after Memorial Day it’s time to get busy with your plants and trees for their versatile qualities and positive effects on your well-being.

CAL OREY, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist specializing in topics such as adventure, health, nutrition, and science. She holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from San Francisco State University. Her books include the popular Healing Powers series, and Courage with Paws: The Heart of a Siamese Cat, (Book 2) Time-Traveling Tabby, and co-author of a sci-fi duology–The Ghost Ships. Her bestselling book The Healing Powers of Honey, 2nd ed. will launch August 2026; The Healing Powers of Olive Oil, 3rd ed. is in production. She is a South Lake Tahoe local. Her website is http://www.calorey.com

Want to Know When the Next Quake is Coming? Ask Your Cat!

 By Cal Orey

Time-Traveling Tabby: Paws, Claws, and Quantum Laws: Feline Odyssey Through Dimensions! (Available on Amazon and B&N) In a world where seismic and cosmic events reshape the Earth and alter the fabric of time, an underappreciated cat becomes an unexpected bridge between past and present. As its new owner and cat experience the complexities of time travel, the feline’s heightened senses alert her to impending Earth changes that could redefine their existence. Together they forge a bond, revealing tales of feline companionship while facing the mysteries of the Universe…

In the short story Time-Traveling Tabby: A Journey Through Whiskers and Time, [click and watch TRAILER!]  a scribe navigates a complex time-based landscape, and her newly adopted cat becomes a conduit to the past, revealing tales of feline companions from bygone eras. With its keen senses, the cat alerts its owner to an impending celestial event, forging a bond between them that transcends time and space. As the feline peeks into a future time loop in 2032 (impacts of climate change and extreme weather events), it must trust its instincts in order to confirm a calm future. [PAWS ACROSS TIME: ORACLE VISIONARY MARCH 2025, PAGES 18-19--Oracle Visionary | Oracle Visionary March 2025 | MagCloud]  

The tale revolves around a young orange tabby cat adopted by a seasoned prose weaver who takes “Gatsby” on a journey through time, visiting the 70s, 80s, 90s, and the 21st century, and eventually, the future. The feline narrator tells the saga of adventures, which are deeply connected to his owner’s past experiences and the stories she shares with him about her previous cats. As the cat listens to these feline tales, he feels a strong desire to prove himself and fill the paws of the scribes’ past adopted cats who endured Earth changes through decades in the U.S.

The Cat’s Journey and Sci-Fi/Fantasy Elements

As Gatsby time travels with his owner, he develops a keen intuition that allows him to sense an imminent earthquake, which he warns his owner about by scratching at the closet door for two days before the BIG event changes his life. The act of courage and loyalty wins over his owner’s heart, and she begins to appreciate the great Sir Gatsby’s wonderful listening skills and the special bond they share. The cat’s ability to sense the earthquake and his journey through time with his owner are the key sci-fi elements in the story, showcasing his uncanny powers and the unique connection he has with his owner. The cat’s experiences and the stories this owner tells him about her past felines who survived earth changing events, creates a rich and immersive narrative that explores the themes of time travel, intuition, and the human-animal bond. 

Take a peek at an excerpt from the Time-Traveling Tabby:

THE SHAKE-UP - Time's Tectonic Shift

Then, BAM! seismic waves shook my senses for two days…

The sensitive woman noticed my odd scratching the closet door;

I saw flocks of birds fly away from rumbling to come,

An earthquake imminent; shaking and rolling floor—and MORE!

Sci-Fi/Fantasy Themes

The story is heartwarming and thought-provoking exploration of the sci-fi fantasy genre, with a unique twist of having a feline narrator who travels through time and experiences the world in a way that is both familiar and strange. The cat’s journey and his owner’s stories about her past cats create a sense of nostalgia and high-tech wonder, highlighting the idea that animals can possess a deep understanding of the world and the people around them. The story’s use of time travel and the cat’s intuitive abilities adds a layer of sci-fi/fantasy that makes the narrative engaging and mesmerizing.

CAL OREY, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist specializing in topics such as adventure, health, romance, and science. She holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from San Francisco State University. Her books include the popular Healing Powers series, and Courage with Paws. (Book 2) Time-Traveling Tabby, and two electrifying co-authored sci-fi-/fantasy novels--The Ghost Ships. Her website is www.calorey.com

Quake Coming? Ask Your Cat!

 Seismic Wellness: Staying Steady When the Earth Isn’t

NewsNews | Apr 15, 2026

Cal Orey, M.A. Tahoe Daily tribune

The ground beneath me recently turned into a liquid-like wave, and with no ShakeAlert or “pet-alarm” to warn me, my own nervous system was the only early warning I had. This recent 5.7 magnitude jolt on April 13 was a reminder that in California and Nevada, we are guests on a restless crust. April has a haunting history of shaking us awake, from the catastrophic Great San Francisco Quake of April 18, 1906, to the Morgan Hill event of April 24, 1984. The Fallon, Nevada quake was a wake-up call to get my ducks in a row, because in Lake Tahoe, the only thing more predictable than a shake is the fact that the next one is already overdue.As the author of “The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes,” I was taught a thing or two by the late geologist Jim Berkland. Here’s some health tips to keep on hand to be prepared when the next earthquake hits.

The “Anchor & Shield” Protocol: Since you can’t rely on technology or animal intuition, your body is your go-to tool. If you feel the “rolling” sensation of a quake, don’t wait to identify the magnitude. (I did that after the shaking stopped.) Drop, cover, and hold on. This lowers your center of gravity, lessening the vertigo that causes the “sea-sickness” effect. 

“The “Survival Cache” (Food & Water): You need a “grab-and-go” supply that requires zero preparation. Store at least one gallon of water per person per day for three days. Focus on foods that don’t require cooking: proteins (tuna), peanut butter, nuts, and dried fruits.

The “Medical Baseline”: Maintain a “Go-Kit” with essential prescription meds, trauma kit, and OTC remedies for nausea and vertigo to manage the lingering “quake-sickness” that persists after the shaking stops. 

The “Aftershock Jolts”: Never assume the first quake is the last one. After the initial shaking, move to a “safe zone” away from glass, and bookshelves. If you are indoors, check for gas leaks by smell. Turn off the main gas valve if you suspect a leak. 

So, the ShakeAlert system didn’t go off because Nevada isn’t in the system; California is part of the USGS ShakeAlert network. But, even with a perfect system, people close to the epicenter often feel the shaking before an alert can be sent. My cat’s sixth sense for tremors failed me this time, so I was left to navigate the sudden ground-shaking entirely on my own.

CAL OREY, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist specializing in topics such as adventure, health, nutrition, and science. She holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from San Francisco State University. Her books include the popular Healing Powers series, Courage with Paws, and the new, revised 2nd edition of The Healing Powers of Honey (pre-order for 2026 summer), and The Healing Powers of Olive Oil, 3rd edition is in production. She is a South Lake Tahoe local. 

Buzzworthy Release: Be the First to Dive in this Summer. Reserve Your Copy

 The Original is a must-read; the New & Revised 2^nd Edition is the must-have of the Summer.

"An eye-opening book"

"I love her style"

"Powerful health solutions"

* * *

--Authors from Goodreads

By Cal Orey

Summer is on its way, and the data is clear. Folks of all ages are shifting their eating habits to a clean Mediterranean diet and real food; and raw honey is replacing refined sugar for health’s sake. I spent last summer amid rollercoaster weather at Lake Tahoe listening to worldwide experts, from doctors, nutritionists to beekeepers and consumers. It became obvious that the market has made a seismic shift since 2011 when I wrote the #1 hit The Healing Powers of Honey, first edition. That’s why I’m thrilled and eager to share the revised and updated evolutionary honey revolution with you today. The new digging and data I discovered will simply rock your world!

It’s not just another summer release—it’s the answer to better health to lower the risk of chronic diseases, obesity, diabetes, heart ailments, and improve healthspan and lifespan for all generations! If you have questions about how the honeybees, honey market, and demand for honey has been changing the game, ask me a question! Go ahead and email me at COrey39184@aol.com . I’d be glad to share my remarkable and jaw dropping findings. Meanwhile, reserve your copy: Be the first to dive in this summer. The Healing Powers of Honey: Revised and Updated