A gorgeously illustrated tour of California’s heartland, lovingly depicted in over 100 original watercolour paintings. From Tejon Pass in the south to Mount Shasta in the north stretches one of California’s hidden gems, the heartland of the Great Central Valley. The most productive agricultural region anywhere in the world, the Central Valley is an entirely different California most tourists never see - a rural land of farms and industry, stunning natural beauty, and historic cities, populated by friendly, hard-working people. Superbly illustrated with over 100 full-colour original watercolor paintings, Landscapes and Landmarks of the Great Central Valley is a loving tribute to the Valley created by two native daughters, award-winning artist Pat Hunter and acclaimed writer Janice Stevens. Hunter and Stevens take the reader on a personal tour of their home region, showing the charms of the Valley’s agricultural heritage, natural scenery, history and architecture. AUTHORS: Pat Hunter, one of California’s most recognized artists, is best known for her watercolor depictions of historical landmarks. Since the early 1990s, Hunter has been an invited artist-in-residence at the Yosemite National Park Art Center. Hunter’s commissioned art can be found in numerous corporate and private collections, including more than 25 McDonald’s restaurants throughout the United States. Hunter has issued seven books in collaboration with author Janice Stevens: Fresno’s Architectural Past, Volume I, Fresno’s Architectural Past, Volume II, William Saroyan: Places in Time, Remembering the California Missions, An Artist and a Writer Travel Highway 1 North, An Artist and a Writer Travel Highway 1 Central, and An Artist and a Writer Travel Highway 1 South. Janice Stevens is an author and instructor of English literature, composition and creative writing for the State Center Community College District. In addition to her works in collaboration with Pat Hunter, Stevens has compiled two volumes of military service memoirs by San Joaquin Valley veterans: Stories of Service: Valley Veterans Remember World War II and Stories of Service, Volume II: Valley Veterans Remember World War II, Korea, Vietnam. and the Cold War. 175 colour illustrations