Jake Hinton • November 30, 2024

NEW ISSUE Sunhous Review

Sunhous Review: Borrego Springs’ Literary Magazine

A Digital Platform for New and Emerging Writers

Sunhous Review is an online literary magazine based in Borrego Springs, California. Published monthly in a digital format, the magazine showcases a diverse selection of literary works, including fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. It maintains a connection with the Borrego Art Institute, further linking the magazine to the local artistic community.

Mission and Focus

Founded in 2024 by Jeffrey Fancy, Sunhous Review aims to discover and promote new and emerging writers, while also publishing established authors. The magazine covers various themes such as nature, the desert environment, and social justice.

Sunhous Review publishes a range of literary forms, including traditional short stories, poetry, essays, and experimental works. Its content spans multiple genres, including romance, fantasy, humor, and drama, with poetry forms such as haikus, sonnets, and free verse represented.

Editorial Team

Sunhous Review is led by publisher Jeffrey Fancy, a Borrego Springs resident with a background in creative writing from San Diego State University and the University of California, San Diego. Fancy has previously edited and published several literary journals, including San Diego Brew Review and Mojave Heart Review. He is also an active volunteer at the Borrego Art Institute’s ArtPark Gardens.

Anna Hallett, co-editor, is a writer based in the Anza-Borrego Desert. She has been published in various literary journals and manages professional writing projects.

Submissions and Guidelines

Writers can submit their work to Sunhous Review by emailing submissions to sunhous24@gmail.com. Submissions should be in .docx or .pdf format, or included in the body of the email. The magazine does not accept AI-generated content.

For more information, visit sunhous.com.

Learn More About Borrego Springs

Growing this Summer August 2026

By Wade Beane • August 18, 2026

Growing this Summer If you have landscaping or a garden, you have probably spent time this summer wondering if your plants are going to make it. There have been many days I’ve walked outside, looked at a plant and said, “Sorry little feller, I feel your struggle!” Be patient with your plants. In Borrego, nighttime heat is one of the biggest challenges. During the summer, plants need cooler nights to breathe. When night temperatures stay in the 80s, plants struggle because they conserve water by closing their stomata, which are tiny pores used for gas exchange. On hot nights these pores stay closed to prevent plants from losing more water than they can afford. But then they struggle to breathe. Cool nights are what allow desert plants to absorb carbon dioxide so they can create energy. In simple terms, hot nights keep plants from breathing, which slows the creation of sugars they need to be happy and survive. Look at the plants that naturally grow around us. There is a reason so many desert plants have small, thick leaves covered in wax. A smaller leaf has less surface area where water can escape. Waxy leaves create another protective layer that helps hold moisture inside the plant. Creosote and other plants have spent a very long time figuring out how to live wisely in the desert. Other landscape plants are less adapted to living through a Borrego summer. Even cacti struggle with the heat and get sunburned. And when a plant looks stressed, giving it more water is not always the answer. Too much water can complicate problems even further for many desert plants. Summer is a good time to practice patience. Pause for a moment and let the plant tell you what it needs. Sometimes plants need an extra drink and some shade cloth. Other times a little pruning will focus good energy on what is still alive. And when all else fails, slow down for a moment and talk to your plants. They are good listeners and appreciate words of encouragement. It has been a hot summer, and the plants are struggling just like the wildlife and many of us are. Wander outside and offer a little extra attention to everything that is surviving this summer. A few caring words and a little patience can make all the difference.