A fifth generation Californian, Patricia Hamilton is descended from the Rev. Sylvanus G. Gale, a Methodist minister in the Retreat of Pacific Grove from 1890-1893. She has authored three Monterey County Guides: Free and Fun Things to See and Do in Monterey County, Monterey County Guide, and Monterey County Guide Events Art Calendar and the eco-travel guide, California Healthy, 2007, which became the first ever in-room green guide for Marriott Hotels, and in 2008 won the IRWIN Award for most creative ad campaign from the Book Publicists of Southern California.