Rip Rense, a news reporter who grew up in Thousand Oaks, has written a novel, "The Oaks," based on his childhood.

The story features Charlie Bogle, growing up in "a small country town . . . in Beatlesechoing, 1960s California bedroomcommunity America."

Rense lived in T.O. from 1960 to 1968. He has written for the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, the Valley News and the Los Angeles Times. His work has appeared in the New York Times, TV Guide, People and the Boston Globe, among other publications.

"The Oaks" is available in hardcover for $34.99 and as a trade paperback for $24.99.

For more information, visit www.oaksnovel.com.