The Astonishing Color of After 5 stars Genre: YA magical realism Pros: Addresses the complexities of griefProvides multiple cultural referencesUses sensory poetic language Cons: Repeats color themes that may be distracting What an amazing and heart-wrenching book! I'm really glad I picked it up. It ties in cultural significance with the accuracy of feeling like an in-between girl straddling two worlds. I love how real the novel gets about grief and the ways we … [Read more...]
Navajo taco
May 3, 2019 Leave a Comment
Navajo taco: a taco on special bread If you recall, I went to the Grand Canyon for spring break. Such gorgeous scenery! On the way there, I swung by Cameron Trading Post, located at the edge of a Navajo Indian reservation. I had read about the delicious food served at their restaurant and had to try the Navajo taco. It has the usual fixings: ground beef, beans, green chile, lettuce, tomato, and cheddar cheese. What makes it stand out is the superior springy frybread. It’s like a … [Read more...]
Spring break
April 22, 2019 2 Comments
"Plan to have some fun." I was quiet on my blog lately because I was on spring break! It was nice to have some time off to relax and get away from it all. First, we checked out Page, Arizona. I took a chance to soak in serenity by visiting the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River. It was so peaceful watching the sun's rays sparkle on the water. The only visitor disturbing the area was this chuckwalla lounging on a rock. Horseshoe Bend is a short distance away from Page, … [Read more...]
International Friends
April 1, 2019 Leave a Comment
"Opportunity knocks on your door every day--answer it." Hi, international buddies! I'm talking to you readers from Australia, Canada, India, and the UK. Have I got a deal for you! I'm running an International BookBub deal starting today. For a limited time, you can buy the first novel in my Winston Wong series for only 99 cents (65 rupees in India) on Amazon, Apple, and Kobo. Seniors Sleuth is a CLUE Award Finalist book and currently has 56 reviews with a 4-star rating. It's even … [Read more...]
Wedding Woes is out in the Wild!
March 25, 2019 2 Comments
Hello, Winston Wong readers! You're in luck because his latest detective adventure is out. This time Winston is prepping for his wedding day--only to be snared in a murder case. Will he find the killer in time to fix everyone's happily ever after? Find Wedding Woes on Amazon and other retailers. P.S. If you purchase now, the e-book version is having a special 99 cents sale for a limited time! … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Taiwanese Hot Dog
March 22, 2019 4 Comments
Taiwanese Hot Dog: sausage in sticky rice bun This is a popular dish at food stands in Taiwan. It’s also known as small sausage in large sausage. I’ve had this before at night market, and it’s a fun treat. I love the way it’s char-grilled and so juicy. I recently had this in a more polite, use-your-forks way (see picture above). For some reason, I didn’t enjoy it as much the second time around. Perhaps it’s because you can’t really pick up the sticky rice portion. Or maybe the ratio of … [Read more...]
BookBub Revisited
March 4, 2019 2 Comments
"You will receive a compliment from a stranger." I wanted to revisit my BookBub campaign to dissect the outcome with a little more distance than right after the deal. Though BB didn't yield the quick results I expected, I do appreciate the experience. My book, Dragonfly Dreams, got a lot more readers because of the campaign. I feel like my young adult novel is an extreme type of book. People either love it or hate it. I now have two profiles on the BookBub site and have secured … [Read more...]
