I’ve always been fond of cookies. Maybe because they were a rare treat we got from the local bakery only once in a while. We didn’t actually bake any cookies growing up. Our oven was used mostly for roasts. Somehow, though, we did have a cookie cookbook in our household. I can’t remember how young I was, but I was still too small to “touch the oven” when I had my first baking adventure. I decided to microwave the cookie batter (not sure if you’d call it that since the dough was mostly flour … [Read more...]
Boba Tea and Mystery
May 10, 2022 2 Comments
I recently enjoyed an author event with the perfect title: Afternoon (Boba) Tea & Mystery. The rhyming factor is great, and what’s better than some refreshing bubble tea in the afternoon? Special thanks goes out to the Northern California chapters of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America for co-sponsoring the event. This was an offsite activity that coincided with the Bay Area Book Festival. Here is a signed copy I got of Kelly Yang’s Yes We Will: I had a fun time … [Read more...]
It’s Conference Time!
March 29, 2022 2 Comments
When is a conference not a conference? <drum roll> When it happens in March 2020. The last time I went to a writing conference was in 2020 for Left Coast Crime in San Diego. It was surreal experiencing the shutdown of the entire event. Notices were quickly taped to doors and windows. People scrambled for their phones to rearrange transportation and find lodging. I resigned myself to canceling my hotel reservation (hoping for a refund) and traveling the two hours back to Los … [Read more...]
To Swag or Not to Swag?
March 15, 2022 2 Comments
It’s conference season time! As an author, a lot my time is spent in solitary creation. There comes a few points every year where I actually get to go out and meet folks, including readers. This happens at book festivals, and to a smaller extent, at bookstores. Fan conventions, though, are a different beast entirely. These gatherings invite readers to mingle with their favorite authors. They’ve been on pause (or virtual) for the last few years, so I’m excited to see them up and running … [Read more...]
Bookstore Fail
February 23, 2022 Leave a Comment
My most recent trip to the bookstore was a bit of a bust. The fun thing about being a published author is the chance to hop into a bookshop and see your books on the shelf. Usually, my MO is to browse the online catalog (if there’s one) to make sure my books are actually carried in the store. This time, I winged it. I was already running errands and would be in the area anyway. I went up to the info desk and asked if they had any of my books in the store. Nope. A little zing of … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Kok Chai
February 11, 2022 Leave a Comment
Kok chai: golden fried puffs filled with sweet peanut bits Yes, the Lunar New Year feasting is still continuing in my household. I got a batch of homemade kok chai delivered to me (thanks, fam!). These golden pastries are also known as mini peanut puffs. If you’re a peanut lover, these are an excellent snack! They’re like fried dumplings but instead of being filled with meat and vegetables, they have sweetened peanut bits. The ones I ate also had yummy coconut pieces mixed … [Read more...]
Lunar New Year 2022
February 1, 2022 Leave a Comment
Happy Lunar New Year 2022! It’s time for snacking! Honestly, some of my favorite treats pop up around this season. I’m a sucker for those nut-embedded and sesame-studded sticks. They have that winning combo of crunchy and sweet. Tang yuan balls are also fun to eat. I didn’t grow up having these around Spring Festival, but I enjoy their glutinous chewy exterior and hidden interior treasure. (It’s no surprise that, of course, I like the tang yuans with peanut butter filling—see above … [Read more...]
Flash Sale for Pre-Orders
January 27, 2022 Leave a Comment
Sales! Who doesn’t love a good sale? When I was a kid, I squirreled away my allowance. I didn’t like to tap into my savings…unless it was for a book. There was something magical about walking into a bookstore and seeing shelves of new books arrive on a daily basis. I couldn’t buy all the books, of course, but at least I could be around them. The worst was when a book I wanted to get was not on the shelf. How could that be? Usually, they had run out of copies. Luckily, there’s such a … [Read more...]
2022 Lefty Award Finalist
January 19, 2022 2 Comments
Hey, everyone! Just a quick post to say that MIMI LEE CRACKS THE CODE is a Lefty Award Finalist for Best Humorous Mystery. So honored to be on this great list of authors! https://leftcoastcrime.org/2022/Awards.html … [Read more...]
New Year (Writing) Resolutions
January 3, 2022 6 Comments
Hope everyone had a safe and relaxing holiday season! I wish every day of my life was filled with tinsel and lights, like so: Alas! It's on to the New Year. Which brings to mind resolutions, especially of the writing variety. As an author, I actually don't start fresh on January 1st. Instead, I use a system of constant goals. For example, I have a standalone mystery that I've been tinkering around with since last year. Except I didn't quite make my personal cutoff date for constructing a … [Read more...]
