Your House Will Pay 5 stars Genre: Contemporary fiction (mystery/thriller) A literary revelation.There are no easy answers or one-sided characters in Cha’s latest novel. Instead it offers a finely drawn dual perspective about racial relations through the main characters, Grace Park and Shawn Matthews. Rooted in authentically detailed Los Angeles history, Cha pens an illuminating work about racism, family, and society—a timely read for us all. A taut novel that features a raw and … [Read more...]
Tips on Virtual Speaking
June 29, 2020 Leave a Comment
Whew! I just finished my first virtual reading last Thursday. It was a fun time with other great authors (see flyer below). Plus, it even raised much-needed money for a Minneapolis nonprofit & an amazing bookstore. After this speaking experience, I tweaked some advice for typical real-time readings and learned to: 1) Look at audienceWhen speaking to a live audience, it’s definitely good to break contact from the page and visually connect with listeners. A few of the other authors … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Muddy Water Iced Tea
June 26, 2020 Leave a Comment
Muddy water: Sweet tea and lemonade If you don’t already know, I’m a tea aficionado. However, I haven’t had a chance to try out a muddy water drink until now. After locating a Black-owned restaurant from the L.A. Times list and ordering some food, I also added on a beverage.I really enjoyed this muddy water, which was described as a mix of sweet tea and lemonade. It wasn’t too sugary, which I appreciated, and just had a nice refreshing feel to it. Perfect for summertime. Any refreshing … [Read more...]
Making Do Around the Kitchen
June 8, 2020 2 Comments
I've been trying to space out my trips to the grocery store. Instead of running to buy something if I can't find it in my pantry, I'm opting for substitutions. Here are a few examples from around the kitchen: 1. Swapping ingredients Instead of using eggs, I added applesauce to a baking recipe. Yes, you got me! It was banana bread, which is apparently the essential COVID comfort food: https://www.delish.com/food-news/a31931597/coronavirus-banana-bread-baking/ Also, since I ran out … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Stuffed Tomatoes
May 29, 2020 2 Comments
Stuffed tomatoes: tomato cups filled with savory bread mixture I love oven-roasted tomatoes—or fresh ones in my salad. To make a prettier version of baked tomatoes, though, I decided to stuff them. I think they look like cute edible tomato presents. Ingredients: ¼ cup bread crumbs ¼ cup Parmesan cheese 1 clove garlic, minced Olive oil Ground black pepper Salt Directions: Scoop out insides of tomatoes (I used Campari tomatoes, to make them more bite-sized).Heat … [Read more...]
Mother’s Day
May 11, 2020 4 Comments
"You are kind-hearted, hospitable, cheerful and well-liked." I’ve never celebrated Mother’s Day while staying in place before. It’s definitely different. What should I expect--backyard flowers? (Not to knock those. In my childhood, I used to cut our backyard roses and place them in a vase for my mom.) As it turned out, no backyard blooms for me. (This, though, may have more to do with the fact that I have a black thumb when it comes to gardening.)My family did an amazing job of gifting me … [Read more...]
