Writing Community & Ill-Fated Fortune

Writing is a solitary activity, but being a writer, or an author, requires community. Without regular support, writing goals can go on hiatus or disappear. I’m happy to say that there are many fellow authors and readers who are excited to cheer a writer on! I’m compiling an incomplete list of people who are boosting me as my newest book, Ill-Fated Fortune, comes out tomorrow! Please check out these bloggers/BookTubers who are providing encouragement and bookish love: 1) A Bookish … [Read more...]

While At Bouchercon

I’ll be honest. Bouchercon has intimidated me for years. A mystery fan convention that regularly boasts over 1000 attendees? That’s scary for an introvert like me. This year, though, I wanted to go in person, to mingle with authors and fans, and also to celebrate Sisters in Crime’s (SinC) 35th anniversary. (I’m currently VP on the national board and nominated to become President starting October 1, when the new term rolls around.) Here are highlights from my trip: SinC Executive … [Read more...]

FAB Long Beach

This past Saturday, Long Beach held its first-ever FAB (Festival of AAPI Books) Long Beach event! I happily and heartily participated in it. Thank you, Long Beach Public Library and Bel Canto Books!! May has a special place in my heart because this month (AANHPI Heritage Month) is when I first discovered I could be a mystery writer. I stumbled onto Dale Furutani's samurai series at the library because of a special book display and realized that an Asian American could be a strong protagonist … [Read more...]

Bookstore Fail

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...]

The Magic of Indie Bookstores

I recently did a joint book signing with Ellen Byron at an indie bookstore, Mystery Ink. They have a new location which faces a main street in Huntington Beach. I hope a lot of customers spot the store and drop by. It’s a cozy space with great books for readers—and, of course, signed copies from local authors. Indie bookstores, I believe, are magical. The first bookshop I ever visited carried children’s books, and the owner was delightful. I was a kid on the hunt for something enticing … [Read more...]

Lift AAPI Voices

Excited to announce that the #LiftAAPIVoices campaign launches today!  This is a wonderful giveaway, which  begins 9:00am PST Friday, May 21 and ends Sunday, May 23rd at 11:59pm PST. SUMMARY: About 20 other Asian Diaspora women crime writers and I are coming together to raise awareness for AAPI and the Asian Diaspora through our #LiftAAPIVoices social media campaign in honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.    GIVEAWAY: Join our campaign and be automatically … [Read more...]

Wordless Wednesday: #StandUpforAAPI

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Giveaway from Author Diane Kelly

The amazing Diane Kelly and I have paired up for a fun Facebook post comparing the cats in our books--it's a fictional "catfight." To celebrate being Berkley publishing sisters, she is very generously giving away 3 copies of MIMI LEE GETS A CLUE (book 1 in my Sassy Cat series):https://www.facebook.com/DianeKellyBooks/posts/4347437068605867 (Giveaway not affiliated with Facebook.) … [Read more...]

Lefty Award Nomination

A quick post to say that Mimi Lee Gets A Clue was nominated for a 2021 Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery Novel! https://leftcoastcrime.org/2022/Awards.html … [Read more...]

On Author Blurbs

Ever wonder about those quotes by authors you find on books? Having been asked to write some recently, I blogged about my thoughts on Writers Who Kill. See the post here: https://writerswhokill.blogspot.com/2021/01/thoughts-on-blurbing-by-jennifer-j-chow.html … [Read more...]