I grew up in the Central Valley, specifically Fresno, so I jumped at the opportunity to do some hometown events. I'm extremely grateful for Lorie Lewis Ham who coordinated not one but two opportunities to connect with residents! Before our arrival, we were also featured in local newspapers: … [Read more...]
Anatomy of a Successful Library
May 26, 2023 Leave a Comment
I’ve been to a few interesting library spaces before. These included buildings with cute aquariums and puppet show theaters for kids. The other day, I got invited to do an authors lunch (along with Dr. David Unger) at the Huntington Beach Public Library. This was at their central library; I really loved spending time there, and I appreciated how they created a successful library space. Firstly, they offered a great physical environment. There’s actually a drop-off zone right next to the … [Read more...]
FAB Long Beach
May 23, 2022 Leave a Comment
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...]
Mystery Mavens
October 3, 2016 Leave a Comment
"Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see." Calling all mystery fans to Manhattan Beach! That's right, I'll be on a panel of mystery writers who live in or write about the South Bay. Details are: Monday, October 17, 2016 7:00pm Manhattan Beach Library 1320 Highland Ave. Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 Other authors present will be Sarah Chen, Sybil Johnson, and Lida Sideris. Here's a recap on my mystery writing (under the name of J.J. Chow): Seniors … [Read more...]
ALA, Here I Come!
June 23, 2014 4 Comments
"Trees may prefer calm, but the wind will not subside." --Chinese proverb The wind's been blowing me here and there. In fact, this post is a little late because I had to prepare for a book talk. I interacted with teens at the local library today, talking about the process of writing and encouraging them to complete their own works over the summer. It's amazing to see their passions and their diverse interests, which can range from manga to poetry. Speaking of libraries, I'm gearing to attend … [Read more...]
Sailouh- The Power of Words
June 4, 2012 2 Comments
Sailouh: children, kids. Sailouh meant "little boy" in ancient China. King Mouh, the first ruler of the Chou dynasty, introduced his younger brother as sailouh. (The term subtly shifts to "sailou" when describing one's own younger brother.) Triad gangs use these family terms, with the leader addressed as "Daaihlou" (elder brother) and the man under him known as "Sailou." Thus, one simple phrase can yield various meanings. It is the power of words that first lured me into reading as a child. … [Read more...]
