Surrey International Writers’ Conference

Honestly, I thought I might be too conferenced out to enjoy SiWC. I'd already attended three writing conferences this year and was ready for a break. The organizers, though, were so lovely and inviting. Plus, Canada! The forecast was rain, so I didn't get to leave the hotel much. I did take a quick walk to the local park, marveling at the fall foliage along the way (see my Instagram account for more photos), and even discovered a black squirrel (check out my IG reel)! At the … [Read more...]

Canada, Here I Come

It's been years since I've traveled internationally (thank you, pandemic). Later this week, though, I'll be heading to Canada. To Surrey, BC--my first time there! I'm grateful for the chance to attend the Surrey Writers' International Conference. It'll be a lot of fun, and I'll need to turn on my conference mode. Since it's been so long, I had to make myself a checklist of items to think about: -Passport: Oops. I found out that my passport had actually expired, so I had to renew it. … [Read more...]

It’s Conference Time!

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...]

Bouchercon, Here I Come!

I was excited to attend my first Bouchercon, a huge conference for mystery lovers, this year. It would've been held in my state (Sacramento, CA) this upcoming weekend. Thankfully, it didn't get canceled. Like many other conventions, though, it's turned virtual. Now I can be there from the comfort of my own home. Not only do I get a chance to listen to great authors, but I'm actually on a panel! I'll be on the Our Furry Friends panel on Friday, Oct. 16th at 3pm with Lane Stone, Jackie Layton, … [Read more...]

WriteGirl

"Don't be surprised by the emergence of undiscovered talents." I had such an inspiring time over the weekend with teen girls! The nonprofit WriteGirl is a fabulous organization that pairs young women with mentors to express themselves through creative writing. Sunday’s afternoon event was a fiction workshop and drew over 100 attendees. Held at The Autry, mentors and mentees filled up the auditorium of the Wells Fargo Theater. I shared a few tips on jumping points for starting stories … [Read more...]

#AuthorProfile: Shawna Yang Ryan

"Your kind spirit will lead to many new friendships." Name: Shawna Yang Ryan Accomplishments: Fulbright Scholar; Teaches at University of Hawaii Latest book: Green Island Shawna Yang Ryan is super sweet and down-to-earth. Her latest novel, Green Island, took many years of research. She ended up interviewing people, both in Taiwan and here in America, about how the 228 Massacre affected their lives. Before penning her book, she also had to process all the turbulent emotions involved in … [Read more...]

Book Blast

"Your career plans look bright." Just a little FYI that Dragonfly Dreams is listed on the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Book Blast page. The site features hundreds of new titles, covering the interests of toddlers to teens. Go ahead and check out my page! If you click on the heart and "like" it, you'll hear a rousing cheer.   Also, don't forget that I'll be at the Manhattan Beach Library tonight (7pm) on a mystery authors' panel. … [Read more...]

Mystery Mavens

"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...]

SCBWI Summer Conference

"You are original and creative." For the past three days, I've been immersed in children's books at the annual SCBWI conference. Along with almost 1000 other attendees, I geeked out at the superstar faculty and the informative workshops. Here's a picture journey of my experience:           Fun fact: Here was my winning joke entry (theme of Olympics crossed with children's book or author): "Diver Wins Gold Medal After Tuck … [Read more...]

Book Parties!

"You are a true friend." Book celebrations are fun. There's nothing more exciting than launching your first book. (The parallel in parenting is the extravagant party given for your first-born at one year old.) I was super stoked to go to Sarah M. Chen's book launch yesterday. After years of fantastic short stories, she's penned a novella, Cleaning Up Finn. Knowing her, it'll be a gritty but mesmerizing read. Congrats, Sarah! P.S. Writing conferences are like book parties writ large. … [Read more...]