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...]
WriteGirl
December 4, 2018 Leave a Comment
"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...]
October Fun
October 8, 2018 Leave a Comment
Want to see me in person in October? I've got two events lined up, so take your pick. Coffee or tea? Whatever your drink of choice, come chat with me or just hang out in Redondo Beach. Find me on Friday, Oct 26th at The Great Room! Is your superpower reading? Join me at the LA Comic Con! I'll be there Saturday, Oct 27th from 9:30am-12:30pm at the SCBWI booth. … [Read more...]
Angels Flight Reading
March 27, 2017 4 Comments
"Meaningful relationships bring meaning to life." It's nice to live in a city pulsing with culture. Once in a while, I'll pop by a reading. Sometimes they're held in cool places like Clifton's Republic, complete with stuffed animals. (Clifton's is a rebooted historical cafeteria that features woodland decor.) My impetus to go was my friend Siel Ju's newest book, CAKE TIME. Winner of the 2015 Red Hen Press Fiction Award, it officially launches April 6th, but I got a freshly minted … [Read more...]
Embracing Aging
August 8, 2016 2 Comments
"An admirer is concealing his affection for you." Honestly, I never thought I'd live in L.A. for so long when I first moved here. Besides the traffic, I remember the extreme focus on looks. In newspapers, I saw (and was scared by) the ads for cosmetic surgery. I also met people looking to break into modeling and acting, and needing to look gorgeous. It seemed like folks wanted to--needed to--reverse aging to feel loved and accepted. Thankfully, this attitude is slowly changing. I'm happy for … [Read more...]
Seniors Around the World
August 3, 2015 3 Comments
As part of the challenge of "5 Photos, 5 Stories" (by Evelyne's invitation), I'm presenting my five memories of meeting seniors during recent travels: 1) Los Angeles, CA During a volunteer reading at a local senior home, this resident came my way. He has actually been through the traumatic event which inspired my first novel, The 228 Legacy. I was honored to meet him, and the residents' director later told me was really excited to hear me read. 2) Monterey Park, CA During … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Minced Pork Noodle
August 30, 2013 4 Comments
Minced pork noodle: a dish containing those two delicious ingredients It sounds deceptively simple. All that's needed is ground pork and noodles. Every time I've tried to make it, though, I've failed to capture the correct taste. There's something undeniably yummy about slippery noodles with a slight give to their texture. Then, there's the savory meat sauce that makes you crave for seconds. It's the quintessential go-to-dish for a quick snack. In fact, I'll see if I can find some when I … [Read more...]
