It wasn’t that many years ago that I didn’t even know what a “blog” was. And though I still can’t always remember what the word stands for, here I am, writing my first blog, just another living proof of how fast things are evolving in the Internet Age. So come on the fun ride with me, and together let’s discover what the blogging craze is all about!

But first, a few words regarding my website.

The truth is that the website was initially conceived as a platform to launch my first novel, Once upon a Mulberry Field. The website’s name and decorative graphics all borrow from the theme of mulberry fields and blue seas, which originated from an ancient Chinese/Vietnamese legend. I’d be amiss if I didn’t grab this opportunity to squeeze in my first plug: you can find out what mulberry fields have to do with a love story set during the Vietnam War by reading my book, of course.

Then, as work on the website progressed, it dawned on me that it could be the perfect vehicle for communicating all kinds of information that would have been wonderful but impractical (due to limited space) to include in my book: historical background on the novel; images and sounds of Vietnam, Saigon, and the war; my struggles in writing the book; and the long journey it has taken to publish it. If that extra material could reach like-minded people with similar interests, it might help spark a conversation, a multi-way exchange beneficial to all participants—if given a conducive platform. And thus was born the idea of a blog.

As with most things related to writing and publishing, the website/blog remains a work in progress. Many features are still being implemented, most notably the photo and video galleries and the podcasts. Right now I only have generic “place holders” in these sections, but hopefully in the near future I’ll be able to populate them with more relevant material. Likewise, I’m still experimenting with Search Engine Optimization—Ah, the buzz words, don’t you love them—and so you may have noticed bold and italic phrases sprinkled in the text throughout the website. I hope they’re not too distracting for you, as they’re only meant to highlight certain keywords for search engines.

In time, we’ll iron out all the wrinkles and improve the experience for all of us. Meanwhile, I’m delighted you’ve come by, and I hope you’ll stop back again and again. Subscribe to my blog so I can let you know about a new post or upcoming event, but most important, join the dialog. I welcome your feedback and any input you’d like to share. But please be patient if you don’t see my immediate reply: it probably means another issue with the website is getting fixed.

Thank you, and enjoy!