TIME's Person of the Century, Albert Einstein, once said, "The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library." I couldn't agree more. As a book lover, libraries--both public and academic--have always been among my favorite places. And as a writer, nothing gives me … [Read more...]
As readers, we have all experienced that mixed feeling of happy fulfillment and wishful regret when we get to the last paragraph of a great book. Wishing that the wonderful story didn't have to end there and that we could hang out a little longer with our favorite characters. Some of … [Read more...]
Recently I was thrilled and honored to discover that my books, the historical novel Once upon a Mulberry Field and the Vietnam travelogue Rain Falling on Tamarind Trees, have been included in the collections of the libraries at my alma maters, Ohio University and UC Berkeley. It gives me … [Read more...]
Just a quick announcement to share some exciting news: I am thrilled and honored that the Washington DC Public Library has recently held a book discussion of my travelogue, Rain Falling on Tamarind Trees, and has recommended it as one of 5 books to read about Vietnam … [Read more...]
Recently, without setting out to look for them, I stumbled upon a handful of movies about writers which I found totally fascinating as well as relatable on many levels. You've probably seen one or more of the movies already, but just in case, I'm sharing my short list below. The first movie is an … [Read more...]
In July, a friend and I went to Yosemite for a few days, my first time back there in over a decade. The above picture is of Half Dome and, at the bottom right, Nevada Falls, as viewed from Glacier Point. A day after we returned from our visit, the Ferguson Fire broke out just a few miles … [Read more...]
Recently, some six months after the publication of my Vietnam travelogue Rain Falling on Tamarind Trees, I went online and did a quick search on the title to see if there had been any news about it. To my delight, a book discussion notice popped up, the one whose image is shown above. It … [Read more...]
With the Korean Peninsula figuring prominently in the news in recent months---from the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games to the nuclear threat and diplomatic negotiations---I've been reminded of a long-standing historical link between Korea and Vietnam. It all began in 1958 during the state … [Read more...]
For people of Vietnamese heritage, no traditional holiday is bigger than Têt, the lunar calendar New Year's, which is also celebrated in other Far East countries (Mongolia, China, Korea, Japan). The exact date varies from year to year, usually between mid-January and mid-February. In 2018, Têt … [Read more...]
In today's highly competitive publishing world, I've long since learned to appreciate and rejoice in each and every little progress along the way, to keep myself motivated and moving forward, one small step at a time. It also gives me great pleasure to share the good news as they happen with my … [Read more...]