The University of Tennessee Press, which published my latest book, Land of Dreams: An Immigrant’s Journey from War-Torn Vietnam to America, in June 2026 recently sent me a neat picture that I’m excited to share with you below. It shows my book in a window display at the Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, Mass. (second from left, bottom row). I Googled it and learned that this is “a beloved cultural landmark in Harvard Square, in continuous operation since 1932 . . . and named a top book shop in Forbes‘ World’s Top Shops 2005 list.” Even more thrilling is the fact that Land of Dreams is actually on the store’s shelves, as displayed in its catalog (“In stock,” and “on hand”).

My interest piqued, I looked around on the Internet some more and made a couple of interesting discoveries. The book is also carried by two other independent bookstores of legendary stature. The first one is called Politics and Prose, in Washington D.C. Founded in 1984, “it has grown into a premier cultural institution and a famed national hub where literature, ideas, and politics intersect in the U.S. capital,” according to Gemini AI. Land of Dreams is on the shelves at P&P flagship store in the Chevy Chase/Forest Hills neighborhood of D.C., at least as indicated in the store’s online catalog (shown below).

The other renowned bookstore is Prairie Lights located in Iowa City, a UNESCO city of literature. Open for business since 1978, “Prairie Lights has an incredibly tight, legendary connection” with the famous University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop. I’m stoked that Land of Dreams has notched a shelf spot there as well, as shown below.

I’ve always loved bookstores and libraries, so these findings really made my day. One final note about bookstores. I will have a book signing for Land of Dreams at Warwick’s in La Jolla on Sunday Sept. 20 (about 5 weeks from now). See the announcement below. Founded in 1896, Warwick’s “holds the prestigious title of being the oldest continuously family-owned and operated bookstore in the United States.” If you’re in the mood for a late-summer afternoon by the ocean–and who isn’t?–come on down to La Jolla on Sept 20 and drop by Warwick’s between 1:00 and 3:00pm to say hi. Can’t wait to see you there!