I've been unbelievably swamped here---busy and exciting things going on professionally and personally---and while I haven't been able to post much lately, I wanted to say how much I enjoyed some recent posts: Pam's comment on gender & poetry, Roger's take on interlope, Barbara's take on APA literary critics & Bryan's follow-up...great stuff. And as always I'm enjoying Ji-in, Sarah, and Kimberly. I'll get back into the swing of blogging soon, hopefully. Maybe once we're settled into our new home a bit more and this stack of essays to be graded gets a bit more under control.
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Here's something cool, from Patricia Wakida of Heyday Books:
Asian American Writers Congress to Set Groundwork for the 2007 Asian Pacific American Book Festival
Writers and Emerging Writers Are Encouraged to Attend Free Event at UCLA on May 13, 2006
Noted Asian and Pacific American (APA) authors, publishers and community leaders will gather to commence the first ever Asian American Writers Congress. The purpose of the Congress is to promote networks among APA writers, both emerging and published, and to set the groundwork for the 2007 Asian Pacific American Book Festival in Los Angeles. The dialogue is open to the public and will take place at UCLA's James West Alumni Center on Saturday, May 13, 2006 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is a project of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) and is co-sponsored by UCLA's Asian American Studies Center. The Asian American Writers Congress will serve to gather these creative artists and also emerging writers who may not know how to effectively reach their readers. This free event will include speakers, a publishing panel, and a discussion with all attendees about their writing journeys. Input will also be solicited on how the 2007 festival can best promote literature either written by or about Asian Pacific Americans. Door prizes include books produced by the festival's advisory council members. Various writing organizations, publishers, and booksellers will have resource materials on display."
APALC is committed to help Asian Pacific Americans participate in the democratic process, and that often begins with literacy," said Stewart Kwoh, president and executive director, Asian Pacific American Legal Center. "Writers chronicle our experiences. We must encourage the telling of our stories-and that may take the form of memoir, poetry, literary fiction, genres like mystery and science fiction, and even cookbooks. APALC is excited to partner with the creative artists in our communities to reach our audience in new and fresh ways."
Keynote Speaker is Shawn Wong, professor, University of Washington professor and author of American Knees. Additional speakers and panelists include Taryn Fagerness, agent and subrights manager, Sandra Dijkstra * Patricia Wakida, editor, Heyday Books * Dana Goldberg, executive editor, Children's Book Press * Philip Lee, cofounder and former publisher, Lee and Low Books * memoirist David Mas Masumoto and various other award-winning writers.
Participating organizations include UCLA Asian American Studies Center, Poets & Writers, Heyday Books, Kearny Street Workshop, Kaya Press, PALH Books, Hyphen Magazine, Heritage Source, Philippine Expressions, and Bear River Press.This event is free and open to the public. Parking is available for $8
For more information for the May 13 event contact Russell Leong at rleong@ucla.edu or the UCLA Asian American Studies Center at (310) 825-2974. RSVP to apabookfest@apalc.org.
