Kwan Kew Lai's Blog: My May Book Event, page 2

Into Africa, Out of Academia: A Doctor's Memoir

https://snowflakesarise.wordpress.com...
Snowflakes in a Blizzard features my book: Into Africa, Out of Academia: A Doctor's Memoir, my seven-plus years of volunteering in Africa. I hope you will read it and leave a review on Goodreads, Amazon...

Hanami

In March, I was in Japan doing a 13-day tour starting in Tokyo down to Matsuyama and back up to Tokyo passing Kyoto twice, Hanami was not on my radar until I realized the period I was there might coincide with the blooming of the Sakura. My heart opened up to the possibility of chasing the blossoming of Sakura from Tokyo down to Hiroshima and back again to Tokyo.

As it happened Sakura was about ten days late this year despite many discussions about how climate change might hasten its blooming. A cold spell this spring delayed the buds from bursting into flowers. I was lucky to see Mt. Fuji in full view with no cloud cover but no Sakura.

When I arrived in Tokyo in the fourth week of March, Sakura was starting to bud. I was in Taiwan the week before and saw some cherry blossoms there. As we headed to the warmer south of Japan, there were scattered trees here and there bravely put forth their blooming buds, but still not in full bloom. Since the trip headed south and then we traced back north, I hoped the tentative budding would be more or less in full bloom by the time we turned northward.

The iconic Himeji Castle with Sakura gracing its façade did not happen for me but it was equally beautiful.

In Kyoto, the Fushimi Inari with its thousands of bright red tori gates was an impressive sight. On my second visit, I climbed up to the top of the mountain through the tori gates in the drizzly evening. By then Sakura was bursting in full bloom along the Philosopher’s Path.
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest did not disappoint, I just wished it was not so crowded.

After visiting Hiroshima, we sought peace in the sanctuary of Itsukushima, built partly over the sea.

Matsumoto or “Crow’s Castle” did not bathe in the blooming of the Sakura.

I visited the Jigokudani Monkey Park where the monkeys enjoyed their hot spring. I too availed myself several times in the Onsen or hot baths, soothing and relaxing.

The night before leaving Japan, I visited Ueno Park to see the illumination of Sakura. Many picnickers sat on blankets beneath the cherry trees enjoying the bloom, it was a Friday.

Hanami did not disappoint on my last morning in Tokyo. I first took the metro to Meguro River and walked up and down the banks drinking in its beauty.

Then I swung to the Shinjuku Gyeon National Park where I met three young Asian women who invited me to celebrate Hanami with them. It was special for me.

I stopped at Ueno Park to view Sakura there during the daytime. It was very crowded but festive.

I’m back in Boston now, the cherry blossoms have just started with the graceful weeping willow Sakura displaying their deep pink blossom.

I am lucky to see Sakura in Taiwan, Japan, and now in Boston; the cherry blossoms, starting with the willow pink blossoms are just beginning to show.

Sakura symbolizes beauty and the fleetingness of life. Let’s enjoy every moment of it while it lasts.

CLMP list of books to celebrate Women's History Month

My book, The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly makes the reading list of Clmp, Community of Literary Magazines and Presses for Women's History Month.
https://www.clmp.org/news/a-reading-l...
#Women's History Month

Promo codes for audiobook

Hi, I still have several promo codes for my audiobook, The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly, a memoir, narrated by me. If you are an audiobook fans or have trouble reading prints for a prolonged period, this will be perfect for you. You can get it as a gift or listen to it in the US
https://bit.ly/TheGirlWhoTaughtHersel...
The links in
UK https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B0CNKX61R6/...
France https://www.audible.fr/pd/B0CNKY12YW/...
DE or Germany https://www.audible.de/pd/B0CNKYPJN8/...
Don't forget to leave your reviews.
Here is a list of promo codes, I can’t guarantee they may not have been redeemed by the time you click on them. If you have trouble getting to them, let me know. Redeem at
Codes for US, redeem at https://www.audible.com/acx-promo
2BL73SEZ9GKTC
95CQH9ZA4MBJ7
95TCAD2JQZPWE
A874TW3QEFCP8
C59P3TAXRRKRR
CPG63KCPAKXJP
DWBN6RGHEASYE
HN5LU9PP9KMUW
MJDLWWR73D239
RCKKC62ZFERT9
RJPFP67NB48NN
T6CJT4A76PGYT
T9JLK4J3CZA7G
TJWHJWXXJ6UL6
UG2ZL5FX9CCWY
WN9U5U6RY3YNX
WQ2QK44L3AUCX
Codes for UK, redeem at https://www.audible.co.uk/acx-promo
2QUSAB36TTU6K
46ZNK97BAGA8B
4KCPED8LNLJ75
6PJ5XSF5GBB52
98DTB5TCCN5Y4
DAGKJJ6QRWECY
DXZWDW4GAMC5W
E4TUTY3F8D6EL
GABWDCJFEE9Y3
J42EQ2E6JUMNR
Happy listening!

Audiobook Promo code

Enter to Win

Audiobook

The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly

Subscribe to my website: kwankewlai.com/subscribe through December 15 for a chance to win a promo code for the audiobook, The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly. I am the narrator.

If you are already a subscriber, refer a friend, and you and your friends will be entered for a promo code, just have them mention that you refer them.

It is a perfect companion for a long ride to see family for the holidays or between errands.

You can get it as a gift or listen to it at US https://bit.ly/TheGirlWhoTaughtHersel.......

The links in

UK https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B0CNKX61R6/...

France https://www.audible.fr/pd/B0CNKY12YW/...

DE or Germany https://www.audible.de/pd/B0CNKYPJN8/...

Don't forget to leave your reviews.

Happy Holidays.


Check out my website: kwankewlai.com

May Book Events

Remember the Afghan girls and women, their human rights to be educated and to exist are violated.



Book Talk: The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly

May 18, 2023, 7PM

IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL (REGISTER HERE)

Wayland Free Public Library

Raytheon Room

Wayland, MA

​

​

Book Talk: The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly

May 25, 2023, 7PM

Weston Public Library, Community Room

Weston, MA



If you have read the book, please leave a review on Goodreads and Amazon.
Thank you:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

and https://www.amazon.com/review/create-...

December Book Event

My book, The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly, is out now on Amazon, B&N, or this link where shipping anywhere is free. It is about my journey from an impoverished family in Penang, Malaysia to attend Wellesley College on a full scholarship, a story of empowerment of girl education which enabled me to become a doctor and a humanitarian volunteer.
Events for December:
12/8 7:00 pm EST – In-person at Wellesley Books, in conversation with E. B. Bartels, a Wellesley College alum and writer
12/15 6:30 pm EST – In-person at the Cambridge Public Library, in conversation with Yifei “Effie” Kong
All in Massachusetts.
I hope you consider reading the book and leaving a review on Goodreads and Amazon.
kwankewlai.com/subscribe

The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly Book Events

My book, The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly is out now. My book events for November:
• 11/3 7:00 pm EST - In-person book talk/signing at Wellesley Free Library. Register https://lnkd.in/eSfdmZ2E
• 11/7 6 pm EST – zoom Harvard College Book Talk, a featured event in Harvard College’s First-Generation Low-Income Visibility Week, co-hosted by Harvard Alumni in Healthcare, the Office of Career Services, the Arts & Humanities Initiative at Harvard Medical School, and the Medical Humanities Forum at Harvard College, register at https://bit.ly/kklhaih
• 11/10 7:00 pm EST – In-person at Porter’s Square Books in Cambridge, in conversation with E.B Bartels, https://lnkd.in/erMUBrJm

If you are out of town, I hope you will attend the featured event in Harvard College’s First-Generation Low-Income Visibility Week on Monday, November 7th, from 6:00-7:00 pm EST on Zoom to discuss my book, The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly, moderated by pediatrician, musician, and author Dr. Lisa Wong and senior Felicia Ho. There will be an open Q&A.
It is open to all members of the Harvard community and the public.
This event is co-hosted by Harvard Alumni in Healthcare, the Office of Career Services, the Arts & Humanities Initiative at Harvard Medical School, and the Medical Humanities Forum at Harvard College.
You could register here, https://bit.ly/kklhaih
My book is out on Amazon, B&N, or wherever books are sold. Do leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads after you read it.

Thanks,
Kwan Kew

Book Launch for The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly

Very excited about my book launch, book talk, and book signing for The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly at the Belmont Public Library in collaboration with Belmont Books on October 25, 2022, at 7 pm at Library Assembly Hall. Books can be pre-ordered at https://www.kwankewlai.com/the-girl-w.... Copies will also be for sale thanks to Belmont Books.
If you are in and around Boston, please do come.
https://belmontpubliclibrary.assabeti...

African Book Talk Series:Columbia Global Center, Kenya, Nairobi

I will discuss my book, Into Africa, Out of Academia: A Doctor's Memoir on September 22 at 9 AM EST with Assistant Professor Jennifer Dohrn of Columbia University via zoom, sponsored by Columbia Global Center in Nairobi, Kenya. Hope to see you there.
Register at https://tinyurl.com/yrmw5pk4