Grace Lin's Blog, page 63

on my desk monday

 I'm finally answering my reader mail! I haven't answered since Rain Dragon was born so it's been piling up..and the only way I've been able to get to it is bit by bit when she is asleep. Grateful for baby monitors!

Sunday Chinese School

Welcome to Sunday Chinese School, where we learn a Chinese word (or phrase) a week with my mom!Today's word is:
pumpkin
nán'guā
南瓜

fortune cookie friday

"One cannot manage too many affairs; like pumpkins in water, one pops up while you try to hold down the other."
-Chinese Proverb

throwing my own party: why and is it worth it?

So, after my rather elaborate book parties--the Porter Square and the online one--last week, fellow authors tend to ask me two questions. Why do I do them? Is it worth it?

Well, a million years ago, I read online at the old Fuse#8 blog about an incredible book party that the publisher threw for the last Lemony Snicket book and there were two things I took away from it.

First, I was kind of jealous. Why didn't any of my publishers every throw me even a quarter of a party like that?

But it was about that time that I had begun to accept and find peace with Robert's illness. I began to realize that anger and resentment at not just  his illness, but most things was simply wasted time and energy (which,  consequently, is the theme of Starry River of the Sky).  I realized, if I really wanted a party for my books I should do something other than stew in jealousy.  So, then and there, I decided I'd stop whining and just throw my own fabulous book parties.

Second, in response to that post at the Fuse#8 blog, one of the commenters criticized the extravagance and "waste of money" of the party, to which I remember (but can't find) she or someone responded about how all parties  can be seen as  a waste of money. The point of a party was to celebrate. The point of a book party is to celebrate the book with perhaps some promotional benefits--not the other way around.

 So, I probably lose money at my book parties. The magnets and chopsticks I had made for my Ling and Ting booklaunch most likely cost more than my royalty per book. The time spent made a hundred pocket pacys for my Dumpling Days launch probably put me at below minimum wage. This time around my awesome publisher (thanks, Little, Brown!) sprung for the glow-in-the-dark stickers and posters, but if they hadn't I would've paid for it myself.  But it doesn't matter.

Because these parties are also my way of thanking readers as well as celebrating the book.  Booksales are like receiving presents at a birthday--I love them, but I wouldn't measure the success of the party by them. At my book party, I get to meet readers of my books, readers who want to read my next book! That is FUN. That is something to celebrate.

And it is definitely worth a party.

And the book was launched!

There were bags:
purple goodie bags to match the cover!
There were cookies:
these were the cookies to serve at the event, not the ones in the bags.  The ones in the bags were moon cookies! These were stars, fish and rabbits, all motifs in the book!And there was a baby:
who was not as excited about the book as I was!And then the day was here! Book launch day!


People came! Lots' o people!


I told one of the stories in the book:
I tried something new this time, an interactive reading
And I had the audience help me:
those are the 6 suns that a hero archer must shoot down (no suns were harmed in the reading of this story)Then there was a signing:
those plates of cookies were empty at the end!With new and old friends:
Ms. Tien Chen, a teacher, and some of her students who helped me at the launch (Tien helped write wang symbols on people and the students helped hand out the cookies and bags)Surprisingly, some readers brought me gifts:

This talented baker made me a cookie bouquet! isn't is amazing! I can't believe how perfect she go the colors of Dumpling Days There was a very, very long line:
but everyone was so patient and understanding, especially when I had to take a break for the baby! But the people at the end thought it was worth the wait:

after a rough patch in the middle of the event, Rain Dragon recovered her good spirits and might actually be interested in the book now. At least interested in eating it. Which means Starry River of the Sky is launched! Thanks so much to all who came and helped send it out in the world!

kidlitcon or Rain Dragon in NYC

Last week was quite a whirlwind! Right before my book store book launch and the online book party,   Rain Dragon, Sasquatch & I went to NYC so that I could speak at the 2012 kidlitcon.

Even though it was a very quick in-and-out trip, I think Rain Dragon had a very full experience! Her first train ride:


taxi ride:

and visit to a publisher!

Everyone at Little, Brown (the publisher of Starry River of the Sky) loved her and she loved them right back.

So much so that I was even able to record an excerpt reading for them (and my online booklaunch):


But I was really there to speak at the kidlitcon, a lovely gathering of children's literature bloggers (you can read a full write-up on the whole kidlitcon HERE).  They really were lovely! It felt like a lifetime ago since I did any public speaking and I felt rather rusty. However, the audience was so friendly I found myself slowly hitting my stride again. And they were also very patient and tolerant of Rain Dragon's little, um, "additions" to my speech.



Because by the time I finished, so was she:

on my desk monday

These are the mooncake molds and cookie cutters that were used to make the mooncake cookies and other yummies at my booklaunch last Sunday!  Full report on the booklaunch later (spoiler-- it was great!).

Sunday Chinese School

Welcome to Sunday Chinese School, where we learn a Chinese word (or phrase) a week with my mom!Today's word is:
mooncake
yuè bĭng
月餅

fortune cookie friday

"In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher."
-Chinese Proverb

Pocket Pacy Picture of the Week

Amisa would take Pocket Pacy to Venice, Italy. I want to go too!