Grace Lin's Blog, page 66

Pocket Pacy Picture of the Week

Reader Isabella would bring Pocket Pacy to the Great Wall of China!


I wish I had taken a Pocket Pacy to the Great Wall when I went, I hope she gets to go with Isabella!


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mortgage therapy

So my new book comes out soon...very soon...and I'm on pins and needles about it. I've been ramping up for my booklaunch, dreaming up online giveaways, preparing my little family for the book tour (limited book tour, Rain Dragon is only 4 months),  and, all and all, just trying with all my might to help make my book a success.

However, there comes a point where there's just nothing more an author can do. We write the best book we can, we spread the word the best we can and then we just hope. We hope people like it, we hope people love it, we hope and hope.

Yet, there is also a point where the hope just turns to worry.  Me, myself, I've never been able to rein in that anxiety and it is so unhelpful. By the time my book comes out, I am usually just a blob of agonizing, self-doubt.

But not this time! Why? Not because I've reached some sort of zen...it's because we, my little family, have just bought a house! Yes, we're moving!

So now, my brain is completely filled with new house stuff--should I paint the walls green, when should we sell the condo...all sorts of fun and not-so-fun details. It's been a really good way of keeping the book anxiety at bay. But I don't recommend it as a regular remedy.[image error]

on my desk monday

Starry River of the Sky is a Junior Library Guild book! I love their shiny medallions. My certificate is a little wrinkled because Rain Dragon loves shiny things, too...[image error]

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:
harvest
shōuhuò
收获

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fortune cookie friday

"Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born in another time."
-Chinese Proverb[image error]

Pocket Pacy Picture of the Week

Yasef would take Pocket Pacy to a football game!

Come to my book launch & I might paint your portrait!

Starry River of the Sky is almost here! I'm planning a glorious book launch! Instead of my usual talk & reading, I'm planning an interactive reader's theatre & game! If all goes as planned, you'll hear a Chinese legend, shoot imaginary arrows and be rewarded with the moon...or at least a super starry goodie bag! And what makes those goody bags starry?

Well, in two of those bags will be a copper coin (as well as other goodies, like a Starry River of the Sky poster!). If your bag has the copper coin in it, you are a grand prize winner!!!


The Grand Prize? I will paint your portrait (or your child's or your dog's...whomever you like) for you to keep forever and ever.
 So, if your bag has a coin, I will paint your portrait:

It would be a portrait of you, not the baby!Wouldn't that be a fun thing to have? Or the perfect gift for someone (with the book)? Well, come to the book launch and it could be your portrait I'll paint!

Goodie bags are limited so reserve yours by reserving your book, but as usual I'll make extras--so come one, come all!

 Sunday, September 30th at 3pm Porter Square Books
 25 White Street, Cambridge MA
 617-491-2220 (reserve your copy today, which automatically reserves your goodie bag-- no tickets this time!)

Hope to see you!
 Not local? As usual, you can pre-order your book from Porter Square and I will sign it for you on launch day plus send along some extra goodies (probably not the cookies, though). And keep your eyes open--I'm having a virtual book party on October 2nd! Yes, games and prizes (special edition pocket pacys!) for even those who aren't nearby. You'll have a shot at winning a custom portrait, too![image error]

on my desk monday

Hmm, what can be in this shiny gold envelope?


Can it be?

EEEKS! Yes! It's the final, bound book! Starry River of the Sky is finished:


Here's a sneak peak at some of the interiors:

remember this one in sketch form? Now it's in the book!
and this is how this one turned out Little, Brown did such a beautiful job printing it. I'll try to make a little video of more of the interior later!

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:
frost
shuāng
霜

fortune cookie friday

"Learning without thought is naught; thought without learning is dangerous."
-Chinese Proverb[image error]