Grace Lin's Blog, page 85
January 27, 2012
fortune cookie friday
"All things at first appear difficult. "
-Chinese Proverb[image error]
January 25, 2012
oranges mean gold
Here, in New England, it is a bit gray and cold:
But somewhere in Arizona, where I visited once upon a time, there is a warm green and gold paradise,
my librarian friend Mary is picking oranges for the Chinese New Year:
I know this, because in the mail I received a box of gold from her:
YUM! Thank you, Mary!
Fresh, delicious oranges for the Chinese New Year! I think this year will be especially sweet![image error]
But somewhere in Arizona, where I visited once upon a time, there is a warm green and gold paradise,
my librarian friend Mary is picking oranges for the Chinese New Year:
I know this, because in the mail I received a box of gold from her:
YUM! Thank you, Mary!
Fresh, delicious oranges for the Chinese New Year! I think this year will be especially sweet![image error]
January 24, 2012
in the news
A couple weeks ago, I did a lovely school visit in Bristol, RI and there was a lovely article about it in the East Bay RI newspaper. My favorite part is the photo gallery where the photographer captured the students intent on drawing the rabbit. Of course, now I have to start teaching students how to draw the dragon...
Because it is the Year of the Dragon! The Washington Post listed Dumpling Days as one of the books in their article Children's Books for Chinese New Year. Read it while eating your lucky, get-rich dumplings![image error]
January 23, 2012
Happy New Year and Thanks for Coming!
Phew! I made it!
It's the Chinese New Year, which means I had my Dumpling Days Book Launch! If you haven't noticed, the postings on this blog have been a bit spare lately (I have many things I want to post about, I'll have to do a bit of catch up in the next few weeks). That is because every spare moment has been used to make over 100 Pocket Pacys:
the two large pocket pacys are the special "winning" ones; the people who got them won an original piece of art at the book launch
These are the special edition Pocket Pacys I did just for the launch. They are all wearing pink dresses because in Dumpling Days, the three sisters are forced to wear matching pink dresses when they travel to Taiwan (to make it easier for their mother to keep her eye on them). This is based on a real-life experience:
We put one of each of these Pocket Pacys in the booklaunch goodie bags, along with a red envelope that had a special URL to download exclusive deleted chapters and a dumpling recipe card. Because the Pocket Pacys were a bit time-consuming + having even less time then usual (work, visits + Rain Dragon!), I wasn't able to bake special cupcakes this time around. In fact, the baking had to be given up altogether and replaced with Japanese gummy candies.
And after assembling 100 bags (much thanks to my sister, niece & Sasquatch) I was a little worried to wake up on book launch day to snow. The most snow we've had all winter! Would people come?
Yes, they did!
I talked a bit incoherently--I did not prepare my talk as well as I would've liked (those Pocket Pacys took a long time!) and I admit I am more self-conscious than usual with my baby bump:
But it was lovely to meet so many of you! I think most people liked the Pocket Pacys so making them was definitely worth it! I hope to see many Pocket Pacy travel photos in the future!
Thanks so much for coming! Happy Year of the Dragon to all![image error]
It's the Chinese New Year, which means I had my Dumpling Days Book Launch! If you haven't noticed, the postings on this blog have been a bit spare lately (I have many things I want to post about, I'll have to do a bit of catch up in the next few weeks). That is because every spare moment has been used to make over 100 Pocket Pacys:
the two large pocket pacys are the special "winning" ones; the people who got them won an original piece of art at the book launchThese are the special edition Pocket Pacys I did just for the launch. They are all wearing pink dresses because in Dumpling Days, the three sisters are forced to wear matching pink dresses when they travel to Taiwan (to make it easier for their mother to keep her eye on them). This is based on a real-life experience:
We put one of each of these Pocket Pacys in the booklaunch goodie bags, along with a red envelope that had a special URL to download exclusive deleted chapters and a dumpling recipe card. Because the Pocket Pacys were a bit time-consuming + having even less time then usual (work, visits + Rain Dragon!), I wasn't able to bake special cupcakes this time around. In fact, the baking had to be given up altogether and replaced with Japanese gummy candies.
And after assembling 100 bags (much thanks to my sister, niece & Sasquatch) I was a little worried to wake up on book launch day to snow. The most snow we've had all winter! Would people come?
Yes, they did!
I talked a bit incoherently--I did not prepare my talk as well as I would've liked (those Pocket Pacys took a long time!) and I admit I am more self-conscious than usual with my baby bump:
But it was lovely to meet so many of you! I think most people liked the Pocket Pacys so making them was definitely worth it! I hope to see many Pocket Pacy travel photos in the future!
Thanks so much for coming! Happy Year of the Dragon to all![image error]
January 20, 2012
fortune cookie friday
"If you get up one more time than you fall you will make it through. "
-Chinese Proverb[image error]
January 18, 2012
Don't Forget!!
The Dumpling Days Book Launch is this Saturday, at 1 pm EST (not PT).
You do NOT need a ticket to come. Please tell your friends and family! The more the merrier!
I've been mad at work preparing for it and I have a sneaking suspicion that this will be the last book launch that I do. My publisher has been talking about sending me on tour for "Starry River of the Sky" (which will come out in October) and with Rain Dragon coming, I think my time for planning big parties with elaborate goodie bags might be over. So, I'm trying to make this one a good one (I've made over 100 pocket pacys!) and I hope everyone comes![image error]
You do NOT need a ticket to come. Please tell your friends and family! The more the merrier!
I've been mad at work preparing for it and I have a sneaking suspicion that this will be the last book launch that I do. My publisher has been talking about sending me on tour for "Starry River of the Sky" (which will come out in October) and with Rain Dragon coming, I think my time for planning big parties with elaborate goodie bags might be over. So, I'm trying to make this one a good one (I've made over 100 pocket pacys!) and I hope everyone comes![image error]
January 17, 2012
booktalk tuesday
Ruby Lu, Brave and True by Lenore LookIndieBound Description:
Most days the best thing about being Ruby is everything. Like when she's the star of her own backyard magic show. Or when she gives a talk at the school safety assembly on the benefits of reflective tape. Or when she rides the No. 3 bus all the way to Chinatown to visit GungGung and PohPoh.
And then there are the days when it's very hard to be Ruby. Like when her mom suggests Chinese school on Saturdays. Or when her little brother, Oscar, spills all of Ruby's best magician secrets. Or when her parents don't think she's old enough to drive!
Join Ruby Lu on her first adventure and discover your own best things about her!
My Thoughts: I love the Ruby Lu books! I admit I am a tad jealous of Lenore Look and her ability to write these books, as well as the Alvin Ho books. When I met her a long time ago, I was hoping some of her brilliance would rub off...[image error]
January 16, 2012
on my desk monday
I'm making an army of Pocket Pacys to put in the goodie bags of this weekend's Dumpling Days Book Launch! Come and get one (you do NOT need a ticket)!!
January 13, 2012
fortune cookie friday
"Even if you live near a forest, you should not waste firewood."
-Chinese Proverb
January 10, 2012
booktalk tuesday
The Case of the Goblin Pearls by Laurence YepIndiebound Description:
What would you do if your famous movie-star aunt asked you to be a jar of ointment in Chinatown's New Year's parade? And what if disaster struck in the middle of the parade and someone stole the priceless Goblin Pearls right in front of you? Worse still, what if your great-aunt still thought she was the famous action heroine Tiger Lil and decided to catch the thieves? What else could you do but become her sidekick?
Lily is excited when Auntie Tiger Lil comes to San Francisco to arrange the Lion Salve float and marching unit for the New Year's parade. Most famous for the Tiger Lil series of action movies, she's now dabbling in publicity, and the Lion Salve account could finance her movie comeback. The float is sure to be the centerpiece of the parade, especially since Miss Lion Salve will be wearing the ancient Goblin Pearls that day.
The Goblin Pearls have always been trouble, and the day of the parade is no exception. When they're stolen in broad daylight, Tiger Lil isn't about to let some punks ruin her plans -- if the cops can't catch the thieves, she will. But everything is not what it seems, and Tiger Lil and Lily soon find themselves in the middle of a plot worthy of one of Auntie's movies. Will this be the end of Tiger Lil and her trusty sidekick, or will they live to sleuth another day?
My Thoughts:
A fun read to prepare for the Chinese New Year! I love mysteries and this is a good one!
