Four Years After 3/11
Four years ago today a massive earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, resulting in many thousands of lost lives, lost homes, lost communities and lost livelihoods. The destruction was mind-numbing--long swaths of coastline communities obliterated.
In late April/early May of 2011 I volunteered for an 8-day stint with Peace Boat (read about this experience in these posts) in the badly hit city of Ishinomaki to assist with tsunami cleanup. The experience was profoundly moving--traumatizing and both physically and emotionally exhausting. But the people I met--the locals, many of whom, while struggling to cope with grim destruction, homelessness and deep personal loss, were striving to clean up their city, move forward, and help others; the caring members of my team and other volunteer teams who were offering their assistance under difficult and risky circumstances; and the many around the world offering financial support--left me inspired and determined to take further action.
Thus began Tomo: Friendship Through Fiction--An Anthology of Japan Teen Fiction. I consulted with Japan-connected writer friends, who expressed nothing but total enthusiasm for my project--an anthology of YA fiction to raise money for teens in Tohoku. Publisher Peter Goodman of Stone Bridge Press committed, and the race was on--to create an anthology to publish in time for the one-year anniversary.
Of the stories submitted, I selected 36, including ten in translation, including one from Ainu. The editing process began. On the Tomo Anthology Blog I began posting in-depth interviews of author and translator contributors. A Reader's Guide was created. The anthology was launched on March 12, 2012.
Tomo: Friendship Through Fiction was a labor of love. The authors, translators and illustrators who contributed to the collection worked under extremely tight deadlines with the most generous of hearts, and Peter Goodman was a phenomenal force behind the book.
Please visit the Tomo Anthology Blog--have a look at the extensive list of interviews, peruse the Reader's Guide--and then, if you haven't already, order a copy of Tomo to immerse yourself in collection of fiction like no other. Proceeds from the sales of Tomo continue to support teens in Tohoku affected by the earthquake and tsunami via the NPO Hope for Tomorrow.
I wish for all of the people of Tohoku to be surrounded by strong and caring communities, both local and global, full of kindness and peace.
In late April/early May of 2011 I volunteered for an 8-day stint with Peace Boat (read about this experience in these posts) in the badly hit city of Ishinomaki to assist with tsunami cleanup. The experience was profoundly moving--traumatizing and both physically and emotionally exhausting. But the people I met--the locals, many of whom, while struggling to cope with grim destruction, homelessness and deep personal loss, were striving to clean up their city, move forward, and help others; the caring members of my team and other volunteer teams who were offering their assistance under difficult and risky circumstances; and the many around the world offering financial support--left me inspired and determined to take further action.
Thus began Tomo: Friendship Through Fiction--An Anthology of Japan Teen Fiction. I consulted with Japan-connected writer friends, who expressed nothing but total enthusiasm for my project--an anthology of YA fiction to raise money for teens in Tohoku. Publisher Peter Goodman of Stone Bridge Press committed, and the race was on--to create an anthology to publish in time for the one-year anniversary.
Of the stories submitted, I selected 36, including ten in translation, including one from Ainu. The editing process began. On the Tomo Anthology Blog I began posting in-depth interviews of author and translator contributors. A Reader's Guide was created. The anthology was launched on March 12, 2012.
Tomo: Friendship Through Fiction was a labor of love. The authors, translators and illustrators who contributed to the collection worked under extremely tight deadlines with the most generous of hearts, and Peter Goodman was a phenomenal force behind the book.
Please visit the Tomo Anthology Blog--have a look at the extensive list of interviews, peruse the Reader's Guide--and then, if you haven't already, order a copy of Tomo to immerse yourself in collection of fiction like no other. Proceeds from the sales of Tomo continue to support teens in Tohoku affected by the earthquake and tsunami via the NPO Hope for Tomorrow.
I wish for all of the people of Tohoku to be surrounded by strong and caring communities, both local and global, full of kindness and peace.
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