Saturday, August 31, 2013

from the very cool Harry Lin

The very cool Harry Lin (Idealab, Asian American Journalists Association, ubercool tech startup guru) who I first met as "that guy with the hair" just said to me: "Your coolness quotient just exploded through the roof." My day is complete. :)

Friday, August 30, 2013

Kathy Hiraga of interactive ebook Samurai Bike Messengers

So fun to meet the very cool Kathy Hiraga of interactive ebook startup Samurai Bike Messengers (thanks to an introduction from ubercool tech startup guru Harry Lin) This is what many nerdy techy Asian Pacific American parents and parents of color and parents of strong girls have been waiting for! We're talking strong Asian American/hapa heroine, cool Asian American male character with that great spiky hair, environmental and urban biking superheroes, saving NYC with bikes. Edgy, fun, engaging, not just for kids.


Thursday, August 29, 2013

Accepted for publication in Kartika Review September 15


So excited another story accepted for publication in Kartika Review coming September 15! Thanks Jennifer Derilo (and Lac Su for the introduction). Here is the piece they published last time, "Did you eat means...I love you," inspired by our one and only Ryan Suda of Blacklava.net. 

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

driving into detroit early in the morning

love driving into detroit early in the morning, where the buildings are so beautiful and the men are so tall...wait...

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

GOING ELECTRIC - A new LEAF on life | LA Car

From my dad:
A Silicon Valley engineer retires, moves to Hawaii, builds a house, installs solar panels, and buys a 2013 Nissan LEAF (also known as Nissan’s Leading, Environmentally friendly, Affordable, Family car). He now produces enough energy to power his house and car - and even enough to give back to the electric company to help power the rest of the town. Welcome to the future:http://www.lacar.com/?p=16652

GOING ELECTRIC - A new LEAF on life | LA Car

Monday, August 26, 2013

Journey into the deeper beauty and hidden turmoil of Hawaiʻi | Daughters of Fire

Excited to be reading with Tom Peek, author of Daughters of Fire, in Ann Arbor, on Tuesday, October 29, 2013, at Ann Arbor District Library. While figuring out the program, he just emailed me that (in addition to not having a cellphone) he doesn't have a laptop, so he will be bringing photographs and paintings "on a data stick or CD-Rom" to project. How delightfully retro! 

http://www.daughtersoffire.com/

Journey into the deeper beauty and hidden turmoil of Hawaiʻi | Daughters of Fire

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Poet Zilka Joseph Reading Saturday

Poet Zilka Joseph will be reading at Brewed Awakenings! Saturday August 31, 7 pm, in Saline. Hosted by poet Saleem Peeradina. Her chapbooks, Lands I Live In and What Dread, will be available for purchase. And check out the writing workshops she is offering this fall:

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Prose Poetry Reading in Chicago

CHICAGO! I've just been invited to read at painter Nancy Wolfe's exhibition opening at the Joseph Glimer Gallery in Chicago on October 4 and 5! Come play with me!

(I am also lining up other speaking opportunities around those dates in case anyone else might want me to invite me to read or speak around then too...thanks!)

More details as they come...


http://www.josefglimergallery.com/Nancy.html


Update: will also be reading at Nancy Wolfe's exhibit opening at Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor on October 9.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Quoted in Corp Magazine July/August 2013

I am quoted (borrowing heavily from Asian American Justice Center's Mee Moua) in this month's Corp! Magazine on page 31 re, "Highly Skilled Workers Sought in Rust Belt--Is Immigration the Answer?" by Minehaha Forman. Article starts on page 28, with Anup Popat of Systems Technology Group Inc. (STG) quoted on page 29, and picture of Sanjay Patel of Midwest Molding on page 30.

Congratulations also to all the friends who won diversity awards at the Corp! Magazine Salute to Diversity (page 33), including Suk-Kyu Koh of Chrysan Industries, Udesh Kaul of Delphi Corp., Anup Popat of Systems Technology Group Inc., and Peter Wong of Roy Smith Company.

Corp July/August 2013

Friday, August 16, 2013

Interviewed on Comcast Newsmakers

Interviewed on Comcast Newsmakers today on Asian Pacific American entrepreneurs and the bamboo ceiling. Should be out in the fall sometime. Look for it!

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Creative Writing Classes - Washtenaw Community College Division of Economic & Community Development

My course catalogue from Washtenaw Community College came in today's mail and I'm teaching three writing classes and one Chinese language class! Register today!

Ethical Wills: Writing a Love Letter to Your Family  ENG 4003  Start 11/02/13  Mandatory Fees: $0.00  Rm. LA 138
2 sessions  Sat Sun  Tuition: $59.00  Location: Liberal Arts & Sciences Bldg   Instructor: Wang  

Jumpstart Your Memoir  ENG 4006  Start 11/30/13  Mandatory Fees: $0.00  Rm. LA 150
2 sessions  Sat  Tuition: $189.00  Location: Liberal Arts & Sciences Bldg   Instructor: Wang    Please read: Students will need to bring a notebook and ...More


Writing With Style  ENG 4004  Start 11/30/13  Mandatory Fees: $0.00  Rm. LA 150
2 sessions  Sat  Tuition: $189.00  Location: Liberal Arts & Sciences Bldg   Instructor: Wang  
Creative Writing Classes - Washtenaw Community College Division of Economic & Community Development

Chinese 1  CHN 4000  Start 10/09/13  Mandatory Fees: $20.00  Rm. LA 161
8 sessions  Wed  Tuition: $189.00  Location: Liberal Arts & Sciences Bldg   Instructor: Wang

Languages Classes - Washtenaw Community College Division of Economic & Community Development

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Friday, August 9, 2013

"Where the Lava Meets the Sea" now available at Kona Stories Bookstore

Look, my book on a bookshelf of a real bookstore, at Kona Stories Bookstore, and in the Hawaiiana section no less (and no, EM, I didn't just put it there >_<). Plus 3 readings and several writing classes lined up for Big Island next summer! Can't wait!

More about the book here: http://www.franceskaihwawang.com/p/blog-page.html

Thursday, August 8, 2013

"Where the Lava Meets the Sea" at Lyman Museum

Lyman Museum is going to carry my chapbook, "Where the Lava Meets the Sea," and maybe do a reading next summer, too. Awesomeness!

More about the book here: http://www.franceskaihwawang.com/p/blog-page.html

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Teaching today at UHH: Memoir

Teaching today at University of Hawaii Hilo! There is nothing better than writing in Hawaii. Join us!

Susan Cheever: "I believe that the memoir is the novel of the 21st century; it's an amazing form that we haven't even begun to tap... we're just getting started figuring out what the rules are."

Do you have a memoir you have been meaning to write, either for publication or just for your grandchildren, but are having difficulty getting started? Why not start here, one chapter at a time? In this short workshop, students will learn short writing exercises as well as tips and tricks—including creating a space for writing, writing every day, reading aloud, training your mind to see detail, taking chances with emotion, having fun with humor and flourishes, writing from the heart, cultivating consistency, and overcoming barriers to writing—that will start you on your way. Leave with beginning drafts of several chapters. Frances Kai-Hwa Wang, a writer, speaker, activist and multicultural educator who teaches at the University of Michigan, and is the author of “Where Lava Meets the Sea—Asian Pacific American Postcards from Hawaii” instructs this dynamic workshop that is open to anyone. Students will need a notebook and pen.
Aug 6 & 8, TTh, 5-8pm, UCB 111, 2 classes, $40
Register here: http://hilo.hawaii.edu/academics/ccecs/registration/

More at: Jumpstart Your Memoir

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Feed the People, Not the Trolls: An (Incomplete) Archive of APA Women Musicians | Hyphen magazine - Asian American arts, culture, and politics

Ignore the troll bait. Support our own amazing Asian American women musicians. Thanks Jeff Yang, Bao Phi, James Chang, Terry Park, Sean Miura, Traci Akemi Kato-Kiriyama, and Quincy Surasmith for helping turn the conversation around. #realasiangirlz

From Terry Park and Sean Miura at Hyphen:
Feed the People, Not the Trolls: An (Incomplete) Archive of APA Women Musicians | Hyphen magazine - Asian American arts, culture, and politics

I would add to the list: Tanzila Ahmed's www.beatsforbangladesh.org and my favorite hysterical stereotype exploder, Jen Kwok's "Date an Asian." Where else are we going to get great content like this?



More at Asian-Americans take high road in response to racist music video | State of the Arts | Minnesota Public Radio News