A huge thank you CRA and the Eureka award committee. #picturebooks #losangeleschinatownmassacre #dreamstoashes

Dreams to Ashes is a Eureka Children’s Nonfiction Award Gold winner! This award is given by the California Reading Association, and I’m hopeful that this will mean more California students will learn about this piece of their state history.

A heartfelt thank you to all the organizers of this event. #chineseamericanhistory #camla #chineseamerican

To me, this is all the more reason we need to keep telling these stories, past and present. If we, as a country, have fallen short of its ideals, it would be disastrous to look away. Change is only found when we meet the ugliness head on.

it makes sense that those in power would want us to forget the ugliness in our nation’s past as well. “Keep looking the other direction. We are not racist. We are still the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Indeed, in a time when people of color, even legal residents and citizens, are being detained and deported with little regard for their rights, and when the administration blatantly ignores court orders requiring due process,

One speaker said that stories like these are the ones that our country’s leadership would like us not to tell, and that has stuck with me.

Last Friday, I attended a memorial service at @camlaorg for the 18 Chinese men who were killed in the 1871 Los Angeles Chinatown Massacre. There were speakers and spoken word artists, floral arrangements in honor of each of the deceased, a reading of names, and a bowing ceremony.

In my latest newsletter, I reflect on my high school reunion and talk about how I blossomed from a socially awkward teenager to a slightly less socially awkward middle aged person.

You can read my newsletter here: preview.mailerlite.io/preview/6800...

Did you know that you can get signed copies of my books from Once Upon a Time bookstore? Just go to the signed books section of their website, under Shop.

www.shoponceuponatime.com/signed-books...

I'm thrilled to be talking YA this coming Sunday at the Next Chapter Writer's Summit in West Hollywood! You can reserve a seat at our panel and others at their website. It'll be a great lineup!

Register for the event here: visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/14499502

Thanks to Julia again for tracking down this fascinating tidbit of Asian American history, and I'm thrilled to share this story with you in 2027.

I'm thrilled to announce my new collaboration with Julia Kuo! This time we're making a new folktale about Chrysanthemums, a flower that originated in China but is now as American as apple pie.

In my latest newsletter, I share the trailer for Bing's Cherries and do some navel gazing about why I have trouble believing compliments and the types of compliments I might actually believe.

Read my newsletter here: preview.mailerlite.io/emails/webvi...

Barnes and Noble is having a preorder sale! Get Bing's Cherries for 25% off with the code PREORDER25. www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bings-cher...

I enjoyed the exhibits chronicling the history of Chinese in America as well. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in New York City.

Since this was a New York City event, I was lucky to have my agent and two editors in attendance! Great to see you in person, @jimmccarthy528, Caitlin, and Caylee!

Thank you @mocanyc for hosting me at storytime. I had a great time sharing Nainai’s Mountain with everyone. (and telling people about how toilets helped me become an author, see second slide). This was my first time at the museum.

#mocanyc #picturebooks #authorlife

In my most recent newsletter, I talk about how I switched up my writing reward system for extra motivation. I also talk about a few recent trips I took, and a graphic memoir that I greatly enjoyed.

Click here to read my newsletter: preview.mailerlite.io/emails/webvi...

Hope to see you at The Museum of Chinese in America for a storytime and signing! July 19, 2025 at 2:30pm

Barnes and Noble is having a preorder sale! Get Bing's Cherries for 25% off with the code PREORDER25.

In my latest newsletter, I talk about intuitive vs. logical writing approaches, Daughters of Shandong by @EveChung, and my new system for rewarding myself upon reaching writing milestones.

Read here: preview.mailerlite.io/preview/6800...

I am absolutely thrilled to share the cover for Bing’s Cherries, coming March 10th, 2026. I had SUCH a great time making this book with @juliaskuo, @spanishbroom , and the rest of the @knopfyoungreaders team. Can’t wait to share it with you all!
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#picturebooks #bookstagram #bingcherry

Got to spend four days camping in the Sierra Nevada last week. My favorite thing was doing morning pages by the creek next to our campsite. #writersofinstagram #monolake #inyonationalforest

I met @tuisutherland over ten years ago while waiting in line to get our books signed at @porter_square_books. I remember her telling me about writing for the Warriors series. It was so cool to take my daughter to FanWing fest San Diego last weekend! #wingsoffire #bookstagram

My friend and publicist, Emily Terry and Open Book Publicity, helped me prepare for my first NPR interview. I talk about what we did in my latest newsletter here: preview.mailerlite.io/preview/6800...

#publicspeaking #bookstagram #NPR

Grateful for the chance to talk Dreams to Ashes, immigration, and book banning on NPR’s @hereandnowradio Full interview here: www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...

#picturebooks #bannedbooks #bookstagram

#clementineanddanny

'Dreams to Ashes' kids' picture book explores an ugly chapter in Los Angeles history In 1871, anti-Chinese sentiment led to a riot that killed 18 men and destroyed homes and businesses in Los Angeles.

www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2... #greatauthorinterview #kidlit @lkblackburne.bsky.social #AAPIheritagemonth

#clementineanddanny

I forgot to post last month’s newsletter, where I talk about cutting down my manuscript in the Currently Writing section.

preview.mailerlite.io/preview/6800...