After a successful book launch in New York of The Same Sky followed with a travel storytelling event in June, Vancouver was next. My old stomping ground!
At first, I thought a handful of family members and friends would come, but we ended up with 45 people last Wednesday! Wow, I felt so blessed.
Top 5 Highlights:
Highlight #1: Great support from family and friends including childhood buddies I hadn’t seen in 26 years!
It was great to see my family there especially my parents who heard the final reading about my grandmother’s death as part of The Same Sky. How cool that my loves ones could be there for me. And that some of my childhood friends turned up for it!
Highlight #2: Awesome readings from Henry Lee, Jai Yehia and Adelina Wong
I loved how the other readers at my event did a fantastic job sharing their travel stories. Jai’s wonderful piece called “Should I Take Off My Shoes at Pol Pot’s House?” was about Cambodia with reflections on it’s not-so-distant genocidal past, while also ending on a positive note about the optimism of its people.
Both Adelina and Henry also reflected on questions about home, identity and belonging in their pieces – Adelina about her expatriate life in Budapest and Henry about his contemplations on life while watching a sun set in Chile. All very touching.
Highlight #3: Now my mom wants to write a memoir
The next morning after the Vancouver book launch, my mom shared how she stayed up late thinking about her own past and that she would like to capture her life lessons and experiences on paper. I was touched that my book launch stirred up a motivation for my mom, who is relatively private about her tough childhood, to write about her life.
Highlight #4: I sold 90% of my books!
Highlight #5: Fantastic Q&A moderated by Jenny Malcolm
If you can believe it, Jenny first flew out to NY to moderate my Q&A during my first book launch. I welcomed her back to do it again in Vancouver. She did great! The questions asked by the audience were excellent: will I write a second book? What has been the long process of writing and capturing my thoughts over time to complete the book? What are some harrowing lessons learned when traveling? Thanks for the awesome questions!
I’m so thankful for all the support from everyone in my beloved hometown Vancouver. Stay tuned…next year, we hope to run The Same Sky Cafe, a night of travel storytelling!