An amazing experience!

I started writing an essay on Eileen Chang today, a task I’d been putting off on the reason that I hadn’t done enough research. With a first draft of a research essay due for my nonfiction workshop in 10 days, I had no choice but to begin. Such is the benefit of schooling.

“If you’re ambitious, write letters on good-quality paper, even when you’re still young.” While compiling the correspondence between Eileen Chang and himself over 30 years, C.T. Hsia discovered that some were fragile and crumbled at the slightest touch. Hence the advice in 1997.

At what point do you feel the urge to check the author’s bio when reading a book? Today, I realized it’s something worth paying attention to. On page 16 of Maggie Nelson’s essay collection “Bluets,” it struck me that this might be a deeply disguised autobiography and therefore, I checked her bio.

"Syzygy, Beauty" is a slim book composed of short lyric prose pieces, but the reading doesn’t flow easily. The breadth of cultural references requires research. The mention of Mary Tyler Moore prompted looking up for “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” Half an hour on just these 14 lines.

Sandra Cisneros and I share the same Chinese zodiac sign—the Horse. According to these beliefs, being born in 1954 (Cisneros) isn’t considered particularly unlucky. Girls born in 1966 (me) are thought to have the worst luck. This idea is explored in the Canadian film “Eve and the Fire Horse. “

I’ve been struggling for hours to secure a book—a collection of letters by Eileen Chang to her friends and literary agents. The shipping cost from Taiwan is steep. A Malaysian website provides online reading but refused to take my credit cards. The UCSD library has a copy but it’s checked out.

Fascinating

My first read of 2025: “The Rouge of the North” by Eileen Chang. I believe her work fits into the genre of the novel of manners. She deserves to be measured alongside writers like Jane Austen, George Eliot, and Edith Wharton. Unfortunately, she lived in a wrong time.

Happy New Year!

I make New Year's resolutions every year, but I’ve never lasted more than two weeks. Still, working toward my goals for 14 out of 365 days is better than nothing, and I’m going to make NYR again this year.

Lucille Clifton, always.

My daughter is now living the eco-friendly lifestyle she always wanted. In metropolitan Chicago, she doesn’t drive a car and relies on shuttles to get to and from school. However, visiting me in the suburbs this holiday season, she often exclaimed, “The sound of a highway!” or “The good old I-5!”

In the 1960s, Eileen Chang rewrote "Jing Suo Ji," a 1943 novella originally written in Chinese, in English, aiming to break into the American market. I suspect that the visual detail of "a silver Mexican dollar" reflects her effort to cater to this new audience.

I must spread this message.

I received a tiered rejection letter. I explained to my children that a tiered rejection means my submission was closer to acceptance than a standard rejection. They responded, "It's still a rejection, isn’t it?" I wonder if tiered rejections exist only in the world of literary journals.

I started reading “The Rouge of the North” by Eileen Chang today and spent almost an entire afternoon on the foreword by David Der-wei Wang, who raised many insightful points such as how Chang doesn’t conform with the prevalent feminist ideologies and eventually becomes an embittered woman herself.

This Christmas season, I've been haunted by the melody of "Feliz Navidad"—such a simple, happy, and irresistibly catchy tune. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart.

I want to wish you a merry Christmas. I want to wish you a merry Christmas. I want to wish you a merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart. … Feliz Navidad

👏👏

My favorite piece in this issue—such an unexpectedly warm ending. You must read it!

Last Syllable” Issue 3 showcases @Johnfitzgerald.bsky.social ‘s three poems. Don’t miss these thought-provoking pieces—read them here: lastsyllablelit.com/three-poems

Last Syllable” Issue 3 showcases François Bereaud's insanely funny play, “The Mathematician.” Don’t miss this piece—read it here: lastsyllablelit.com/the-mathemat...

Also, here's my poem, which @katiemanningpoet.bsky.social published in @whaleroadreview.bsky.social if anyone wants to read it.

Three headliners share works at different stages of development at yesterday’s reading. @kevinmkearney.bsky.social , author of “How to Keep Time,” read a recent piece that isn’t available anywhere else, highlighting the importance of attending readings.

I read a flash essay “It’s the Language, Stupid!” yesterday. It was a wonderful experience. Thanks for everyone who made this happen.

Come to visit us while hearing the wonderful poets reading their work!

Grad readers: @alexisbullock.bsky.social, @ellahachee.bsky.social, Rebecca Li, @nadeenmaida.bsky.social, @janenaranjo.bsky.social, @allisinez.bsky.social, @alan-fox-parmeter.bsky.social, @sarahsouthern.bsky.social, @annawangyuan.bsky.social, & @emmagraceweber.bsky.social. I'm so excited for this!

I’m going to read a flash essay “It's the language, Stupid!”

Congratulations!

Our student-run journal is coming soon—a true labor of love finally seeing the light of day!

Grad student readers: @sacornwell.bsky.social, @megcoley.bsky.social, @itmebugail.bsky.social, @nocturnalxlight.bsky.social, @poetrybyemma.bsky.social, @josiahroberts.bsky.social, @jess1et.bsky.social, among others. verbatimbooks.com/events/#even... Come hear voices in all kinds of lit! 📖🎄🔥 🙌🏽

Coming up: free event in SoCal! Get this Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry reading on your calendars for 12/16! Headliners: @kevinmkearney.bsky.social, Marco Wilkinson, and Daniela Sow. Grad student readers tagged below!

Here is another poem that answers @britomatic.bsky.social ‘s call. I have overachived my goal! Many thanks to @publishedbyjake.bsky.social jakethemag.com/at-a-nail-pa...

My poem is published. Many thanks to @publishedbyjake.bsky.social and @britomatic.bsky.social !

While it might not be the Golden Age of Saturn, there's something so compelling about being taken to an Italy lush with forests and wolves. Our discussion of human impacts too often starts with the industrial revolution; it's easy to forget just how early we began to change our landscapes. #booksky

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to chat with Dan Koch on his podcast You Have Permission about wonder as an antidote to religious trauma, a theme I’ve been focusing on and writing about for the past few years: open.spotify.com/episode/5Emn...

I’ve got flash essay up on JAKE! Check it out: jakethemag.com/band-on-the-...

soon to be released from Cambria Press....

For all #China scholars, academics, journos, analysts etc This is a list of accounts sharing an interest in #China #HK #Taiwan. Reply if you want to be added. Subscribe and Pin to give you a #ChinaSky Feed Please also like, repost bsky.app/profile/did:...

Hey if you want to buy my funky prophecy poetry book but don’t want to support Amazon, check it out: bookshop.org/p/books/this...

Many thanks to @mdbell79.bsky.social who provided the PLNU M.A. in Writing program such a generous and thoughtful conclusion to our fall Visiting Writers Series this week. What a joy to hear him talk about APPLESEED and climate fiction.

Jocelyn's first email of Bluesky tips was delightful today. If you're just getting started here, you might want to sign up for this. 😊 #BWtoBF

Another exquisite Small Press Nite this weekend at Book Catapult with extraordinary readings by Manuel Paul López, @lexikentmonning.bsky.social, @jacjemc.bsky.social, and @dtrobbins.bsky.social.