Wearing flowers in my hair, NATWA, and back to NY

Well, I tried to post while on vacation, but except for my two brief Blue Rose Girls posts, I wasn't successful. Although I did write the following while still in SF but never posted it, so I'll just go ahead and post now:

Ah, San Francisco. I'm having an incredible time. The weather has been phenomenal--I guess I chose the perfect week to be away from the Nor'easter-ridden East coast. Here it's been blue skies and sun (with just a few hours of rain Saturday morning)--although it's overcast today and rain is expected tonight. I've seen pretty much all of my friends I know in the area--friends from college, friends from Taiwan, my brother and cousins, have met up with Sean Beaudoin (author of Going Nowhere Faster) and illustrator LeUyen Pham (Whose Toes Are Those and Whose Knees Are These?), and agent Nathan Bransford. Am meeting up with Laura Rennert and Caryn Wiseman from the Andrea Brown Literary Agency tomorrow for tea and Samovar, and have also met up with Rita who happened to be in town at the same time (my friend through coincidences). Have gone to many a cafe, read and enjoyed one whole adult book A Perfect Mess (I hope to blog more about this later), and two and a half manuscripts. Braved the hills and have gone jogging twice. Hung out in Dolores Park. Looked at apartments with my friends who just moved back from Hong Kong. Have had Thai food, Vietnamese food, Taiwanese dim sum, Chinese dim sum, comfort food, burritos, crepes.

It's been so luxurious spending a whole week here getting to know the city, having my cousin Jeanne's place in the Castro as my home base. I've never lived in SF, just the East Bay, so I've really been getting to know neighborhoods I'd only ever been to once or twice before. As always, when I come back to visit, I wonder what my life would be like if I lived here. I think it would be pretty darn great. I'm loving the weather and the city and seeing all of my old friends. Of course, I love living in New York, but who knows what the future will bring.

Tomorrow night I'm celebrating my last night in SF with whoever can come out, and then am heading up to Seattle Friday morning.

As always happens when I go on vacation, work explodes. I've had three manuscripts with offers on the table either right before I left or while I've been here. Connie has been great holding down the fort. I have a lot waiting for me when I get back.

And what I haven't had much time to do is blog, unfortunately. But I had a brief window of time just now and thought I'd check in.

And now I must check back out. More later. Here's hoping
that Spring returns to the Northeast by the time I get back on Monday.

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In Seattle I attended the North American Taiwanese Women's Association (NATWA) Annual meeting. Last year I attended for the first time as a panelist, invited to speak about Taiwanese American Women in Publishing along with two authors I work with, Grace Lin and Justina Chen Headley. This year I attended as, well, an attendee. My mother is a former president of NATWA, and last year asked me to attend. I greatly admire the organization's mission statement, and also appreciated their attempt to reach out to the second generation, or as they say, the 1.5 and 2.0 generation, because they've rightly realized that if they don't do this, the organization is doomed to die with the membership, mostly in their 50s and up. So they formed NATWA II. Last year was the first year, and they had about 15 of the younger generation attend. This year they had about twice as many, and it was great to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. To be honest, I wouldn't have attended if my parents didn't both come. In a way, I was "guilt-tripped" to come, or as we say in Chinese, it was my instinct to be "guai," or obedient (although it's interesting to note that I always thought that this word meant "good"). But now, after attending two years in a row and meeting the amazing women who attend, I think I'm hooked. Next year the conference is in Los Angeles, so no doubt I'll go and make it a trip "home" at the same time.

After the conference I had lunch with my aunt and my parents (my father attends the conference in support of my mother as well--apparently, every year more and more spouses attend, which I find wonderful), and then spent the afternoon with Justina. She brought me to the Greenlake area; the weather was perfect for a jaunt around the lake, and then an iced tea afterwards. Then incredible sushi at one of her favorite restaurants, and then back to her beautiful home for a glass of wine by the fire and great conversation.

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And now I'm back from Seattle to an almost uncomfortably warm NY. When I left, I was still wearing a winter jacket, hat, and gloves; today I wore a summer skirt, no leggings, no coat. I came back to an office full of bright yellow plastic crates and everything in chaos. I came back to almost 200 emails, some last-minute acquisition duties, another celebrity proposal, meetings, and panic. Stayed at work till about 9 pm packing and preparing meeting materials. Trying to purge almost 8 years of work accumulation, and cram the remaining into 4 crates (I think I'll need at least 6). Lugging books I don't want to part with home on the bus. Looking at my submission pile, wishing I could have responded to all of them before the move, instead of having to pack them into boxes.

We have to be packed by 1 pm on Thursday. Then they disconnect our phone and our computers, and then we show up for work on Monday morning in the new office. This is my second office move (the first being from Boston to New York), and my seventh time moving my office/cube. I'm a moving pro, but I'm also a bit of a pack rat, and as this is the first time I'm moving from a larger space to a smaller space, I'm having some trouble. But I'm trying to be ruthless (although not too ruthless, as I've learned from the book A Perfect Mess!).

I'll try to post before and after pics soon. Goodbye Rockefeller Center, Time and Life Building, the cafeteria on the 2nd floor, Radio Music City Hall, my office, the walk through Central Park to and from work. Hello Grand Central! I'm not sure what the new office will bring for me yet (except for a cubicle--groan), but I'll have more to report after Monday.

What Poetry Form Are You?

I've never participated in Poetry Fridays, so in honor of the day:

I am the sonnet, never quickly thrilled; Not prone to overstated gushing praise Nor yet to seething rants and anger, filled With overstretched opinions to rephrase; But on the other hand, not fond of fools, And thus, not fond of people, on the whole; And holding to the sound and useful rules, Not those that seek unjustified control. I'm balanced, measured, sensible (at least, I think I am, and usually I'm right); And when more ostentatious types have ceased, I'm still around, and doing, still, alright. In short, I'm calm and rational and stable - Or, well, I am, as much as I am able. What Poetry Form Are You?

Thanks to Fuse#8 for the link!

How to get into publishing/editorial?

Check out my colleague T.S.'s new blogger blog, Must Love Books. He has a great post about getting into publishing, so check it out. Welcome to blogger, T.S.!

Editor Cheryl Klein also had a great post a while back about how to be an editor here.

Just One More Book interview

The fine folks over at Just One More Book interviewed me a while ago, and I just found out that the interview is now up and posted on their site. Even though I did some radio in college, it's weird for me to hear my own voice in a podcast (and I feel like I was mumbling throughout!). The interview is mainly about Sound of Colors by Jimmy Liao which they gave such a wonderful, glowing review for, but it also dips into the role of an editor, how many risks publishers take, and my path to publishing.

The interview is about 25 minutes long, so don't worry, I won't be offended if you don't listen to the whole thing. Heck, I won't be offended if you don't listen to it at all. But check out their website, it's filled with countless treasures, great interviews and reviews.

The interview is here.

Thank you, Mark and Andrea! Hope to see you in Toronto next month.

Don't try this. But watch it.

Another video I love. So soothing, somehow, although ridiculously dangerous and inconsiderate. I rode on the back of my friend's Vespa last night from Chelsea to Williamsburg, and it reminded me of this video, and also of riding my little scooter in Taiwan, weaving in and out of traffic, the fierce wind blowing, feeling like I'm flying. I need to get on my bike again soon!

Do something you've never done before

On Tuesday night my friend, who is getting over the breakup of a long, long, long-term relationship, told me her plans for the month of April:

"Do something I've never done before once a week, call someone I don't normally call once a week" and I think there was one other thing, but those were the two things that stood out in my mind.

I was delighted by her plan, because it's the kind of thing I would do, too, although I think it's incredibly ambitious. Once a week, do something you've never done before? But I guess it could be as minor as trying a food you've never tried before, or going to a bar or restaurant you've never visited (although part of her goal in setting these rules is to do things other than go to bars).

But as I uploaded my photos the next day, I realize that I'd already done two things this week that I'd never done before:

1.) On Monday, I went to see Governor Bill Richardson speak at a bar in Hell's Kitchen, Zanzibar. That's certainly something I've never done before. A friend asked me last week if I'd be interested in checking it out, and as I knew nothing about him, except that he is the governor of New Mexico, I agreed. I figured it would be nice to hear from someone other than Hilary and Obama. Plus, it was near my work and only $7. (The talk was sponsored by an organization called Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century of New York, or dl21c.)

We got there early, but the bar quickly became packed. I was able to stand up on a bench and see the governor through the doorway (but as you can see, didn't get great pictures). I liked him--he seemed like a good guy, very knowledgeable, and I was impressed by his experience. He is the first Latino to run for president, and he commented that what was so wonderful about this election was that we could possibly elect the first woman president, the first black president, the first Latino president, and even our first Mormon president (although he wouldn't recommend it). At any rate, I'm looking forward to learning more about him, and all of the other candidates. It's still early, I don't know who I'm going to vote for yet.

2.) Tuesday night I went to a huge myopenbar.com party at Webster Hall. I'd never been to Webster Hall before (shocking, I know). I loved the space--lots of different rooms, weird art installations, deejays, great lights. And the party was fantastic--lots of free goodies from Kid Robot, free beer and vodka drinks, a giant dancing bunny and his smaller dancing bunny handler, and the rapper Juiceboxxx who was an incredible performer. Even though he kicked a bottle off of the stage that hit me on the elbow and hurt, I still loved him.

I may have to adopt my friend's plan. Have you done anything this week that you've never done before?

I'm in DC...

Well, Maryland, technically. Visiting with Amy and Bryan, who had their first child almost six months ago. Baby Samantha is so adorable--a full head of hair; dark, staring eyes; kicking legs. So sweet and calm.

Ashley and I took the Chinatown bus down together Saturday morning. It was an odd juxtaposition--both of us were out late on Friday night (although separately)--till 4 am (which is not an unusual weekend occurrence for me), and so when we met at the bus station before 11 am, we were both in rough condition. After weakly exchanging updates of our night's adventures, we spread out in different rows and proceeded to sleep the entire 4-plus-hour bus ride to DC. In a way, it was perfect.

And now we're in the 'burbs. Amy and Bryan generally go to bed around 9, when they put baby Samantha to bed, and that was perfect for Ashley and me under the circumstances. I went to sleep around 10, woke up at 7:30 rested and ready to go. But it's striking how different our lives are. Having a baby changes everything (duh). Bryan was commenting that even though he and Amy are homebodies by nature, their lives were still turned upside-down, and he wondered how much more shocking the change would be to a couple who goes out a lot.

I love NY and I want to raise city babies. I know people say you never really feel ready, at some point you just have to do it if you know you want kids. I'm so far away from that point right now, but I know that in a few years (okay, more than just a few) when I near 40, and if I'm not in a relationship, I'll have to start thinking about having a child on my own. But I fear how difficult that will be from what all of my friends with children have told me. They can't imagine having to do it all on their own.

But I don't have to worry about that yet. For now, I'll enjoy my visit to the suburbs (we're meeting up with my cousin's family--two kids!--for brunch today), and then return to my city life as I know it.

Crying makes me laugh

Just watched American Idol. Yes, I'm a fan. I admit it. My favorites overall are Melinda Doolittle, Jordin Sparks, Blake Lewis, and Chris Sligh, in that order. My, what good names they have. And I haven't laughed this hard in a while. They kept showing this little girl with braces who was just crying and crying and crying, and it was the cutest, most ridiculous thing ever. Fitting that the theme was British Invasion because she reminded me of those screaming, crying Beatle fans. They first showed her when Sanjaya sang, then again when Melinda sang, and then they brought her onto the stage at the end. Still crying. Me laughing. Also remind me of that song Smile by Lily Allen, which a friend just recommended to me and I listened to on my iPod this morning.

At first when I see you cry
It makes me smile
Yeah it makes me smile

What will your obituary say?

Actually, I think this is more an epitaph, isn't it?

'What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

I shall miss the prince as well.


This remind me of my high school English class--we were told to write our epitaphs. This was roughly mine. I still have it somewhat memorized:

She had traveled around the country, but had never traveled the world
That was how it was throughout her life.
Always the average of the above-average,
Never first, never striving to be.
And then she died, too early,
And she wasn't even first at that.

Depressing, isn't it? I have, of course, now traveled much of the world. But I have to say that some of the way I thought of myself back then still holds true now. I'm fairly competitive, but I don't always play to win--I generally play to not lose. I remember playing Hearts in college with friends--we played ALL THE TIME for a certain period--you know how that is. And yet, I think I only shot the moon one time. I was more concerned about never getting the Queen of Spades (and I apologize for those of you who don't know how to play Hearts), and trying to prevent others from shooting the moon. To be sure, this strategy sometimes resulted in me winning, but more often than not, it landed me safely in the middle of the pack, where I enjoyed being.

I did, and do, want to be special--afterall, I said I wanted to be the average of the above-average, not just average. But there's something about being the best that is scary to me, and I generally don't strive for that. Of course, I've grown, become more confident, and heck, would I like to be the best editor who ever lived? Sure. I want my books to be considered people's favorite books of all times. I do strive for first, sometimes, now.



Thanks for Fuse#8 for the link.

Another unsettling NY experience

My last post reminded me of something else that happened a month ago or so.

I had been at a friend's apartment in Brooklyn for poker night, and as I was walking down Smith street to the subway afterwards, probably around midnight, I witnessed a violent fight outside one of the bars on that street. A vagrant-type person was yelling, threw a guy down on the sidewalk, while two or three woman protested and yelled at him to stop. The man hit the guy on the ground in the head with something--it looked like maybe he was holding a plastic grocery bag, but something else, too. Something harder and bulky. I was on the same side of the street, and so stopped and backed away a bit. The violent man got up and was coming towards me and I saw what looked to be a drill?!?! in his hand. I stepped to the side onto the street and let him pass me, and then I walked around the group to continue on my way to the subway. The guy on the ground was up and looking dazed, holding the side of his head with his hand. He seemed to be okay, just in shock, and I heard a woman ask if she should call the cops. Then they all went into the bar.

Isn't that crazy? It was definitely an unsettling experience at the time, but once again, I completely put it behind me that night. It's startling and scary to witness violence in person, but at the same time, I think New York and the media has desensitized me to it all. Nothing surprises me in this city anymore. It's like that commercial where all of these crazy and horrible things are happening on the streets of Manhattan, and none of the pedestrians even bat an eye. It's so true.