Authors' Showcase at Convention

June 19, 2009

From the labyrinthian world of detective pulp fiction to perspectives on Hip Hop and South Asian America, this year's AAJA Authors' Showcase offers a robust line-up of writers. Taking place at the 2009 AAJA Annual National Convention, the showcase is a place for convention attendees to meet an eclectic group of recently published authors. Be part of the literati and attend any of the following events which all take place on Thursday, August 13:

An Evening of Hope & Good Fortune Featuring Jennifer 8 Lee

AAJA in partnership with the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (ATASK) features Jennifer 8. Lee, New York Times journalist and author of the "Fortune Cookie Chronicles" for this presentation/book-reading. Note: RSVP required by Tuesday, June 30. Co-Sponsored By Harvard University.

Photographer Book Feature: Rick Rocamora

Rick Rocamora, photographer/author of "Filipino WW II Soldiers: America's Second-Class Veterans" has documented the lives of the Filipino veterans, still clinging to hard-won medals, military commendations and scraps of uniforms as they make their way in San Francisco's toughestneighborhoods.

Desi Rap: Hip Hop and South Asian America

"Desi Rap" is a collection of essays from South Asian American activists, academics, and hip-hop artists that explores perspectives on hip-hop as a means of expression. Join Murali Balaji ("The Professor and His Pupil"), Minal Hajratwala ("Leaving India: My Family's Journey from Five Villages to Five Continents"), Vijay Prashad ("Karma of Brown Folk") and Deepti Hajela, writer and former president of the South Asian Journalists Association.

Collective of Asian American Women Authors

Joann Lee ("Asian Americans in the 21st Century"), Mei-Ling Hopgood ("Lucky Girl"), Michelle Yu ("China Dolls"), and Minal Hajratwala ("Leaving India: My Family's Journey From Five Villages to Five Continents") come together to make up this compelling panel of Asian American women authors.

Asian American Detective Writers

Enter the underbelly of detective pulp fiction in Asian American noir fashion with two writers who take on the art of a favorite genre. Join Ed Lin ("This is a Bust") and Henry Chang ("Chinatown Beat").

Secret Identities: The Asian American Superheroes Anthology

Editors Jeff Yang, Parry Shen, Keith Chow and Jerry Ma have brought together 66 top Asian American writers, artists and comics professionals to create 26 original stories centered around Asian American superheroes-stories.