Sunday, January 04, 2009

Add to your reading list: The Heart's Traffic

Ching-In Chen's new book, The Heart's Traffic -- described as a novel written in poetry -- is out (or soon to be out) from Arktoi, an imprint of Red Hen Press. I have it on order from our local independent bookstore, Left Bank Books.

I was lucky enough to be in an online writing workshop with Ching-In and on the strength of what I saw there, I'm going to stand in line to get my copy hot off the press. She's an exciting writer, innovative and brave, with a gorgeously rich sense of language, and in her writing and life she weaves together many different identities and worlds. The Arktoi website has a bio of Ching-In Chen, and links to an interview and to her project Mangoes With Chili, which is an annual 'floating cabaret' of poetry performances by queer and transgender people of color. http://www.redhen.org/arktoi.asp

Left Bank Books 314.367.6731 (yes, they will order any book, unlike the big chains, and they will mail it to you if you're not local!)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I read many biographies about Ching-In due to the fact that i was supposed to take part in a writing course with her. However, i had some personal conflicts and i was unable to attend.

From everything i have read, heard and seen: She is an incredible woman.

I hope to get the chance to meet her some day.

Regardless, i am definitely planning on getting this books asap.

Sounds brilliant!

thank you,
Justine