Welcome!
Thank you for joining my literary journey.
I am relatively new to creative writing, although I have been a successful academic in STEM fields for over three decades and have published three books and 200+ academic articles.
You may wonder why I wanted to write creatively…
My younger daughter often asked if I did this or that when I was her age. One day, my older daughter asked, “Mom, what was it like when you came to the U.S.?” Writing my life’s story for my children became a goal.
My first few attempts yielded dull pieces. That made me realize that creative writing and academic writing were almost the opposite in some aspects. Telling stories well was no small task, and I wanted my children to be proud of my writing.
You may ask why I wanted to publish my book(s)...
My lengthy search for help led me to YMCA’s Downtown Writing Center (DWC) in Syracuse, NY. Since 2017, I have been taking courses and getting critiques. My writing buddies and instructors often told me how fascinated they were by my stories. They also suggested that I should publish them to benefit a broader audience.
These suggestions led to a new mission of my creative writing: to enrich Asian American cultural heritage and history and to enhance cultural understanding and acceptance among all people.
Where am I in my creative writing journey?
In April 2023, I published my debut memoir, Las Crosses, in paperback, hardcover, e-book, and audiobook formats. I am proud to say that the book not only received highly positive reviews but was also selected as a finalist in two categories (Women's and Multicultural) at the 2023 IAN Book of the Year Awards.
Since then, I have been learning the outreach side of an author’s adventure, including publishing Large Print editions to benefit more readers and using newsletters to connect with my readers. Thank you for joining me on this journey.
What is “cooking” in my creative writing pot?
Plenty! Stay tuned for more news and updates.
I look forward to our continued interaction. Don't hesitate to get in touch with me if you have questions.
May you be happy, healthy, and well in every way!
Fondly,
Apple
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