Viet Nam Village Children Fund

I have now set up a children's charity -- the Viet Nam Village Children Fund. It's primary mission is to provide basic safety and to promote educational opportunities for the children in rural villages of the Mekong Delta. At the beginning, efforts will focus on Luong Tam (Truong An) village. More than thirty years after the "Vietnam War", this village still has not recovered from the massive destruction by intensive bombings and chemical defoliants. The level of poverty is severe, with 200 victims of Agent Orange (many are of the third generation of those originally infected).

We would be most grateful to accept any donations from individuals, institutions, and corporations, large or small, regular or one time.

For more details, please visit the website of the Viet NamVillage Children Fund at www.vietnamvillagechildrenfund.org

A new school building

I was out of touch for many months. There had been four deaths in my family. Aunt Di Nam and Uncle Nam died in December, 2007. My brother Nghia died in February 2008. A week later one of my nephews died, at age 29.

Aunt Di Nam left me a piece of land before she died -- designated for a kindergarten, in Hamlet 5. My plan was to partially finance its construction with royalties from my books.

However, the village's residents have expressed their wish to replace the elementary school building in Hamlet 4, with a five-classroom building. The current two-classroom building offers classes of the first two levels only. And the building is badly deteriorated. While the parents recognize the need of a kindergarten, they feel that highest priority should be given to elementary education. Many children age 8 to 10 who should have been in school are spending their day at home because classes are not available.

Les Fleurs du Viet Nam

I am pleased to announce that the French translation of Late Blossom, "Les Fleurs du Viet Nam" will be released by Editions Premium in the Spring, 2009.

Editions Gallimard will promote and distribute the book in French speaking countries. More details later.

Select Books

Finally, the first book shipment for Singapore has arrived from India. I apologize to those of you who have been waiting due to the long delay.

Late Blossom is now available at Select Books, 19 Tanglin Road #03-15, Singapore.
To contact the bookstore:

Tel: (65) 6732 -1515
Fax: (65) 6736- 0855
Emails: orders@selectbooks.com.sg
info@selectbooks.com.sg

Asian American Press

With thanks and appreciation to Tom La Venture, News and Managing Editor, and his staff for their time and effort to create an article for Late Blossom.

I am very impressed with the Press and the wide range of coverage of issues and events affecting the Asian community, both in the Twin Cities and nationally. I feel proud to be included.

"The Vietnam War through the eyes of a young woman" published by www.aapress.com Friday, 19 October, 2007.

The American Library in Paris

It's an honor for me to be invited to the Library for the evening of November 28th. This cocktails/signature event is part of the "Evenings With An Author" series, sponsored by the Annenberg Foundation. Charles Trueheart, the director, will introduce me and the book. After an overview of the content of Late Blossom, I will be available for discussion and answering questions from the audience. Please join me from 7:30pm.

The American Library in Paris
10 rue du General Camou, 75007 Paris.
Tel: 01 - 5359 - 1260
www.americanlibraryinparis.org

WH Smith's book event

My thanks to the seventy guests who had come to my book event last Tuesday. I deeply appreciate your presence and support. For those of you who couldn't wait for signature, I will be happy to come back to WH Smith next Tuesday. I can also arrange to see you at your clubs or associations to sign the book.

Laura: Your help with the promotion is tremendous and I will remain grateful to you. You have given Late Blossom a great start. I have received several nice emails from the guests since yesterday. All said they had had an enjoyable evening, and they will recommend the book to relatives and friends.

Hannah: I thank you in return for your hard work getting people to come to the evening. There was a great turnout because of it. I'm glad you heard back from some guests, and that they had a good time. I too was happy about the evening, as were my colleagues who were very moved by your speech and comments from Soonu and Badia.

Have you done the interview with Radio France Inter? One guest on Tuesday wanted to get in touch with you to talk to you in depth about Viet Nam today. If you'd like to contact her, here is her email address: ...........

I wish you all the best in the future and we'll be in touch with Nathalie for reorders, since I'm sure the book will sell well.

One last thing, I completely forgot to ask you to sign a book for my great Aunt Marian who's going to Viet Nam in March. I told her about your book, and she really wants to read it before she goes on holiday. It's her birthday next week, so I'd like to send her a signed copy, but I don't know how to proceed since I forgot to ask you Tuesday night.

Laura: I plan to be in Paris next Tuesday, so I will stop by to see you. About Radio France Inter, they will telephone me for the interview.