CHINA
Country Overview:
"A land of contrasts, where ancient traditions meet rapid modernization, and delectable cuisine coexists with complex political realities."
My seven-year journey in China, from May 2013 to August 2020, was a whirlwind of experiences. I taught English, pursued my Master's in Politics & Foreign Policy at the prestigious Tsinghua University, and immersed myself in the media landscape at China Today and Xinhua News Agency. Beijing was my home base, but my travels painted a vibrant tapestry of China's diverse landscapes and cultures: the bustling metropolis of Shanghai, the historic city of Xi'an, the tropical paradise of Sanya, the unique blend of East and West in Macau and Hong Kong, and countless other destinations in between. From savoring the exquisite flavors of regional cuisines to navigating the intricacies of daily life under a distinct political system, China left an indelible mark on me.
New Year's Resolution - Read 12 books in 2019 - DONE
Here are the 12 books I’ve read so far this year, along with a short review, to achieve one of my 2019 New Year Resolutions:
Contraception - Print Available
Print version of "Contraception", a story about overpopulation in the future, is available from Amazon and can ship worldwide! Get your copy today!
Novel Update
My novel is currently in the proofreading stage. After which, I'll send it off to have the interior designed, finish up the exterior design (spine + back cover), then get everything uploaded to Createspace and online retailers. It's been a long process, but I've learned a lot and talked with a lot of smart people in the publishing world. I definitely think I'll do it again, as I've seemed to have gotten over the learning curve. However, for my next book, I'd like to do a picture book about China that I've already started. Will post more news about that when its closer to fruition.
Put It Out There
For whatever reason, I've always believed that if you put something out into the universe, it will respond. I see it more as an exchange of information. People will relevant information to your request will respond in kind. As such, here goes nothing. I have finished my 93,000 word dystopian novel, Contraception, and am currently seeking representation. I have started the query process, which so far has been tedious, but I've always been a fan of busy work. It is with high hopes that I aim to find a book agent and then a publishing deal, but if all else fails - I'll self-publish. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
Clarification
I apologize for the lack of posts recently. Over the past two months, I have been working on a novel and have aimed to write 1,000 words per day. As someone who doesn't think of himself as creative, this has been a challenging process. It's a fictitious work about a global policy that works to resolve overpopulation. Will I try to publish it? Absolutely. Do I think it will get published? Ehhh. For me, it's more about trying to do something that I never thought possible. I'm about 20,000 words away from my goal and as soon as I wrap that up, so begins the editing process. I'll continue to work on keeping my blog up to date as I'm sure the only person who reads this, my mother, is still curious about my life in China.
In the future, I will work to post at least once per day and work on writing more. I know I've gotten lazy with simply posting a picture but you know what they say, "worth a thousand words."