Everything Asian in NHPR Reads: May 2024

As the piece below informs, May is indeed Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month — and how lucky am I to have a friend who also happens to be an avid reader at NHPR, New Hampshire Public Radio? Very lucky indeed. Huge thanks to Jim for including my first novel, Everything Asian, to this extremely storied list! To paraphrase Wayne and Garth, I am not worthy!

Everything Asian by Sung J. Woo

My friend Sung emigrated from South Korea to New Jersey as a young man. So has the protagonist of this novel. The funny moments and the sad ones will be familiar to anyone who’s no more than a remove or two away from the immigrant experience – which is most of us. And anybody who’s ever cringed at their parents’ behavior will see their teen years brought to life in this slyly serious picaresque.

Jim Schachter

For the rest of the recommendations by NHPR, please click through and read on.

5/22/2021 2PM ET: In-Person Jersey City Free Public Library Event — Yes, In Person!

I almost can’t believe I’m typing these words, but folks, I’ll be at the Jersey City Free Public Library next Saturday, 5/22/2021, at 2pm. Like physically. Like I will drive and park and walk over to Hamilton Park! I will not be sitting in front of a laptop. Me, human Sung, will be at the park to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month. If you are in the area, please stop by! They have a few more programs after me, so stick around. Check it out!

AAPI Heritage Month Celebration at Hamilton Park: Author Discussion with Sung J. Woo

May 22 @ 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm EDT

Sung J. Woo, author of Everything Asian (2009), Love Love (2015), and Skin Deep (2020) will talk about his experience growing up Korean American and his journey as a writer.

Join us for this event at Hamilton Park! Meet us by the gazebo (center of park) for some library fun.

Masks are required for all participants above the age of 2. Social distancing will be respected.

Hamilton Park, 25 W Hamilton Pl, Jersey City, NJ 07302, https://goo.gl/maps/jC6rMveEBM3jTxz79

[library event link]

#페들러스타운의동양상점 Is a Thing

So it turns out that there has been some activity via Instagram for the past month or so for the Korean Everything Asian…

And here I thought I was the only one doing bookfies…

Some more bits from the web:

What a huge gift this book has been. Thank you, Atopos.

East Meets West

So here it is, the real thing. The cover has completely changed from the spec — I totally dig the 80s vibe!

The cover in full.

It so reminds me of my beloved old computer, the Commodore 64. I feel like I could step into the store here and play it as a game…

In a couple of days, my publisher will be at the Seoul International Book Fair with this book in tow. How cool is that? Turns out that dreams do come true, from time to time.

5/28, 2pm: Atlantic City Free Public Library

Next Saturday (May 28) at 2pm, I’ll be at the Atlantic City Free Public Library to do a reading/Q&A for Everything Asian and everything not Asian, too.  The nice folks at the library put together this nice flyer:

[in PDF]

So if you’re in the mood to gamble away your life savings, stop by the library before you do so.

Also, an advance notice — next month, on Saturday, June 12 between 1-5pm, BooksNJ 2011 will be held in Paramus, NJ.  In addition to myself, lots of fine authors will be in attendance, so mark it down in your calendars.

Self-Interview and Extra Chapter at TNB


The good folks at The Nervous Breakdown are currently featuring me on their home page and in the Fiction section for the following: