My 2015 in photos

It’s hard to believe 2015 is almost over. I can still remember New Year’s Eve last year when I took my kids out for ramen while Tom was working. It was a great year overall and filled with books and travel.

January

I visited more than a dozen book groups in 2015 and Skyped half a dozen more. It was so much fun, whether I knew the participants or not. My public library ordered a dozen copies of Good Chinese Wife for the specific use of local book groups. In January, I took this photo at my local library.

February

I was so honored to speak at my synagogue in February as a part of their 150th anniversary year. Besides talking about the story in Good Chinese Wife, I also spoke about raising my kids with Judaism and Chinese culture.

March

March was a big month. I traveled to Washington, DC and had a book event at the fabulous Hill Center.

In international news, Good Chinese Wife was labeled and shelved as a best seller at Changi Airport in Singapore!

April

This was another big month. I traveled to New York, where I had an event in Brooklyn, organized by my brother:

I was a guest author with Susan Minot and Karen Page in Darien, Connecticut at an American Association of University Women luncheon. Definitely one of my highlights as an author.

And I did an evening event at the Norwalk Public Library in Connecticut:

May

May would turn out to be revolutionary. What started as an innocent lecture and dinner with Shanghai residents and Art Deco experts, Patrick Cranley and Tina Kanagaratnam, turned into the trip of a lifetime. After meeting with them and hearing about the World Congress on Art Deco in Shanghai to be held six months later, I would be on my way to Shanghai for the first time in 20 years! June

I was the keynote speaker in June at the National Council of Jewish Women’s Chicago North Shore section’s annual luncheon. Although I signed copies of Good Chinese Wife, I spoke about the Jews of Shanghai.

July

I continued speaking at book groups even in the summer. This is a photo from one I visited in July. I just love meeting new people at book groups and am always impressed with ways people display Good Chinese Wife and treats to go with the book.

August

My mom took my daughter Rachel to London in August, so the rest of the family traveled to Minneapolis for several days. One of our favorite parts of the trip was visiting the Bakken Museum. This is the medicinal garden out back. Mr. Bakken invented the pacemaker, so the museum showcases early pacemakers, but also other electrical wonders.  

September

I participated in an author fair at the public library in Aurora, Illinois. Here I’m with novelist, Sonali Dev!

October

I finished October in my favorite city, Hong Kong!

November

November was huge. I returned to mainland China for the first time in almost 18 years and to Shanghai for the first time in 20. What better way to live it up than to attend the fabulous World Congress on Art Deco?

I also participated in the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, another career highlight.

December

December marked another milestone. Good Chinese Wife received its first foreign rights deal–in Italian! In this photo, I’m with my friend Nuria in April of 1993. We’re both in Chicago now and I just saw her today!

That will be a tough act to follow, but I’m excited to see what 2016 will bring.

Have a very happy new year with lots of good health and happiness!