On our last mid-month check in for 2023, we once again review the latest Asian American book and publishing announcements, as well as recap the latest book news including wishing a farewell to a beloved institution for diverse authors and drinking all the tea on the latest controversy to sweep book twitter!

Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:

• The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave
• Nice to Meet Eat You by Karen Yin; illust by Carolina Coroa
• Cookies and Crescents: An Eid Story by Nada Shawish Dutka; illust by Zelma Firdauzia
• Bing’s Cherries by Livia Blackburne; illust by Julia Kuo
• To Have and Have More by Sanibel Chai
• Princess Bulldog by Lovi Goyal Yu; illust by Stephanie Laberis
• Embrace the Serpent by Sunya Mara
• So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
• The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste
• To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X Chang
• Voyage of the Damned by Frances White
• Mistress of Lies by KM Enright 
• Gods of Hunger by R.M. Virtue

News stories covered on this episode:

• Cait Corrain Controversy
• DVpit announces indefinite hiatus

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On this episode, we chat with author K-Ming Chang about her latest novel, Organ Meats, a story about two childhood friends, Anita and Rainie, who realize that they’re descended from dogs and connected by a red string of fate. Years after moving away, Rainie returns to her hometown to find her friend lost in a dream and sets out to rescue her. We chat with K-Ming about how she became a novelist, as well as the inspirations behind her writing style that steeped in Chinese folklore and metaphor.

Check out K-Ming’s latest novel, Organ Meats, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!

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We have a little pre-thanksgiving treat for you all! Recently, Reera & Marvin had the pleasure to guest on a fellow book podcast The Novel Tea, hosted by Neha and Shruti, to chat about the modern classic Pachinko.

If you like what you hear, remember to subscribe to The Novel Tea on your favored podcatcher!

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We had so much to say about Pachinko that we had to record a part 2! Joining us on this episode are special guests Marvin and Reera from Books & Boba. We talk to them about their podcast and mission, and get to hear more about Asian diaspora stories and their impact.  

In continuing our discussion on Pachinko, we talk about themes of wealth and opportunity, generational trauma, and relate these to some of our own family’s struggles. We talk more about Min Jin Lee’s process in writing this book, and we also share our unfiltered opinions on the Apple TV adaptation. 

Books mentioned:

Straw Dogs of the Universe by Ye Chun

Banyan Moon by Thao Thai

Sorcerer of the Crown by Zen Cho

The Magical Language of Others by E.J. Koh

On our mid-month check in for November 2023, we review the latest Asian American book and publishing announcements, as well as follow up on the recent Scholastic book fair controversy as well as checking in on the latest literary awards!

Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:

• We Will Go to Jinju by Grace M. Cho
• The Typing Lady and To Live for Now by Ruth Ozeki
• Tea Is Love written by Adib Khorram; illust by Hanna Cha
• Mustafa’s Mithai by Sana Rafi; illust by Nabi H. Ali
• Badge Quest by Guy Kopsombut
• Pig Town Party by Lian Cho
• A Hanbok for Hana by Korena Di Roma Howley; illust by Jaime Kim
• Aloha Everything by Kaylin Melia George; illust by Mae Waite
• Chang’e on the Moon by Katrina Moore; illust by Cornelia Li
• The Salt Princess by Anoosha Syed
• If You’re Reading This, I’m Dead and The Comment Section by Arvin Ahmadi 
• Somewhere in the Gray by Michelle Jing Chan
• Inside the Compost Bin by Melody Sumaoang Plan; illust by Rong Pham & Vinh Nguyen
• Dreamslinger by Graci Kim
• Made for More by Chloe Ito Ward; illust by Gael Abary

*Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*