Registration for this event has closed. A recording is available on the JASC Youtube channel at https://youtu.be/LWalx87v3lc

Both authors have published books in 2020 that incorporate themes of Japanese American heritage, and we will be talking about their books, their experiences as writers, and the impact their cultural identity has had on their lives.  You are strongly encouraged to read both books ahead of this event!

About the authors:

Susan Ueha was born in Hawai’i to parents of Okinawan descent.  She moved to Chicago when she was three, completed degrees at Northern Illinois University and the University of Illinois, Chicago, and enjoyed a long career as an architect prior to becoming an author.

Her first book, a memoir, is now available in paperback and eBook. Starting with her childhood and going into her post-retirement years, Susan explores her heritage, connection to cooking, her career as an architect, her family life, and more in Cooking for Her Eyes: Transcription of a Sonata, A Story of Music, Food, Love, and Death. Check out Susan’s new website, Cooking For Her Eyes and her blog, The Art and Architecture of Puree.

Kelly Fumiko Weiss is a member of the Chicago Writers Association and the author of the novels The Stories We Choose Not To Tell and The Cube. She is also an author on channillo.com and co-host of the podcast Women Know IT. Kelly earned a B.A. from Boston University (CAS ’03) and an M.A. from The University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration (’05). Her career has centered around IT management in the education/nonprofit sector. She currently manages the IT department at a large non-profit organization. She lives in Chicago with her husband and daughter.

Her new novel, The Stories We Choose Not To Tell, was published earlier this year and tells the story of three generations of Japanese American women and the ripple effects the Japanese incarceration camps have had on their family. Loosely based on her own family’s experiences with her grandmother’s time at Amache and her personal journey with mixed race identity, she aims to bring the events of the past into the present and tell a contemporary Japanese American story. This book is also a love letter to perseverance and using what power you have to make a difference.  Check out Kelly’s website at www.kellyfumikoweiss.com.

Read the books:

Order copies of these wonderful books through a local, independent bookstore to support small businesses and keep your consumer dollars circulating in your community, wherever you are.  You can locate an indie bookseller easily through Indiebound.org, and many offer online ordering and convenient shipping or pick-up options.

The JASC Legacy Center library also has two copies of each book.  Anyone is welcome to visit the JASC office at 4427 N. Clark St. to read a non-circulating copy in the library, and JASC members are eligible to check out a circulating copy to read at home.  Contact the Legacy Center Director by email or phone (773-275-0097 ext. 222) if you are interested in either of these options.