LOS ANGELES TIMES FESTIVAL OF BOOKS SIGNING THIS SATURDAY APRIL 26, 2025 AT 11 AM PT! Join Yoo and authors ROSE KWON EASTON, ANN SUK WANG, and SUSIE YI at the Korean Books & Culture Experience Booth #304! Yoo will sign RISING FROM THE ASHES on Saturday April 26 at 11 AM!
Yoo are honored to be signing with awesome authors Rose, Ann, and Susie. In fact, I did a blurb for Ann Suk Wang’s new book illustrated by HANNA CHA, entitled THE HOUSE BEFORE FALLING INTO THE SEA (Dial Books, 2024). I wrote: “Set during the Korean War, Wang’s story is a timeless example of how, amidst heartbreak, hope will always arise.”
Yoo love being a part of the annual LA Times Book Festival since it first began in 1996. I’ve spoken on panels for many of my books since my debut nonfiction children’s picture book SIXTEEN YEARS IN SIXTEEN SECONDS: THE SAMMY LEE STORY (Lee & Low Books 2005) to today. I spoke last year at a panel about my YA nonfiction book about the 1992 Los Angeles uprising, RISING FROM THE ASHES (Norton Young Readers 2024). And my YA nonfiction book about Vincent Chin, FROM A WHISPER TO A RALLYING CRY (NYR 2022) was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in 2022. (Link: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2022-04-22/veronique-tadjo-diane-seuss-adam-schiff-among-winners-of-the-l-a-times-book-prizes)
For more information on this year’s book fest, go here: https://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/
UPCOMING EVENTS
DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY: SATURDAY MAY 3, 2025 (3 PM MT): Join Yoo for a Zoom event with the Denver Public Library. Link for event info here: https://denverlibrary.libcal.com/event/14301825
Author Talk: Paula Yoo on Rising from the Ashes
Are you a history buff? Interested in learning more about civic engagement, activism and protesting? Join us at the newly remodeled Pauline Robinson branch for a lively discussion about all of the above featuring a virtual visit from award winning YA author Paula Yoo in conversation with a teen from the mayor’s Youth Advisory Council. Please bring your questions and be prepared to discuss Rising from the Ashes Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire. This event is part of Denver Public Library’s Read. Awareness. Dialogue. Action. (R.A.D.A.) a book discussion series providing a safe space to discuss some of the issues and movements of the day with respect and compassion. We will be reading to raise our social consciousness; to exchange ideas, understandings, and experiences; and to discuss actions individuals and communities can take to address problems we are facing.
(Thank you again to my booking agency THE AUTHOR VILLAGE for arranging this visit. For more info on how to book Yoo for future visits, please go here: https://theauthorvillage.com and https://theauthorvillage.com/presenters/paula-yoo/)
SEOUL FOREIGN SCHOOL: MAY 30, 2025
Yoo are back on the road in late May to speak at my alma mater Seoul Foreign School’s graduation ceremony as Alumna of the Year.
2025 ANNUAL ALA CONFERENCE: JUNE 26-30, 2025
I’ll also be attending the ALA Conference in Philadelphia this June to receive my 2025 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award. (For more info: https://www.ala.org/news/2025/01/rising-ashes-los-angeles-1992-edward-jae-song-lee-latasha-harlins-rodney-king-and-city and https://2025.alaannual.org)
#AMWRITING CATCAVE
Finally, if you read my last blog, you know we recently adopted a fourth black and white cat who we named Rocky. Well, let’s just say… owning one cat is like owning one cat. Owning two cats is like having two cats. Three cats = three cats.
FOUR cats? It’s like having FOUR MILLION cats in the house. The exponential spike in food and cat litter has been overwhelming! HA!
So far, the boys are getting along great. Here’s me with Rocky and his new brothers Oreo and Beethoven. Baby sister Charlotte is still hissy around Rocky but we hope they will finally get along soon. Yoo hope to have all four cats in one picture soon!
Speaking of cats, it’s time to retire to the #AmWriting Catcave. Until my next update, remember… WRITE LIKE YOU MEAN IT! #WriteLikeYooMeanIt