#AAPI writers

[departmentq]

[jerxiong]

Currently reading: "What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma" by Stephanie Foo (Ballantine Books, 2023)

This past week, I've been reading this whenever I have a break. Recommended to me by a colleague friend, I decided to dive in with no real sense of what this book would be about. Imagine my surprise when--after the author's note that warned me--the first part (of five) really detailed the abuse inflicted upon the author as a child and teen. I was really thrown by how awful, how intense, the violence was. And I kept reading, as the author encouraged. Despite how awful it was, it gets better.

I like that the explanations are easy to follow when the trauma theories start to get confusing or overwhelming. The voice is also very easy to read; I've been breezing through the chapters. I think the only thing that irks me is that, at times, the chapters will end on a "cliffhanger" kind of sentence or question that didn't feel necessary. It feels too much of the journalistic, click-bait titles, which I don't prefer. But that's not a huge deal. The chapters cover a lot of ground--from her childhood to high school to college to working life to current life. The pacing feels fast, but it doesn't feel too disjointed.

[stevenfact]

Support Indie AAPI Publishing!!

Hi, everyone!!! I know it's been a while (like many years...) and Steven/Ryan kinda dropped the bomb by being a very lame capitalist (boo). This is why it's awesome that you can now support very cool & awesome AAPI creatives who are NOT trying to swindle you (YAY!)

I've been volunteering at Slant'd, an indie nonprofit publisher focused on uplifting and sharing AAPI writers, artists, and creatives! Issue 06: Homecoming is a collection of heartwarming and provocatively told stories that unpack the different layers of home and the complex feelings and experiences that come with it. You can pre-order here (+ other cool rewards you can check out!) Kickstarter operates on an all-or-nothing basis, so please consider backing us today. BONUS: Since we’re a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, some of our rewards are tax-deductible! We also have corporate deals/bundles, so let me know if you're interested in your 9-5 supporting Slant'd!  Instead of supporting very sad ex-buzzfeed employees who are now apologizing on the couch, you can now support upcoming AAPI artists! BTW here's our IG if you want to check it out.

We're dangerously close to not hitting our goal :( so help us out by supporting our Kickstarter (you can donate from $1), signal boosting this post, and sharing more Slant'd content. Think of sharing this post like... if you don't reblog this post your worst enemy (Steven Lim) might haunt you with capitalist BS! And also we're accepting book proposals if you're an AAPI writer looking for a publisher!

[thesophiewhit]

PHONING FAUST -- A Sapphic Novel of Demonic Contracts, Demisexuality, and Yearning by me! A cool queer author ~

Are you LGBT+ or BIPOC or just REALLY LOVE BOOKS? Interested in being an ARC reader and reading a book and helping a fellow queer indie author out? (Pretty please? -- ARC links all the way at the bottom of this post (beneath the rainbow banner) for those who like Sapphic demon x human angst books ~)

AND LOOK AT THE CHARACTER ART OF MEMPHIS (BADASS DEMON) AND DIAN (HUMAN) BY MY ARTIST FRIEND SNAX

https://linktr.ee/artsnaxk

ABOUT ME

Demisexual?? Queer? Nonbinary? All these were magical words to me until it hit...

Oh-- that's me.

It took me a while to come out as queer, longer to come out as nonbinary, and then some more time to reconcile all this with being a mixed Indonesian kid. A dash of mental health, a sprig of figuring out asexuality and neurodivergence. But atop all that? One thing has been constant.

I've always been a writer.

That's some live footage of me summoning some forces to reign my characters in from being feral.

WHY I WROTE PHONING FAUST

Well, well, well, after years of battling imposter's syndrome, I did it. I wrote another book! It's called PHONING FAUST and it's getting published with queer indie publishing company @ninestarpress-blog because they're all cool and LGBT+ and super talented!

Why did I write PHONING FAUST?

What is... a Faust?

A Faustian bargain is what's popularly known as the devil's bargain. A usually losing situation or a trick where the devil tricks someone out of their soul in exchange for ULTIMATE POWER!

I rewrote Faust to be Sapphic as can be. It stars a mixed Indonesian lesbian named Dian Faust who battles depression tooth and nail and ends up calling a mental health crisis hotline. Bc... she's lonely.

PAUSE-- and this is a horror comedy. Comedy. COMEDY-- you might say?

WHY? HOW? Sounds sad and depressing, right?

WHAT'S FAUST?

Well... in the original retelling version of Goethe's Faust (who retold it from folklore etc etc) the main character of Dr. Faustus accidentally summons the devil or something when he too is about to consider the meaning of life and it gets sad bc he doesn't see one so he makes the devil's bargain FOR ULTIMATE POWER. Or something.

But in my version-- it's based off my experiences as a queer person. Before I had community. Before I understood and accepted myself-- I had a rough time. For a whole bunch of factors outside of that-- I didn't feel like my life was in a good place. And even worse-- I felt isolated.

THE PLOT

I didn't want to bother my friends with my problems. So-- I'd call the Trevor Project or a crisis hotline just to have somebody to talk to. In the same way-- Dian Faust is struggling with depression in the story I write. So she calls a hotline like the Trevor Project just to not be alone.

And guess who she finds?

A super hot genderfluid devil called MEMPHIS, short for Mephistopheles. A pierced and tatted punk rocker who has an interest for telling tall tales and serving Dian Faust's every wish and command! (No, not like that!)

Because Dian Faust, like me, is a mixed Indonesian kid trying to figure out what it means to be queer AND demisexual (finding attraction only after really getting to emotionally connect with someone and feeling, as I explain in the book, a lack of that before then for anyone). And she's figuring plenty out--- including how to save her immortal soul and her feelings for a certain genderfluid demon but if you want to know more-- YOU CAN BUT YOU HAVE TO SCROLL TO THE END OF THIS POST TO FIND OUT !

I wrote this book PHONING FAUST (coming out in 2025 sometime with NineStar Press btw. I have these books CATCH LILI TOO and WAKE THE DEAD also starring Sapphic demiace MCs if it's helpful while you wait!

I WROTE MORE QUEER BOOKS (if interested)! (ARC SIGN UP LINK IS STILL BELOW THIS ONE THO! > FOLLOW THE RAINBOW !!)

MY OTHER QUEER BOOKS: https://sophiawhittemore.com/books/ ) <3 <3 <3

I wrote PHONING FAUST (train of thought, sorry, that's the neurodivergence) because I wanted people to feel less alone.

I was, like Dian Faust and like a lot of people, a queer person who felt like I was on an island unto myself. I didn't know who to turn to-- so I turned to no one. By reaching out to hotlines (no hot devils unfortunately), I managed to get the help I needed to avoid making rash decisions-- to get the help I needed to get better. To take that first step.

PHONING FAUST is a novel that raises the importance of mental health and finding community, and most importantly, not giving up. As Dian Faust says in my upcoming book...

There are stars out there-- I had only to see it.

***

🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

🌈🌈🌈🌈ARC LINK SIGN UPS HERE 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

ARC LINK SIGN UPS IN LINKTREE <3

Want to be an ARC reader for this queer book starring a demisexual Sapphic couple and BIPOC cast?

Sign up here! : https://tr.ee/mWPM8I9Zev

***

Hmmm, demon contracts...now where might young 2010 emo me have heard that before... ? ?

[watchertvzine]

Watcher TV Zine is a non-profit e-zine, raising money for an AAPI charity in honor of Steven Lim

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Zine FAQ | Creator Interest Form

[tag list below]

tagging some blogs to help us get the word out! please reblog to help a fandom charity project <3

@dishgranted @fancybois @tolerateit @brunchcrush @steven–lim

@demonproofboi @wheezingghoulbois @worthitupdates

@all-zine-apps @welovezines @zine-scene

[juxtaposed-nerd]

aapi heritage month headcanons pt. 3 !!!

just in time for s3 of dndads, let’s get into it! this one will probs be a lot but so much has happened in the past year 😭

- taylor LOVES chinese new year, he looks forward to it every year as the favorite (only) child and he eats all the dumplings he could ever eat and gets tons of red envelopes

- cassandra and morgan become best friends/mother-daughter relationship vibes post-doodler, like they are the most badass and cool women in the world and i do think taylor grows to love morgan so much and even though his relationships with nick/glenn are strained, at least he has the best mom and grandma

- as a voice actor for anime/cartoons i think cassandra really did fall in love w the art of anime and i’d love for her to guest at a con (make her the j michael tatum of her world PLEASE) and taylor gets a free ticket to weeb out as much as he wants <3

- in my heart glenn is trying his best, like he really wants that closeness (haha) and i think now post-doodler it's like literally what started as a father/son duo of him and nick now is genuinely a huge (kinda fucked up) family that is trying to mend itself and i do think it starts with chinese takeout !!!

- sidenote i think the close/foster/swifts etc are a great example of how freddie has subverted asian stereotypes fr and also how a family stuck in an absent/neglectful cycle has the ability to come together again

- the mending includes hermie too, hermie definitely deserves something more in his life and the chance get to be a kid w a home in the form of a big family w his bio dads (his normal parents are invited too) (and i also love the idea of normal being like 'grandpa henry! this is the guy!' and hermie being an honorary oak would be so cute 😭)

- hermie went and saw joy ride (2023) bc it was marketed as a comedy and came out bawling his eyes out from that one scene y’all adoptees know what im talking about

- tbh thinking about taylor's closeness w his mom and francis's w kimon wan literally asian moms are holding this show together

- the farnsworth’s are thai and german and they came to peachyville at a young age to give their newborn son a better life very starting nuclear family vibes, ed definitely learned thai for her, and now their son is a bowling champ!

- francis farnsworth and taylor swift are lowkey the spectrum of asian upbringing where it's like midwest asians vs socal asians 😳🤭 they live in different worlds

- kimon wan is an immigrant mom just trying to raise her family and her damn son wont stop being a loser 🤦‍♀️ literally milf w a shotgun (ed is a lucky man FR) (sorry anthony burch)

- when francis is having a really tough day then kimon wan will leave a plate of cut up fruit at his door so he knows he's still supported

- luo's golden wok is the first and only chinese restaurant in peachyville and they have to have the best pepper steak ever im calling it now

- tony collette would love and hate both jodie and glenn i think for different reasons but instead of calling them formosans he’d call them orientals 💀

- also tony collette is 0.0001% asian (chinese) and tyrus luo either DEFINITELY knows which is why he puts up w all the bullshit tony does or tony is determined to make sure that tyrus NEVER finds out ever

- they have a 'throwback' silent movie night at the drive-in and they show a meryl streep film and literally everyone falls in love w him 🥰

- billion millions was a crazy rich asian and he was an icon

- once again they mean the world to me! might end up posting more at some point who knows lol

-

checkout past headcanons: 2022! 2023!

[gisellelivesunderabook]

Happy Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month!! Here are some AAPI book 📚 recs!! :3

[theoffingmag]

History can die, and disassemble, and decompose, and regrow, and rebuild, and rebecome. History exists simply because it once was—even without proof, without memory, without ruins.

Kyla-Yến Huỳnh Giffin, "Ngoại and the Coral Reef"

[micronsizedbean]

i miss the streets of Taipei, where the air was warm and heavy but the overcast sky made the sun gentle, and so the plants seemed to thrive on the curbside.

[itsmaddiebee]

ig: themaddiebee

[xxdreamscapes]

desktop tip: toggle *allow sound* for this blog

Will . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁| 25, he/they | southeast asian

posting: literature, art, architecture, the sea, clouds, film/tv, anime, clothing, music, film photography, video games, books, sanrio, cinnamoroll, hopecore you’ll also find: personal anecdotes, progress notes, opinions, wisdoms, and my newfound interest in writing poetry

about me & this blog: I’m a recent, first gen college grad and I’ve been songwriting since I was fifteen. This is where I find and display my inspiration, artistry, and other curiosities. My passion project, something I’ve been working on since I turned 18, is my first LP. It’s the first of my life’s work and I’m diligently working on her. I’ve written hundreds of songs over the years, some with other artists as well. My second project is mapped out, and I have ideas for future projects too. I try not to get too ahead of myself, I’m in no rush. I don’t desire fame or need the accolades. I just want to make art that I'm proud of, cute little music videos with my friends, and someday perform in arenas. I want to feel whole in my life and experience everything with gratitude. Even the shitty stuff.

One day, my artist pages will have my albums proudly displayed for all to hear. Right now, I’m working on unlearning perfectionism and trusting my vision and direction. I’m learning the in-and-outs of performing comfortably as well as cramming everything I possibly can about Logic Pro into my brain. Xx I really appreciate you being here, don’t be afraid to reach out ♥︎

[artistsonthelam]

On this day in 2022, I got interviewed by CanvasRebel! Thank you for the opportunity to tell my story! (Includes when I knew I wanted to pursue an artistic path professionally, my projects and inspirations, the mission driving my creative journey, and resilience.)

[jerxiong]

Another one finished! I'm quite proud that I can now switch my brain to focus when I'm listening to audiobooks. Just two years ago, that wouldn't have been possible because I felt so scattered. This feels like a good step. I think the ability to choose the reading speed has really helped. Instead of listening to this book for 11+ hours, I was able to finish the book (and still follow along) in 6 hours and 27 minutes.

This book is a traditional memoir in which I mean it's chronological, starting from her mother's time and her mother's life for a couple of chapters to explain why her mother is the way she is before transitioning into Putsata's life as a child, teen, and adult. I mentioned in another post, but I didn't know much about Khmer Americans. I knew a bit about the Killing Fields and the genocide, but not much about their lives afterward or their lives in the United States. Just as I started this book, I was reminded by a friend about how this year is the 50th anniversary of wars ending in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. It's quite an important year for Southeast Asian Americans.

This book reminded me of that not-so-distant past for my people and SEA Americans, the differences, but also the similarities. Putsata felt survivor's guilt over all the ones who died in the Killing Fields. I can't speak for other Hmong, but I definitely used to panic over the fact that my family and I are alive whereas many Hmong perished in the Secret Hmong. The guilt was there. And I understood the mindset of Putsata's Ma, even if I disagree.

I think this book really came together for me in the second half, in which the rupture between Put and her Ma occurred. I am interested in that kind of moment: Where do you go from that breaking? How do you heal? How do you reconcile? If your mother won't recognize all of you, how do you share joys and woes? These themes and questions resonated with me, as someone who have gone against my own culture...

The final chapters were a great way to end the book: a reflection on grace, on recognizing the flaws, the hurt, but also the good, the beautiful. The last line and those last few words took my breath away. Love, love that ending.

[byler-alarmist]

"Beef" is the best series I've watched in a long, long time. First time in a long time that I've cried after the credits stopped rolling

[saramossman]

My debut novel The Tree of Life is a #1 best seller today! Available for free till July 26th. Grab your copy now!

[watchertvzine]

Announcing the next artist for our 2024 Watcher TV Zine - @riyu-von-julai

Follow this artist on: Tumblr

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