The third edition of the Viet Book Fest is scheduled for May 5 at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA. The Vietnamese American Arts and Letters and Association (VAALA) is presenting this event to celebrate Vietnamese diasporic literature. Admission is free and open to the public.
The Viet Book Fest will include author meet-and-greets, book signings, and a dedicated section to purchase books. According to the media release, the panels included in this year’s event include:
Picturing Community: Graphic Novels and Picture Books
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
This panel will feature a lineup of four illustrators, graphic novelists, and authors. Illustrator LeUyen Pham will speak about her book “Lunar New Year Love Story,” Thien Pham will speak about his graphic narrative “Family Style.” Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen and illustrator Minnie Phan will speak about their story, “Simone.” In this panel, the creators will explore the art of visual storytelling, capturing diverse communities and fostering intergenerational understanding. The panel will be moderated by UCLA Professor Thuy Vo-Dang, and there will be a book signing/meet-and-greet after the panel discussion.
Unleashed: Young Authors Telling Stories
1 p.m. – 2:30 pm
This panel will explore the unique perspectives and experiences that shape contemporary storytelling from the next generation of Vietnamese diasporic authors. Joining this panel are Brandon Hoàng with his debut novel “Gloria Buenrostro Is Not My Girlfriend,” Carolyn Huynh with her multi-narrative novel “The Fortunes of Jaded Women,” Christina Vo and her father, Nghia M. Vo, with their dual memoir, “My Vietnam Your Vietnam.” The panel will be moderated by Los Angeles Times Community Engagement Editor Anh Do, and there will be a book signing/meet-and-greet after the panel discussion.
Tiếng Việt Còn: Publishing and Preserving Vietnamese-Language Literature
2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.
In partnership with damau.org, this panel will explore the challenges and opportunities in publishing Vietnamese literature and strategies for preserving its cultural nuances. Authors Đặng Thơ Thơ, Nguyễn Hoàng Nam, and Bùi Vĩnh Phúc will speak about fostering Vietnamese literary and language heritage. The panel will be moderated by UC Irvine Linguistics and Vietnamese Professor Tri C. Tran, and there will be a book signing/meet-and-greet after the panel discussion.
Book Market Event
4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Six authors will discuss their latest books at the book market event, sharing insights into various genres and themes.
To RSVP for the event, you can visit: http://bit.ly/VietBookFest2024
For more information on Viet Book Fest, you can visit https://vaala.org/viet-book-fest-2024/
