3:00 - 4:00
Join us for an exciting author talk featuring Ryka Aoki, author of Light From Uncommon Stars, in conversation with Julia Vee. Aoki’s novel blends fantasy, science fiction, and music, following the journey of Katrina Nguyen, a transgender violinist, and Shizuka Satomi, a legendary music teacher with a dark secret. Their lives intersect with Lan Tran, a donut shop owner and intergalactic refugee, as they navigate themes of identity, love, and transformation.
Aoki, an award-winning poet, composer, and novelist, will discuss Light From Uncommon Stars, sharing insights into the creative journey behind the book. Julia Vee, a celebrated writer and co-author of Ebony Gate, will lead the conversation. Don’t miss this opportunity to dive into the world of Aoki’s novel and hear from two talented authors about their work and inspiration.
Ryka Aoki (she/her) is a poet, composer, teacher and novelist. Her latest novel, Light From Uncommon Stars, was an Alex, SCKA and Otherwise Award winner and was also a finalist for the Hugo, Locus, and Ignyte Awards.
Ryka is a two-time Lambda Literary Award finalist for her collections Seasonal Velocities and Why Dust Shall Never Settle Upon This Soul and her first novel, He Mele a Hilo, was called one of the "10 Best Books Set in Hawaii" by Bookriot. She has been recognized by the California State Senate for “extraordinary commitment to the visibility and well-being of Transgender people” and her work has appeared or been recognized in publications including Vogue, Elle, Bustle, Autostraddle, PopSugar and Buzzfeed, as well as the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. She was also honored to work with the American Association of Hiroshima Nagasaki A-Bomb Survivors, where two of her compositions were adopted as the organization’s “songs of peace.”
She has an MFA in creative writing from Cornell University and is currently a professor of English at Santa Monica College.
Julia Vee was a trial lawyer in Silicon Valley for over two decades. She still makes stuff up for a living. She attended U.C Berkeley and majored in Asian Studies. A graduate of Viable Paradise, she often writes with co-author Ken Bebelle. They have penned over 10 novels together. Their novel Ebony Gate, an Asian-inspired contemporary fantasy, was published by TOR and named a 2023 Golden Poppy Finalist for the Octavia E. Butler award.
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