Student Literary Encounters

Students throughout America have been relishing Sweet Mandarin for their lessons in English Literature and World Literature. It was wonderful to visit some of these young readers and share my story and meet with budding authors. I was inspired by their enthusiasm and inquisitive questions. As America approaches new economic, social and spiritual crossroads, the next chapter of America’s epic story will be written by this generation.

On my journey travelling around schools, I asked the question, “Tell Me About Your Roots”. I believe you can only progress forward if you know where you came from and what you stand for.

Sweet Mandarin is my story about my roots. It tells the story of three generations of Chinese women (my grandmother, mother and me) and our journey from East to West. Its a sad story that ultimately tells a journey of survival against the odds. In essence, if I can achieve my dreams, so too can you.  As the Chinese proverb on the front of my book states “A Journey of A Thousand Miles Starts With One Step.”

Thank you to all the students, schools, librarians, teachers and parents in America, for listening and appreciating my story.

NAAAP (The National Association of Asian American Professionals) invited Helen Tse to address their twenty second annual convention with representation from over 25 states in the USA.  NAAAP’s slogan is “We Make Leaders!” and in particular Brad Baldia (elected president for 2009) and John Fok (current president 2008) were great role models who are really making a difference in enhancing their members’ careers and in the community.

Founded in 1982, NAAAP now has a presence in more than 25 cities in the US and Canada. With more than 3,000 active members, their message of leadership and professional excellence reaches over 20,000 Asian Americans in North America.

NAAAP embraced Helen and her debut book Sweet Mandarin. Her family’s story of struggle and overcoming adversity inspired the audience to never give up even in times of difficulty. Barnes and Noble kindly supported the book launch after the speech.

“Helen’s speech was inspiring and left the audience members wanting to return to their roots and being proud of their heritage”

For more information go to www.naaap.org

Other Dates for your Diary to meet Helen and Lisa Tse in person

6 September 2008 7.30pm – midnight – LISA TSE is the keynote speaker for Association of Chinese Financial Professionals in UK (ACfPU). (Location: Chartered Accountants’ Hall, 1 Moorgate Place, EC2R 6EA (nearest station: Bank/Moorgate))

18 September 2008 6pm – 8pm – LISA TSE is the Keynote Speaker for the a1a Women in Leadership Seminar. (Location: Thistle Hotel, 3-5 Portland Street,  Manchester, M1 6DP)

25 September 7pm – HELEN TSE is the Keynote Speaker and will launch her book in Michigan (Location: Okemos Library, 4321 Okemos Road, Michigan)

BBC One

17 September 2008 7pm – BBC One -Inside Out – a documentary on one of the oldest Chinese families in the North of England and the first Chinese woman to set up a Chinese restaurant, Lily Kwok. It tells the moving story of the three generations behind the award winning restaurant, Sweet Mandarin.

Dear Friends,

Finally, we have launched in America and Canada. It is such a pleasure to share our family story with yourselves. I hope you will support my family and buy a copy of the book. It is available at all good bookshops (a Barnes and Noble’s Great New Writer’s Selection) and also online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble or the sites on www.sweetmandarin.com/book.html

I want to thank you for your kind words of support that have been flooding in today and look forward to your book reviews on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and bookclub sites.

Best wishes

Helen Tse

Some breakthrough news on Day 67 to the USA Launch…

My publishers St Martin’s Press emailed and were estatic saying – This is Huge!

I was pleasantly surprised to receive an email from them on Saturday (overtime) and even more in shock when they said my book had been chosen by Barnes and Noble in the Top 8 for Great New Writers Fall 2008. Barnes and Nobles receives thousands of titles, so to have caught their attention, for their people to have read the galley and to have placed it in their Top 8 for the Fall 2008 (when all the big hitting authors are released is a real honour.

Good news for you too – the result of this: Sweet Mandarin will be at the front of Barnes and Noble stores nationwide and the book will be discounted at a special 20% discount. Please tell your friends and networks – support the book and buy from Barnes and Noble.

You can also buy online at www.barnesandnoble.com