The sound of ocean waves calls to the human soul in a primal language translated by the heart. Every time I visit the seaside I remember what it is to be alive, to exist on this small, aching world. So pleased to have taken part in the Alderney Literary Festival and to have had the chance to recharge my head, my heart, my soul on this beautiful island. Nature reminds us life is beautiful.
This Saturday, 22 September is the Milton Keynes Literary Festival and I’m very much looking forward to this event. Join me for a Book Club talk about White Chrysanthemum. We’ll discuss the book, ‘comfort women’, haenyeo divers, Hana and Emi, and I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have about writing, publishing, and first books (and the trials of writing the second)! More info here: MKLITFEST
I’m here on this cold, drizzly day anticipating this wonderful event tonight with Wu Ming-Yi and Lee Randall. When I was a student writing my novel, I had no idea of the life that awaited me. I’m so pleased to be here, honored to be among so many brilliant writers, and humbled by this beautiful event. ‘Digging into Trauma’ is an apt title for our session as both our novels travel far below the comfort of normal lives, venturing into the grief stricken, the lost and the painful. Within those lives there are also moments of beauty, love and sometimes forgiveness. It is in these lives we can hope to one day find peace.
Arrive a bit early to listen to us read writing from survivors of torture. This important event highlights true stories from real people suffering today.
I’ll be at the Edbookfest this year to talk about my book, White Chrysanthemum, along with Wu Ming-Yi and his wonderful book, The Stolen Bicycle. I’ll also be supporting Amnesty International’s Imprisoned Writers Series by reading from the work of Freedom From Torture survivors, along with Antti Tuomainen. Details for both events are below:
Sunday, 19 August 2018, 7:00pm
Edinburgh International Book Festival
DIGGING INTO TRAUMA
Heartbreaking family sagas are played out against the backdrop of social revolution in the nail-biting historical dramas by Mary Lynn Bracht and Wu Ming-Yi. Set in Korea, Bracht’s White Chrysanthemum features two sisters suddenly separated by war while Wu’s The Stolen Bicycle has a novelist tracking the mystery behind his father’s disappearance when he was a boy.
Vote for White Chrysanthemum by Mary Lynn Bracht in the First Book Award.
Location: Baillie Gifford Corner Theatre, 7:00-8:00pm
WOMEN EMPOWERING WOMEN
Every survivor of torture has different needs. Freedom from Torture offers counselling and therapeutic creative writing services in centres across the UK. Today’s writing reflects ideas of sisterhood and female rights and comes from Freedom from Torture survivors. Reading the work are Mary Lynn Bracht and Antti Tuomainen.
Part of our Freedom and Equality series of events.
Baillie Gifford Corner Theatre, 5:30-6:15pm
FREE: Tickets available from the Box Office on the day of the event
What does freedom mean to you? The Edinburgh International Book Festival’s young programmers, Codename F, have been exploring different aspects of Freedom and now they want to hear from you! Send them your thoughts and see them displayed in their specially curated Freedom to be Heard event at the Book Festival on 14 August. Find out how you can get involved here: bit.ly/FreedomCallout
I am ecstatic that I will be at the Saint-Maur en Poche Literary Festival in France this weekend, 23-24 June, where I will sign copies of Filles de la Mer, the brilliant French edition of White Chrysanthemum. Check out their website to see the many, many amazing French and international authors who will be there. Many thanks to La Griffe Noire for supporting my novel! My book signing sessions are below:
Saturday, 23 June 14:30-16:30 and Sunday, 24 June 10:00-12:00
Mary Lynn Bracht 