Hot Asian Sales and More News

That title made you look didn’t it? Admit it. But I am NOT spamming, selling inappropriate body access or anything else. LOL

In this week’s Shelf Awareness, there are two news tidbits of interest to those of us interested in Asian Lit:

Unfortunate news from the Bodhi Tree Bookstore, West Hollywood, Calif.: the sale by longtime owners Stan Madson and Phil Thompson to Karuana Gatimu and Lori Cutler (Shelf Awareness, September 21, 2011) has fallen through because the offer was “rescinded,” the store said.

“We had invested a great deal of hope and optimism in the offer agreement that, after many months of planning and negotiation, has come to naught,” the owners wrote. “As a consequence, we have re-contacted interested parties in the business to explore opening a new dialogue. We will make every effort to keep the Bodhi Tree going in the community. If you know of anyone who has an interest and seems qualified to assume and continue the business, please contact us. Time is critical but we remain hopeful.”

Madson and Thompson have already sold the building in which the Bodhi Tree located. A new owner will need to move the store.

AND …

Though a freak snowstorm kept many New Yorkers from venturing out last Saturday afternoon, quite a few authors and book lovers made their way to the third annual Page Turner Festival, benefiting the Asian American Writers Workshop. Alexander Chee was there to drum up some advance buzz for “Hot Asian Singles,” an e-book imprint the AAWW hopes to launch early next year that will publish a mix of fiction and nonfiction in the 6,000-20,000 word range.

“Part of what’s driving this is a sense that there was work that had been overlooked by the regular outlets both for its content and its size,” Chee explained. “Digital publishing is a way for us to bring out this kind of work without the costs that used to weigh us down when doing earlier anthologies.” Proceeds from Hot Asian Singles will be split between the writers and the AAWW, and Chee suggested that the workshop’s earnings might eventually support print projects. The first titles in the program will be announced soon; check @HotAsianSingles at Twitter for details.

14 Responses to “Hot Asian Sales and More News”

1. Giora says:

   November 1, 2011 at 4:48 pm

   Thanks. Hopefully, one day they will allow non-Asians to get published in their new e-book.

   Reply
2. Natalie Aguirre says:

   November 1, 2011 at 10:23 pm

   Thanks for sharing. Bodhi Tree Bookstore looks awesome. Too bad about them.

   Reply
3. dora says:

   November 1, 2011 at 10:57 pm

   thanks for sharing!

   Reply
4. Victoria Dixon says:

   November 2, 2011 at 12:39 am

   Thanks for the comment, Giora. I wasn't under the impression, based on that article, that they're not focusing on publishing only Asians, but Asian topics.

   Yeah, the Bodhi looks fascinating. I hope they find a buyer.

   You're welcome, Dora! Thanks for dropping by!

   Reply
5. Giora says:

   November 2, 2011 at 9:10 pm

   Thanks Victoria. I sent them an e-mail asking for deatils about submission, and will let you know.

   Reply
6. Victoria Dixon says:

   November 2, 2011 at 9:40 pm

   Awesome idea and thanks for doing it, Giora!

   Reply
7. Misha says:

   November 4, 2011 at 12:59 pm

   Aw I hope Bodhi Tree will be able to find new buyers. 🙂

   Reply
8. Rachna Chhabria says:

   November 4, 2011 at 3:46 pm

   Thanks for the share, Victoria. Bodhi Tree Bookstore sounds good.

   Reply
9. Victoria Dixon says:

   November 5, 2011 at 12:28 am

   Thanks, Misha and Rachna!

   Reply
10. Medeia Sharif says:

    November 6, 2011 at 3:37 am

    I hope Bodhi Tree gets a new buyer.

    Hot Asian Singles sounds interesting.

    Reply
11. Amy L. Sonnichsen says:

    November 6, 2011 at 11:56 pm

    Thanks for this informative post, Victoria. I'm now following Hot Asian Singles on twitter. 🙂

    Amy

    Reply
12. Victoria Dixon says:

    November 7, 2011 at 12:16 am

    Thanks for the visits Medeia and Amy! And thanks very much for reminding me about their twitter account. I haven't followed them yet.

    Reply
13. J.L. Campbell says:

    November 7, 2011 at 1:48 pm

    Glad I came over to your blog. I enjoy books set in Asia. I'm about to start one by Laura Joh Rowland.

    Reply
14. Victoria Dixon says:

    November 7, 2011 at 2:38 pm

    I'm thrilled you came over, Ms. Campbell! I won't be posting today (this is my usual blog post day), but I'll have a review up on Wednesday of a book called "Postcards From Nam."

    Reply