On meeting Min Jin Lee, the author of Pachinko
"I do things because they have to get done." - Min Jin Lee
PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL NEWS
On May 6th, I will be in NYC for the 2025 Lukas Prizes Award Ceremony at Columbia Journalism School. Adam Lowenstein at The Ink interviewed me about Life and Death of the American Worker. The illustrated letters Maurice Sendak, the author of Where the Wild Things Are, wrote to my mom, have been acquired by the New York City Public Library Archives. This summer, I will work as the managing editor of News 21, a national reporting initiative headquartered at the Cronkite School in Phoenix, AZ, which brings top journalism students from across the country to report and produce in-depth, multimedia projects for major media outlets, including The Washington Post, NBC News and USA Today.
I feel overwhelmed by the number of projects I must finish in May. But I was lucky to hear Min Jin Lee, author of Pachinko and Free Food for Millionaires, speak at the Unbound Book Festival in Columbia, Missouri. Jin Lee talked about art as an act of resistance. She said that both of her books were written without agents or contracts. On the day she published Pachinko, her husband lost his job, and he provided their family with health insurance. Of publishing Pachinko, which is considered one of the 100 best books of the 21st century, she said, “This book that I wrote without an agent, without a publisher, without a contract, I did it because I love my people.” She published her first novel at 38, her second at 48, and will publish her third next year at 57.
After hearing Min Jin speak, tears still in my eyes, I stood in line with hundreds of students and families and waited hours to get my book signed.
While waiting in line, I made friends, ate snacks, and read the acknowledgments of Free Food for Millionaires and Pachinko. I love finding out how books are made and who supports them.
May we all experience the humanity of waiting in line to meet an author, writer, painter, or poet we admire,
Alice
I think poets are geniuses because they get an entire world in 12 words. But they get no love. We have to give them love. - Min Jin Lee
So nice to read an update, Alice. Congratulations, once again. Walter Cronkite was my first, real newscaster of choice. I long for the days of ethical journalism, and refuse to give up hope. He was stupendous and dearly thought of. Such an honor for you!
My eyes misted up when you wrote about waiting in line. Years ago, my firstborn daughter was an avid fan of Mary Martin, the author of, The Babysitter Club, books. We learned she was visiting Dallas on a book tour while living in the Tulsa area. We drove down, waited in line for quite some time, and I photographed my daughter with Ms. Martin. Glorious moment!
Don’t forget to breathe deeply, eat right and exercise. May is filled, but you are in my thoughts and I know you will succeed.
❤️