Welcome to Joy Ride, a monthly dose of joy, good things, creativity prompts, and gratitude by writer Jennifer Chen. If you like it, please share this newsletter with someone who might like it too.
Your Pep Talk 🌟
Today, I brought lunch to a friend to celebrate her birthday (hi, Sophia!). We sat outside, ate our sandwiches, and snuggled with her pup. I told her about the adult historical novel I’m drafting about LA’s Chinatown. I gave her a brief overview of my book and the history involved.
It’s a strange feeling, I told Sophia, to write this book and channel my angers and frustration about what is happening now with immigration and birthright citizenship. I got home later and watched this speech from the powerful Sheryl Lee Ralph, who at 68-years-old received her much deserved Hollywood Walk of Fame star. You can see and hear her speech here.
At a time when history is being erased, books are being banned, human and civil rights are under attack, the arts are not a luxury. The arts are a lifeline: they remind us who we are when others try to forget.
—Sheryl Lee Ralph, receiving her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
I needed to hear her words and remember that the arts are important, vital, and life-affirming. If you’re a creative person, please hold onto that spirit and write that book, share that story, knit some scarves, sew that shirt, cook some damn good food, and know your contributions are valuable.
GIVEAWAY TIME!
Hello, my lovely subscribers! I have some fun giveaways this month in honor of my birthday. Please enter to win one of these prizes by filling out this form. I’ll pick winners on May 1.
My Latest News
Join me on Instagram Live on April 27 at 9am PST with author @elizabetheulberg, discussing Hangry Hearts.
I’ll be on a panel at the LA Times Festival of Books on April 27 at 12:30pm at USC. It’s a ticketed event.
On May 3 at 4pm, I’ll be teaching a FREE writing workshop for teens with author Veronica Bane at LitFest in the Dena.
On May 4 at 4pm, I’ll be on a panel with amazing AAPI romance writers at Bel Canto Books in Long Beach. Reserve tickets here.
Check Out This...
MOVIE: Sinners. I’ll be the first to admit that I am a huge scaredy cat when it comes to horror movies, but give me Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan and I’m there. I don’t know how to describe this movie succinctly, but I’ll say that I’m still thinking about it and am happy I saw it.
POEM: “Gate A-4” is a beautiful piece by poet Naomi Shihab Nye that filled my heart with hope. Thanks to Sophia for sharing it with me!
FUNDRAISER: Lift 4 Autism is an online auction to raise funds for Kulture City, a national organization serving the autism community. I donated a signed copy of HANGRY HEARTS. Auction ends on April 27.
I'm Grateful For...
The kitten nursery! I volunteer at Best Friends Animal Society in the kitten nursery and kitten season has begun.
I bottle fed this teeny tiny gray kitten who was so little (about 10 days old). I put ointment on another kitten’s paws who had some sores on his front feet. And I syringe-fed a 3-week-old kitten who needed some extra calories. Honestly, being a small part of their journey is pure joy to me.
I look forward to your newsletters — and to your generous giveaways!
Beautiful. Thank you for celebrating my birthday, for the encouragement in this post, and for sharing so much of yourself.