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 🥹
I’m writing this to you while I’m in Seattle, visiting family, and then embarking on a writer’s retreat (more details to share in June). I just watched this incredibly touching video from author Ocean Vuong, talking about his latest book, The Emperor of Gladness, being chosen for Oprah’s Book Club. Please watch it (with tissues handy).
That video put me on an emotional roller coaster. The way he summed up books is how I feel as a reader and now author.
When I was a kid, my ahma (grandmother) lived with us. She didn’t know much English, but she asked me to teach her, so every day, I’d write a simple word down, like “hello,” and she would practice writing it.
What Vuong’s comments reminded me of was that time in my life. Even though she didn’t know how to read or write, my ahma strived to learn. She didn’t make it to see me become an author today, but somehow I think she knows.
I share this because my ahma taught me that we are never too old to learn. Watching her try every day to learn still inspires me. I hope it inspires you to realize that you are never too old to explore your curiosities, to approach each day with a sense of wonder, and to know that books can be the gateway for generations to come.
My Latest News 🥟
I finally get to share that Hangry Hearts was chosen for Once Upon a Book Club for their YA book club pick for April. The book box subscription company pairs each book with gifts that you open when you reach a certain page number. They sent me a complimentary box. And I was able to gift a box to newsletter subscriber Brittany R. I plan to re-read and open each gift to experience it fully.
Check Out This... ✨
TV SHOW: Season 2 of Survival of the Thickest (Netflix) is hilarious, fashion forward, part romance, and part love letter to friendships. Season two is binge-worthy and very re-watchable.
BOOK: My Government Means to Kill Me by Rasheed Newson is a gorgeous, heartbreaking, funny historical novel about being Black and queer in NYC in the 80s during the AIDS crisis. I loved learning about queer and Black history that I didn’t know.
ACTION STEP: I first learned about Protect My Public Media from W. Kamau Bell’s newsletter. I’m sharing it here because Mister Rogers spoke up for public media and now it’s our turn to save it on his behalf.
I'm Grateful For...
Time away. I got into a writing residency and right after I schedule this email, I’m going to unplug completely to finish a draft of my adult historical fiction novel. Signing out of social media and hiding the apps. Removing my email app from my laptop. Thanks to my in-laws, my husband, and a babysitter, I’m writing in the woods sans kids, sans internet, sans work. Before the retreat, I got to spend some time with my second cousin, her husband, and their amazing pup, Baloo!
Enjoy being unplugged. I can’t wait to read about your experience.
TY for this, as always! And for the heads up about s2 of Survival of the Thickest! Love this show! Have a wonderful residency!