Five Japanese American women authors will be presenting their literary knowledge and recent books at the upcoming Tucson Festival of Books, once again at the University of Arizona mall on March 14 and 15.
Molly Hashimoto (nature artist/nonfiction)
“Molly Hashimoto teaches and leads plein air watercolor painting and printmaking workshops around the West, including at the North Cascades Institute, Yosemite Conservancy, Winslow Art Center, and Sitka Center for Art and Ecology. The author of five books including “Trees of the West,” “Birds of the West,” and most recently, “Wildflowers of the West,” she lives in Seattle. Her art has been published by Pomegranate Communications since 1985.”
Naomi Hirahara (mystery/historical drama)
“Naomi Hirahara is an Edgar Award winning author of multiple traditional mystery series and noir short stories. Her Mas Arai mysteries feature a Los Angeles gardener and Hiroshima survivor who solves crimes. Her first historical mystery, “Clark and Division,” which won a Mary Higgins Clark Award, follows a Japanese American family’s move to Chicago in 1944. She has also written a middle grade novel “1001 Cranes.” Her latest Japantown Mystery, “Crown City,” is set in 1903 Pasadena, California.”
Editor’s note: I’ve personally met Naomi over the years here at the TFB and enjoy her mystery books and books based on the WWII Japanese American internment.
Emiko Jean (adult/young adult fiction)
“Emiko Jean is a bestselling author of adult fiction, including “The Return of Ellie Black,” and young adult fiction, with newly released “Love Me Tomorrow” and “Tokyo Ever After.” Her books have been published in over 30 languages. She has been featured on Good Morning America as a GMA Book Club pick, by Reese Witherspoon as a young adult book club pick and in publications such as Marie Claire, Entertainment Weekly, Time, Cosmopolitan, Shondaland and Bustle. She lives in Washington state with her husband and two kids.”
Julie Kagawa (children’s books)
“Julie Kagawa is The New York Times bestselling author of “The Iron Fey,” “Blood of Eden,” “Talon,” “Shadow of the Fox,” and the Storm Dragons series. Born in Sacramento and raised in Hawaii, she grew up surrounded by ocean adventures, geckos and the occasional hurricane. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked as a professional dog trainer. Julie now lives in Kentucky with her husband and two energetic Australian shepherds.”
Sophia Terazawa (poetry/fiction)
“Sophia Terazawa is the author of three poetry collections, “Winter Phoenix,” “Anon,” and the forthcoming “Oracular Maladies,” a finalist for the 2023 Noemi Press Book Award. She has also published two chapbooks, “I Am Not a War” and “Correspondent Medley,” winner of the 2018 Tomaž Šalamun Prize. “Tetra Nova” is her first novel.”
Enjoy these authors. More info about the panels they will be participating in and their books are at Featured Authors link on the TFB website: https://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/?id=67
New this year – clear plastic bags required for author events, for added security. Bags will be free & available at several booths or at UA Campus Store (with purchase).