Taiwan writer shines at Brooklyn Book Festival

2023/10/03

Taiwan author Kevin Chen featured at Brooklyn Book Festival’s Festival Day and Literary Marketplace in New York City Oct. 1, becoming the first local writer to participate in the literary event with a translated work, according to the Ministry of Culture.
 
Alongside Japan- and Mexico-based authors Yu Miri and Gerardo Samano Cordova, Chen spoke on characters marginalized by sexual orientation and societal norms at a panel discussion titled “Of Spirits and Monsters,” the MOC said.
 
The English-language edition of Chen’s novel “Ghost Town” was released in the U.S. in October 2022 by independent trade publisher Europa Editions. The story is set in his hometown in central Taiwan’s Changhua County and unfolds through the perspectives of Chen family members both alive and dead as it unveils secrets and superstitions that result in a traumatic clash of cultures.
 
According to the MOC, “Ghost Town” is set to be published in 11 languages. The English version made the New York Times’ autumn book list and Library Journal’s Best of World Literature category, the ministry said, adding that the novel was even reviewed by French newspaper Le Monde Sept. 3.
 
In partnership with the MOC’s culture centers in the U.S., Chen has given over 30 lectures in locations across North America to promote his work. He is currently a fall resident writer in Iowa University’s 2023 International Writing Program, with sponsorship from the U.S. State Department.
 
The Brooklyn festival has been running since 2006 and is one of NYC’s largest free literary celebrations. This year’s nine-day event wraps up Oct. 2.


Source: Noticias de Taiwan (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)