Month: November 2014

Earlier this year, Kirkus Reviews gave Summoning the Phoenix a Starred Review, and I was already so grateful for that recognition.  Now I’m absolutely overwhelmed to see Summoning the Phoenix listed on Kirkus Reviews in the Best Children’s Books of 2014.

It’s a bit surreal to see my book listed among great books by authors whose works I have long admired like Christopher Paul Curtis, Patricia MacLaughlan, Naomi Shihab Nye, Joyce Sidman, Peter Sis, Shaun Tan, Jacqueline Woodson, and my Clarion instructor Neil Gaiman.  I’m over the moon that my little book about Chinese musical instruments would be in such amazing company.

Thank you, Kirkus Reviews!

When I first started composing choral songs, Rose Lemberg asked me to write music to accompany her fiery poem “Salamander Song.”  It was my first attempt at writing a solo with piano accompaniment.  I debuted the song at my concert and made a recording, and that was the end, or so I thought.  So when “Salamander Song” was accepted to be published for the Strange Horizons Annual Fundraising Drive, it was such a delightful bonus, but only if they made their fundraising goal of $10,500.

So it’s an exciting moment to share that Strange Horizons made their fundraising goal and has published “Salamander Song”!  Thank you to everyone who contributed!!

Read and listen to “Salamander Song” right now!

Music credits:  Emily Jiang, mezzo-soprano & Mary Tusa, piano