TWG Interviewed by Local News

During the Taipei International Book Expo back in February, our booth was visited by Christie Chen, a staff reporter with CNA, a state-owned news network here in Taiwan. She was interested in our books and Taipei Writers’ Group in general, and took away a couple of our books.

She also also kind enough to attend our book launch at Yue Yue & Co. on February 22nd, where she spoke to several other writers and set up some interviews.

Some of the details of these interviews (with Pat Woods, J.J. Goodwin, and C.K. Hugo Chung), as well as a few live recordings of our readings that night, can be found on CNA’s website here:

http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aedu/201803160013.aspx

TIBE 2018 & Yue Yue Launch Party

It’s been a busy February for the Taipei Writers’ Group!

From February 6 to February 11, the group manned a booth at the Taipei International Book Expo (TIBE), selling anthology works and works by individual TIBE members. On Feb 24, we had an official launch party for Taiwan Tales Vol. 2, as well as Forms of Formosa, the group’s first poetry collection.

Taipei Writer’s Group launches new anthology; Critics call it, “The most important book of our time.”

by Laurel Bucholz

        Voodoo doughnuts was hopping on the evening of Saturday, October 1st, as the Taipei Writer’s Group launched their newest creation, Twisted Fairy Tales, an anthology for adults. Lines wrapped around the block as fans of TWG waited with bated breath to get their hands on the book one critic proclaimed as, “the most important work of fiction since Kafka’s Metamorphosis.”

         Tensions were high as fans understood that there were only a limited number of books available, and some were even desperate enough to attempt violence to obtain a copy.

         CK Hugo Chung was the diva host of the evening, rivaling the likes of Angelina Jolie for top diva status as he modeled his fairy tale costume designed by Vera Wang.

         As the audience took their seats, Jenny, ‘J.J.’ Green was called to read an excerpt from her Carrie Hatchett novels, which prompted every audience member to get on their phones and order the series. Some even fainted as if she were a member of the Beatles. Thankfully no one was hurt.

          Unfortunately, anthology participant Laurel Bucholz tripped on her princess dress while approaching the stage and fellow writer L.L. Phelps was forced to cover her ass and read two story excerpts. The crowd was at their feet cheering at Ms. Phelps’ public speaking capabilities. She was certainly the hero of the evening.

          Hugo McGlinchey, Patrick Whalen, Brian Quentin Webb, and Emily Brooks’ readings were so successful, some fans had to be removed for trying to touch the writers, in hopes that some of their essence would rub off on them.

         Up next was writer Whitney Zahar who brought a special guest to accompany her story – a version of Sleepy Hollow. The audience gasped as Edgar Allan Poe walked in to do the sound effects on her reading. Literary members were more confused as to why Poe was there instead of Washington Irving, than they were seeing a ghost act as a foley artist.

          As the confusion settled, Brad Williams – who was the most beautiful woman in the room that night – walked up to the stage and gave a rousing sermon about the falsity of free will, to which the audience was confused and angered as they came for a book launch…

There was a moment when the audience became sad as CK Hugo announced that TWG anthology contributing writers Pat Woods, Erisa Apantaku, and Nick Vaky weren’t going to be able to make it. Short lived sadness was changed into elation as the trio of authors managed to be the first humans ever to use a teleportation device they had jointly invented together just to be at the event. The light from the floor beamed almost as bright as their personalities as each of them read their excepts from the anthology that another critic proclaimed, “Stephen King’s writing seems like a tenth grader’s compared to TWG’s  Twisted Fairy Tales – though he is only one man, and they had nine brilliant brains. Maybe that’s an unfair comparison? Nah, screw that – it’s fair.”

           Finally, as the excitement was winding down, it was time to give out TWG’s raffle prizes. Third prize was a box of calorie-free doughnuts that still tasted like the real thing – won by the talking squirrel named ‘Mr. Squeakers’, who also purchased four copies of the book.  Second prize was a beer – which was mistakenly drunk by an audience member when the establishment ran out of alcohol. First prize was a million NT dollars and a copy of the anthology. It was given to the Buddha, who showed up to the event disguised as a homeless man. He promptly donated the money to saving trees, and urged the crowd to support the anthology on Kindle. He was quoted as saying, “This book will certainly make all of humanity more compassionate and kind – it is a must read.”

If you weren’t able to make it to the event of the year, you can go to these sites to purchase our new anthology:

Create Space: https://www.createspace.com/6609957

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Twisted-Fairy-Tales-Adults-Anthology-ebook/dp/B01LZ67LVK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475456687&sr=8-1&keywords=twisted+fairy+tales+for+adults

If you’re interested in joining TWG for their next meeting, check out the details at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/414415571918140/

PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO REVIEW OUR BOOK!! 😉

***Disclaimer: Nothing written in this article is true except for the part about there being an awesome book you can get from Amazon or create space called Twisted Fairy Tales, an anthology written for adults, and that there was a launch of the book at Voodoo Doughnuts on October 1st. TWG takes no responsibility for the accuracy or content contained in this article. Brad being the most beautiful woman in the room that night is subject to interpretation.

Peak Heat Launch

By Whitney Zahar

On January 16, 2016, I realized a lifelong dream. I held a book in my hands and stroked the velvety cover, filled with joy that between those pages, there was a story in there that I had written. Best of all, I had my 5-year-old son Preston by my side.

Okay, he might be too young to fully appreciate the awesomeness of being published in a format other than on the web, but he was there to hear “Mommy’s story,” as well as those fantastic other tales by the Taipei Writers Group.

The book launch was held in the new Red Room venue at Taipei Air Force Base. What a great place, where creativity and community are encouraged in equal measure! There was plenty of space to roam around. My son loved performing his version of kung fu dancing on the carpet before nestling into a pile of pillows. He was given the job of guarding Mommy’s Peak Heat poster.

Meanwhile, I loved exploring the display of books written by my fellow writers, as well as sampling some of the yummy treats prepared by Karen Farley of KP Kitchens and our own Bradley Verdell.

With our bellies and hearts full of good food, drink, and conversation, we were swept into the blazing world of Peak Heat a world heartbreakingly similar to our own. We were in good hands with our Master of Ceremonies C.K. Hugo Chung to guide us through a group of stories from all over the world. Each story had its own view of what life would be like after a massive global warming event. We met collectors, surfers, queens, hunters, lovers, zealots, children, and survivors, from all walks of life. For me, I absolutely had no idea until the last moment which part of my story I was going to read, let alone how I was going to introduce it. But what struck me was that I had read several of these stories many times, taking a red ink pen to them without trying to slice away the writers’ voices. It wasn’t until I actually heard them out loud, read by Katannya Jantzen, Brian Quentin Webb, J.J. Green, Bradley Verdell, L.L. Phelps, Pat Woods and C.K. Hugo Chung (sadly, Erisa Apantaku couldn’t make it), that I finally heard the voices of the characters. I finally heard the flow of these stories. I realized the importance of these book launches and these book talks, where writers and audience can step beyond the printed page together, and into a world of voices and conversation.

To top it all off, I had no idea Ted Pigott was there sketching us as we read. How glorious!

Even though I couldn’t stay past the first act, I was so happy I was able to come to the launch. I was able to reconnect and touch my friends, make some new friends, and I was happy my son was there to experience this event.

Now, onward to the next group of tales! Where will they take us next?