At the start of March, we filled our suitcases with books and flew across the country to attend the 2023 AWP Conference and Bookfair. We had a blast gathering with friends old and new to share ideas, uplift the work of inspiring minds, and celebrate all things literature! Here’s what we got up to during our time in Seattle.
On the first night, the Kundiman team gathered to share a meal at Momiji after a long day of setting up our booth at the book fair. It was such a delight to spend time together in person!
L to R: Kyle Lucia Wu, Shirley Cai, Hannah Kang, Gina Chung, Cathy Linh Che, Shan Rao, and Misha Ponnuraju share a dinner.
Afterward, we wandered to Elliot Bay Books to attend Growing From Our Roots: An Asian American Debut Author Showcase organized by Joshua Nguyen, Susan Nguyen, and Kundiman South.
Joshua Nguyen and Susan Nguyen introduce Growing From Our Roots: An Asian Debut Authors Showcase.
Kundiman’s Programs Manager Gina Chung shared an excerpt from her debut novel Sea Change.
Jenny Tinghui Zhang reads from her debut novel Four Treasures of the Sky.
The next morning, we kicked off the first official day of the AWP at the Kundiman booth. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hello and pick up a book or two!
Later that afternoon, we presented our featured reading Celebrating Pacific Islander Literature with William Nuʻutupu Giles, Kristiana Kahakauwila, and Craig Santos Perez.
Craig Santos Perez, William Nuʻutupu Giles, and Kristiana Kahakauwila.
“I am tender flesh with the responsibility to open.”
Our moderator for the discussion, William Nuʻutupu Giles, opened by reading from some new poems they've been working on.
William Nuʻutupu Giles reading on stage.
“Play is always political.”
Kristiana Kahakauwila read from a craft essay that explored the idea of play as an act of resistance. She posed questions about how we can tend to our writing and the impact on community that our writing can have if we gave our minds the permission wander freely.
Kristiana Kahakauwila reading on stage.
“Water is life.”
Craig Santos Perez closed out our reading with poems that reflected on our relationship with the natural world, and showcased the importance and power of ecopoetics.
Craig Santos Perez reading on stage.
It was an honor to celebrate the breadth, richness, and vital contributions of Pacific Isalnder literature with William Nuʻutupu Giles, Kristiana Kahakauwila, and Craig Santos Perez.
The fun continued on Friday with more book signings and festivities at the Kundiman booth.
Wo Chan, Jenny Xie, and Hieu Minh Nguyen at Wo Chan’s book signing.
In the evening, we gathered with fellow Asian American writers and readers at the annual Asian American Caucus, coheld with the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, Kaya Press, Hyphen Magazine, the Asian American Literary Review, and Smithsonian’s APAC. This year we discussed the theme of collective care in its smallest and most expansive forms.
Say cheese! A group shot of all the writers who gathered together at the Asian American Caucus.
We formed talking circles to connect with one another and ask questions such as: How have you been caring for yourself this week/month/last few years? What excites you about Asian American literature today? How can we utilize Asian American literary spaces as a tool for collective care.
Thanks to all who joined us in-person and virtually that evening. We’re still thinking about this restorative conversation.
Also, in case you missed it, a few Fellows took over the steering wheel of our Instagram account to share what a day in the life of a writer at AWP looks like. Check out our Instagram highlights to revisit the takeovers from Ploi Pirapokin, Tariq Luthun, Wo Chan, and Sruthi Narayanan.
We had such a nourishing and inspiring time at AWP, and can’t wait to see you all again next year!
