Meet Su Tong, author of THE BOAT TO REDEMPTION

Su Tong, Man Asian Literary Prize winning author of THE BOAT TO REDEMPTION will be appearing this week in conjunction with The Inaugural Asian Arts & Ideas Forum (November 3-6), bringing together established and emerging writers, thinkers and performing artists from China and India to engage in a vital cultural dialogue. Through one-on-one conversations, panel discussions and music performances, The Chindia Dialogues explore the role that literature and the arts have played — and continue to play — in the shared values and interests that link two of Asia’s most influential nations, but also to America and the rest of the world. Su Tong will be appearing on the following panels:

Saturday, November 5th (3:30-4:30 pm): Literature of Migration: Where Do the Birds Fly?

Which journey is the longest: the one from the village to the city, or the one from one country to another? And how has migration in China and India, from managerial elites to contract workers and refugees, transformed notions of citizenship, identity, displacement and “home”? Writer Amitava Kumar leads readings and a discussion on migrants of all kinds with poet and activist Meena Kandasamy (Ms. Militancy), Suketu Mehta (Maximum City), Su Tong (The Boat to Redemption), and Murong Xuecun (Leave Me Alone: A Novel of Chengdu).

Sunday, November 6th (1:00-2:15 pm): The 'Chindia' Readings

Authors Su Tong, Ha Jin, Meena Kandasamy, Amitava Kumar, Sharmistha Mohanty, Allan Sealy, Yu Hua, and Xu Xiaobin read from their work. Hosted by Amitava Kumar.

Sunday, November 6th (3:45-4:45): Seeing Double: The Persistence of the Past in Contemporary Chinese and Indian Culture

How has the persistence of the past and the immediacy of China's and India's long histories informed the work of contemporary Indian and Chinese authors? What are the social and political implications of the writer's double vision for his or her role in society? Andrea Lingenfelter, scholar and translator of Chinese poetry and fiction, will lead a discussion with 'Chindia' writers Ha Jin, Su Tong, Xu Xiaobin, Meena Kandasamy and Allan Sealy as they read from their work and discuss how the writer both assimilates the past and moves on.

The Asian Arts & Ideas Forum will be held at the Asia Society and Museum (725 Park Ave, between 70th & 71st) in New York. For individual program prices and more information, visit the Asia Society website. If you can't make it to the forum, tune in to the free webcast on AsiaSociety.org/Live. Online viewers are encouraged to send questions to moderator@asiasociety.org

Set in Maoist China during the cultural revolution, THE BOAT TO REDEMPTION follows the disgraced but persistently proud Secretary Ku. Following the revelation that he is not the son of a revolutionary martyr, but rather of a river pirate, Ku is humiliated and rejected from the life he has known. With his teenage son, Ku is banished from their home in Milltown and forced to settle among the unwelcoming boat people. One day a feral girl, Huixian, arrives, and the river people, especially Ku's son, take her into their hearts. But wherever the mysterious girl goes, she sows conflict, and soon the boy is in the grip of an obsession.

"By turns wildly funny, starkly sexual and almost existentially tragic, this story of three people who don't know for sure who they are makes for compulsive reading." - Shelf Awareness

"This character-driver work, well translated by Goldblatt, is undeniably a story to ponder." - Library Journal

"The novel is equal parts satire, fable, and coming of age love story, at times starkly real and at others surreal." - The Coffin Factory

Su Tong is one of China’s pioneering novelists. The author of six novels and over one hundred short stories, he shot to international fame in 1993 when Zhang Yimou’s film of Tong’s novella Raise the Red Lantern was nominated for an Oscar. The Boat to Redemption is the winner of the 2009 Man Asian Literary Prize, and was shortlisted for the 2011 Man Booker International Prize.

The Changing World of the Foreign Correspondent Recap

A big thanks to everyone who joined us last night at the Housing Works Bookstore to enjoy the "Changing World of the Foreign Correspondent" panel moderated by The Paris Correspondent author Alan S. Cowell. Joining the panel to discuss the rapidly changing world of journalism in the digital age were Chrystia Freeland, global editor-at-large of Reuters News; John Darnton, award-winning journalist and bestselling author of Almost a Family and Black and White and Dead All Over; and Peter Godwin, author of Mukiwa: A White Boy in Africa and When a Crocodile Eats the Sun.

How does the job of the foreign correspondent change over time? Will on the ground foreign correspondence be necessary in the future? Does the rapid pace of web journalism compromise credibility in foreign reporting? Last night's panelists tackled these big questions about the state of global journalism in the age of Twitter and shared stories from their backgrounds as pioneers in the field of digital media.

Alan Cowell kicked off the evening's festivities with a discussion of the books that influence his most recent novel, The Paris Correspondent and the themes he explores in his writing: revenge, romance, passion, and amour. Alan shared stories from his past as a local reporter for small newspapers and detailed his ascent to senior correspondent for New York Times.com in Paris.

In today's competitive job market, young writers can benefit from the professional wisdom of a seasoned reporter and editor. Chrystia Freeland offered career advice to journalism students interested in foreign reporting: study economics and languages like Arabic or Mandarin if you want to get hired. Chrystia also suggested that all journalists study the broader economies and the local markets of the countries that they cover in order to be effective storytellers.

John Darnton weighed in on the shifting world of war correspondence and explained how communication technologies change the nature of reporting in a foreign country. John explained that for today's journalists, instantaneous communication allows writers to remain longer in the field without an obligation to file stories away from the action, but that increased exposure to war zones and heightened pressure to get a scoop can also put reporters in the line of fire.

How can journalists tell stories that appeal to both local and foreign readers? Peter Godwin discussed the consumption of foreign journalism and the need for curators to translate detailed and universal narratives in a marketplace saturated with multiple views and opinions.

Those who stayed through the panel enjoyed a lively Q&A, followed by a wine and cheese reception and book signing.

Overlook's Readers Roundup: Halloween

With All Hallow's Eve less than a week away, it's time to get prepared in body and mind. While we can’t assist you with the finishing touches on your homemade Angry Birds costume, we can certainly help you get into the spooky spirit with some fantastic thrillers. Here are Overlook’s top picks for a hair-raising read. Don’t forget your flashlight when you crawl into bed with one of these.

We enjoy a good classic horror flick as much as a classic book, so this notorious novel turned Hitchcockian favorite serves a dual purpose. Based on the real-life story of Ed Gein, a psychotic murderer who led a double life, PSYCHO introduced readers and movie-goers long ago to the now infamous Norman Bates, his mother, and the unsuspecting young victim Marion Crane. The ominous hotel, the terror, the shower scream…it’s all still there for your Halloween reading (and watching) pleasure.

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This cult classic and National Book Award Nominee first penned and published in 1971 is another quintessential Halloween read. THE LATE GREAT CREATURE chronicles the efforts of fictional film star Simon Moro to make one last grand spectacle in a film adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven before his dwindling career comes to an end. Brower successfully transformed the B-movie genre in all its gory glory into literature and Overlook made sure the latest edition was here just in time for the scary season.

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History meets blood and gore in this chilling blockbuster by Sam Christer. A clandestine society trying to unlock the ancient secrets of Stonehenge turns to human sacrifice for seeking answers. Packed with symbology, details about one of the world’s most cryptic sites, and overarching suspense, THE STONEHENGE LEGACY promises a nail-biting evening. Available 10/27.

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The latest in Susan Hill’s gripping detective series starring the unstoppable Simon Serrailler, THE BETRAYAL OF TRUST becomes available on November 10. This is the perfect opportunity to catch up on her first five crime novels full of mystery and heart-stopping twists and turns starting with the debut of the series, THE VARIOUS HAUNTS OF MEN.

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A superbly crafted mix of humor and horror, THE CARETAKER OF LORNE FIELD was short-listed by the ALA for Best Horror Novel of 2010 and was a Black Quill nominee for Best Dark Genre Book of 2010. The story unfolds around Jack Durkin whose family has weeded Lorne field for the past three hundred years before pressure from Jack’s wife, his sons, and the townspeople put him out of a job. But he insists he’s not pulling weeds at all; rather, developing monsters that have the potential to overpower the nation if left to their own devices. Once you read about the terror in the fields, you just may be rethinking that much loved corn maize this year. (You should also check out Zeltserman's newest release THE KILLER'S ESSENCE.)

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A master of Noir genre, Jim Nisbet crafted a dark and gruesome tale with his first novel,THE DAMNED DON'T DIE. The violent and bizarre murder disrupting suburban bliss baffles even the most seasoned private eye in this powerhouse mystery that will leave you reeling.

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A young teenage girl survives a terrible accident only to be found dead six months later; the E.R. doctor who saved her life suspected of raping her and driving her to suicide. Dark, twisted, and unpredictable, KNIFE MUSIC will have you riveted to the page all the way to the end with its stunning shocker of an ending.

Disclaimer: Read all novels at your own risk.

Meet Alan Cowell, author of THE PARIS CORRESPONDENT

Join The Overlook Press on Wednesday, October 26 for a panel discussion on "The Changing World of the Foreign Correspondent" with Alan S. Cowell, author of The Paris Correspondent and a reporter for New York Times.com based in Paris. The panel will address the rapidly changing world of journalism in the digital age.

The event will be held at one of our favorite venues, Housing Works Bookstore, at 126 Crosby Street (between Houston and Prince) in New York. After the panel, there will be a booksigning and reception hosted by The Overlook Press.

Joining Alan Cowell will be: Chrystia Freeland, global editor-at-large of Reuters News; John Darnton, award-winning journalist and bestselling author of Almost a Family and Black and White and Dead All Over; and Peter Godwin, author of Mukiwa: A White Boy in Africa and When a Crocodile Eats the Sun and former foreign correspondent.

The Paris Correspondent, just published this week, chronicles the fortunes, adventures, and epiphanies of two journalists, Ed Clancy and Joe Shelby, reporters for The Paris Star, an English-language newspaper based in Paris. Survivors of countless missions abroad, they now face new and unfamiliar challenges of the Internet age and twenty-four-hour news cycle. Personal jealousies and rivalries abound as the two men adapt to the brave new world.

Alan S. Cowell has been senior correspondent for New York Times.com in Paris since 2008. He began his journalism career as a reporter for British newspapers and the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. He joined Reuters in 1972 and the New York Times in 1981. His reporting has covered Turkey, the Middle East, central and southern Africa, Greece, Egypt, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom. In 1985, Cowell won the George Polk Award and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for foreign reporting. He is the author of Killing the Wizards, A Walking Guide: A Novel and The Terminal Spy: The Life and Death of Alexander Litvinenko.

Brock Brower on the Resurrection of THE LATE GREAT CREATURE

Author Brock Brower reflects on the reissue of his National Book Award-nominated novel The Late Great Creature:

On the Eve of the Resurrection

Tomorrow is pub. date for my second novel, THE LATE GREAT CREATURE, the second time around. Hard to believe, but forty years ago, Atheneum (long since gone) first published my maunderings from old horror films about one “Simon Moro,” whom I still lovingly call my Creature. I turned 40 myself that very year, 1971, and will be 80, come this November. And how do I feel about this sudden... shall we say, abrupt resurrection? Wonderful, grateful to Peter Mayer’s Overlook Press, 'umbled, delighted, yet aghast, a bit blitzed (from re-calculating the odds/life spans/my meds), and my favorite catch-all—weird!

Why weird? Over those four past decades, I have heard many kindly words from you fanzines (honored on my page here) as the author of a perverse “Hollywoodcultbook.” But here is what is weird. When I initially launched my Creature after three years of Frankensteinian lab work done down cellar in the late 60s, I did have another purpose: to let Simon loose, on his last horror picture, to apply his brand of shock therapy to the American Dream. Recall that we were then headed into the 70s, with Watergate barely behind us and Jimmy Carter’s “m.e.o.w” speech (favoring the “moral equivalent of war”!?) looming dead ahead. We were bound to run into monstrous trouble with what was being called fiscal “stagflation”—a strapped economy/staggering inflation—and Simon kept trying to say, “Do whatever you can to stop this horror.”

Only guess what even Bigger Trouble we find ourselves in right now, today? What is really weird is that I’ve hardly had to change a word in the entire book. My Creature is still talking his bizzaro common sense that seems so startling these parlous days, among a great people who used to know how to recognize and confront a horrible situation, once faced with one. I hope you will take note at how my Creature came to understand his country—through the medium in which he triumphed but never through any resort to despair or violence on his own part!

When I started proof-reading galleys a few months back, I was amazed how quickly, even vividly, Simon Moro came back to life for me again. Gosh, I’d forgotten he said that. Where on earth did he get any such ideas, and who are these other characters who speak so ill of him? That is the magical existence of a fictional character: He never changes, but he always surprises you. Not just the reader, even his own creator.

Great writers, like Tolstoy or Dickens, crowd their books with such characters. The rest of us are lucky to cross one or two in our farthest attempts. Hope you find my Creature not only resurrected but redeemed. - Brock Brower, October 3, 2011