Saturday, March 3, 2007

China's Harry Potter Teams Up with the Half-Human Monere at Catskill Mountain Foundation's Red Barn in Hunter, NY

HUNTER VILLAGE, NY--By night, he’s a mild-mannered dad, making peanut butter sandwiches for his young children, dropping them off at school and picking them up after practice. By day, he’s fantastic, epic, illuminating; some even think he’s China’s answer to Harry Potter.

By day, she’s a family practice physician. Quiet, sincere, proper, with nerdy glasses and white coat. By night, she’s daring, flamboyant, and erotic.

A distinctly literary and creative couple, Da and Sunny Chen dwell in reality half of each day and possibility in the other half. Both have had one foot in the working world—he at one time working for a Wall Street banking investment firm; she still practicing as a family physician. Both are acclaimed writers with several highly praised original works to their credit.

On Saturday, April 14, Da & Sunny Chen will appear together at the Catskill Mountain Foundation “Red Barn” performance space on Rte. 23A in the Village of Hunter, NY from 2-3 PM, to read from their work and discuss it with the community. Admission is FREE.

Da Chen grew up in the deep south of China, running barefoot in muddy fields and riding the backs of water buffaloes. As the grandson of a disgraced landowner, he was a victim of community political persecution and harrowing poverty during the Cultural Revolution. His family was beaten, his father thrown in reform camp, and young Chen, at the age of nine, was threatened with imprisonment. Unfailing family love helped him survive in a dysfunctional society and he found unexpected love and friendship with his four other hoodlum outcasts, but dreams made him soar above the poverty and persecution. He arrived in America at the age of 23 with $30 in his pocket, a bamboo flute, and a heart filled with hope. Years later, he is a distinguished, award-winning writer. The author of two highly acclaimed works, “Colors of the Mountain” (“A detailed and delightful account of one boy’s reaching for his dreams.”—Booklist) and “China’s Son,” Crown/Shaye Areheart Books has recently released Chen’s first major work of fiction, “Brothers,” a sweeping family saga of brother against brother, son against father.

Dr. Sunny Chen, a family practice physician, has described herself as “Quiet, sincere, proper, with nerdy glasses and white coat. Rigid…repressed. Always fearful of doing wrong.” Several years ago, she shed that image—along with her inhibitions—and became just “Sunny”. No last name. A writer. A romance writer. Well, okay, an erotic romance writer. While writing her debut novel, “Mona Lisa Awakening,” a novel that she says is not just about her heroine’s awakening, but hers as well, she admits it’s a “self” she’s having fun getting to know. “Mona Lisa Blossoming,” second in Sunny’s darkly erotic new series, will be published in February by Berkley.

To learn more about the authors, you may visit them at Dachen.org and/or sunnyhotromance.com To learn more about this event, visit www.catskillmtn.org
This reading is sponsored by Poets & Writers, Inc. and the Catskill Mountain Foundation.

Friday, March 2, 2007

High Peaks B&B Nominated for "Stars of Industry" Award

TANNERSVILLE,NY—For the second year in a row, the historic century-old Washington Irving Inn on Rte. 23A in Hunter, NY has been chosen as one of three finalists in the category of Bed & Breakfast of Distinction as part of the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association’s (NYSH&TA) “Stars of the Industry” program. “I’m thrilled, excited, and thankful once again to be recognized by this important association,” said Innkeeper Stefania Jozic.