San Francisco: Our City, Our Stories

CHSA welcomes local authors Kathryn Ma (The Chinese Groove) and Valerie Luu and Andria Lo (Chinatown Pretty) for an in-depth discussion of their acclaimed books and the creative inspiration found in the hearts of San Francisco and Chinatown.

Sharing the surprise pathways opened up by their research as well as the unique focus of portraying and celebrating seniors and street fashion, these authors will also intimate how their work connects and endears them to their communities. This three-way conversation will include shared portraits and community images from their work and research.

A Q&A discussion with the audience will follow.

There will be a book signing included, with the authors' books on sale for attendees.

Admission is FREE.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Kathryn Ma is the author of the widely praised novel The Chinese Groove, which was named a New York Times Editors’ Choice, a People Magazine Best Book, a Washington Post Best Audiobook, and an Indie Next Pick. It was longlisted for the Dublin Literary Award and the Joyce Carol Oates Prize, and won the California Book Award Silver Medal for Fiction. The Chinese Groove is the 2024 selection for One City One Book by the San Francisco Public Library. Kathryn’s previous novel, The Year She Left Us, was a NYT Editors’ Choice and an NPR “Great Read” of the year. Her short story collection, All That Work and Still No Boys, won the Iowa Short Fiction Award. She is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships and has twice been named a San Francisco Public Library Laureate. Learn more at kathrynma.com.

A longtime member of CHSA, Kathryn says: “As part of my research for The Chinese Groove, I made multiple visits to CHSA’s exhibit “Chinese in the Sunset.” The stories highlighted in that exhibit helped me to learn the history of SF’s Sunset District, where my novel is set. I’m grateful to CHSA for helping to preserve and illuminate the history of a vital community.”

is a storytelling project, founded by photographer Andria Lo and writer Valerie Luu, that documents senior citizens' street style in Chinatowns. Since 2014, they have photographed and interviewed hundreds of the seniors in historic Chinatowns across North America. Their first book, Chinatown Pretty,was published September 2020 by Chronicle Books. Learn more on Instagram @chinatownpretty and at chinatownpretty.com.

Host or Publisher Chinese Historical Society of America