July 2024 Updates
LAUNCH DATE: DECEMBER 10, 2024
The countdown is underway! My new novel Unexpected Detour: Courage and Intrigue in Wartime San Francisco, is slated for release on December 10th. According to pre-release reviews, it is "a satisfying World War II tale" told with "authenticity and candor." Several reviews are posted on my website. Special thanks to fellow authors Laura Taylor, Anna Wilcoxson, Laura C. Rader and Thomas M. Wing for their thoughtful endorsements. Cover art is being finalized -- watch for a reveal in September!
Hang Ah Tearoom, Chinatown, San Francisco
A Deep Dive Into Dim Sum
Tucked away on Pagoda Place in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Hang Ah Tea Room has been serving dim sum since 1920. As the café is the setting for an important scene in Unexpected Detour, I wanted to experience the place and its cuisine firsthand.
The tradition of dim sum, which literally translated means “touch the heart,” originated in the teahouses of Guangzhou, a port city in Southern China. When travelers on the Silk Road or traders from the port took a tea break, they were served accompanying snacks. Spread by traders and sailors, the concept eventually made its way throughout China and to San Francisco.
Hang Ah Tea Room serves a variety of dumplings and steamed buns in its lively dining room. The house specialty is The Hang Ah BBQ Pork Bun and they are not to be missed. A word of caution—they arrive at the table SCALDING. The fluffy steamed bao encases a filling of minced pork and onions in a savory, slightly sweet sauce. Delicious.
USS San Francisco
I found this terrific photo of the USS San Francisco (circa November 1942) in the History Room of the San Francisco Public Library. The highly-decorated cruiser, which is featured in Unexpected Detour, participated in the Guadalcanal campaign. This image shows the ship en route to Mare Island Naval Shipyard for repairs.