OTOSOTE At AAAS: Chicago 08!

A quick heads up for anyone who's hoping to pick up a copy of On The Other Side Of The Eye while at the Association for Asian American Studies conference:

The good news is On The Other Side of the Eye has been selling!

Big thank yooooooooooous to all of you wonderful people who've gotten your copy already!

The bad news: I'm down to only 30 copies left at the moment while the new run is being printed, and between now and next week I've got 2 other major readings in Wisconsin: Green Bay, La Crosse and a trip to Madison and Milwaukee coming up.

But if you get me a heads up by Wednesday, I can easily set aside a copy for you by the time we get to Chicago, and we'll deal with all the small details there! Drop me a note at thaoworra@aol.com

Wishing you all of my very best!

This year's conference theme is: "Where is the “Heart” of Asian America? Troubling “American Identity and Exceptionalism in an Age of Globalization and Imperialism" and you can learn more at http://aaastudies.org/

2008 Association for Asian American Studies Annual Meeting

The official conference program is up and I'll be presenting and reading during two key sessions.

This year's theme is:
Where is the “Heart” of Asian America?
Troubling “American Identity and Exceptionalism in an Age of Globalization and Imperialism

My sessions are:

Session 9.4, "Poetry, Community, Activism: A Roundtable of Asian American Poetry in the Midwest." Thursday, April 17, 12:00-1:30 pm. in room CC 12 D. I'll be presenting with:

Chair: Timothy Yu, University of Toronto
Asian American Poetry in the Midwest: Past, Present, Future

Ray Hsu, University of Wisconsin-Madison
What Is Poetry’s Public? Asian American Poetry and Activism in the Midwest

I'm replacing Dorothy Wang of Williams College. She was going to present: Teaching Asian American Poetry in the Midwest. I'm still formulating my remarks.

Helene Achanzar, University of Iowa
Asian American Poetry and Community in Chicago

And on Friday:
17.10 Midwest Writers Showcase
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM CC 12 C
Readings by Midwest writers Susan T. Layug, Bryan Thao Worra, and Timothy Yu.

Hope to see you there!

Article In Onalaska Life

Laotian American writer to hold reading

Laotian American writer Bryan Thao Worra will hold a public reading at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, at the Hmong Cultural and Community Center, Ward Avenue and Mormon Coulee Road in La Crosse.

Thao Worra will also be a guest in some Viterbo English classes. His reading is sponsored by the Viterbo Department of Global Education, the School of Letters and Sciences, and the Hmong Cultural and Community Center.

Thao Worra was born in Laos in 1973. His work has appeared internationally in Australia, Singapore, Germany, England, and across the U.S. His first full-length book of poetry, “On the Other Side of the Eye,” was released in August by Sam's Dot Publishing.

His work frequently explores a wide range of social and cultural themes and the transient nature of identity and home. His style is frequently experimental and draws from a variety of modern and contemporary influences.

Reading At Green Bay: April 10!

UW Green Bay has issued a nice news release about my upcoming reading on Thursday, April 10th! It will be great to see you there if you can make it!

Lao-American poet speaking at UW-Green Bay

GREEN BAY-Lao-American author and poet Bryan Thao Worra will visit the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Thursday, April 10 as part of the American Intercultural Center's Asian-Pacific-American Heritage Festival Celebration.

Thao Worra will conduct an hour-long poetry reading at 8 p.m. in the Phoenix Club of the University Union, 2420 Nicolet Drive.

The event is free and open to the public. His first full-length book of poetry, "On the Other Side of the Eye," was released last year by Sam's Dot Publishing.

The book covers topics from the ancient kingdom of Lane Xang, to the CIA's secret wartime activities in Laos during the Vietnam War era, to the cosmos.

"It's like a swimming pool; you can go to the very deep end or have fun splashing around near the edges, with a little something for everyone," Thao Worra said.

Thao Worra's other work has appeared in more than 70 journals, publications and exhibits. He is currently working on another poetry book and a collection of short, Southeast Asian-American horror stories.

Thao Worra was born in Vientiane, Laos in January 1973. The adopted son of an American pilot working in Laos at the time, Thao Worra came to the United States months later as an infant.

His work explores a range of social and cultural themes and the transient nature of identity and home. He describes his style as "experimental" and draws from a variety of modern and contemporary influences.

For more information about his presentation at UW-Green Bay, contact Mai Lo at the American Intercultural Center, (920) 465-2720 or via e-mail at lom@uwgb.edu.