Joanna Choi Kalbus, author

It was the summer of 1950 in Seoul, Korea. My friend, Myung Ja, who lived on the same street, would come early and knock on my door. Seventy-five years later, I knocked on her door of her house in California. We didn't recognize each other. I introduced myself: "Myung Ja, yah...Nah, Woon Hee yah."

It is the three-month anniversary of the publication of my memoir! It has been so exciting to meet readers in Lafayette, Orinda, Redwood City, SF, Santa Cruz, San Bernardino, and San Geronimo for events and readings. I’m grateful to the audience, who buoyed me to the mountains.
#gratitude

“She walked many miles to pick plums in the countryside. When she had picked as many as she could fit into her bamboo basket, she twined a towel into a circular mat to go underneath it, crouched down, keeping her upper body erect, and someone would help her lift her heavy load onto her head.”

I will be holding a book reading from my memoir, The Boat Not Taken at the Arts and Lecture Series, San Geronimo Commumity Center. Please join me at 6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Geronimo, CA, 94963; Marin County on Sunday, June 22, 2025 at 2:00 P.M.

I have really enjoyed talking to audiences about my memoir THE BOAT NOT TAKEN. Thanks to all my friends who showed up for my book event at The Feldheym Central Library in San Bernardino, my hometown library for over 50 years. It was emotional and touching to be with them.

Please join me via Zoom at the Senior Planet from AARP Author Talk: Joanna Choi Kalbus.

Tuesday, May 27, 2025
1:00PM PDT

Meeting ID: 87313185095

#WTAWPress #BettyBooks #authorevent @WTAWPress @thebettybooks #memoir #seniorplanet

Join me for the Redwood City Public Library’s AANHPI Author Series at the downtown location (1044 Middlefield, Redwood City, CA) on May 20, from 6:30 PM to 7:45 PM. I will be reading from my memoir, THE BOAT NOT TAKEN, followed by a conversation with acclaimed author Lillian Howan and audience Q&A.

TODAY! Please join me for the in-person launch of my memoir THE BOAT NOT TAKEN, published by Betty Books. The event will take place at Orinda Books starting at 4 PM. I can't wait to meet my readers!
#WTAWPress #BettyBooks #memoir #inpersonbooklaunch #authorevent
@WTAWPress @bettybooks

A locally-owned, independent bookstore, since 1976 Orinda Books has opened its doors to readers of all ages and interests. I am delighted to hold my in-person book launch at Orinda Books (276 Village Square, Orinda, CA) on May 8 at 4:00 p.m. Register and preorder here: www.orindabooks.com

Nikki, the Library Program Coordinator at the Feldheym Central Library, wrote: "I wanted to share this picture with you. I read your book and added page tags. Look at how much stood out to me when reading!"
I’ll be reading from my memoir at the Feldheym Central Library in San Bernardino on June 7.

I hope you'll join me for the in-person launch of my memoir THE BOAT NOT TAKEN at Orinda Books on May 8. I can't wait to meet my readers! Please reserve your spot here: www.eventbrite.com/e/joanna-cho...

“I held onto Omai's free hand. With her other hand, she balanced a large bundle of our possessions on her head. She led us toward a monstrous black locomotive fuming on its tracks." (From my memoir THE BOAT NOT TAKEN) Last year, I took a plush train to Busan.

In less than a month my memoir THE BOAT NOT TAKEN will be out in the world! The publication date is May 6. Take advantage of the limited-time discount and preorder your copy here: www.wtawpress.org/product-page....
#WTAWPress #BettyBooks #memoirs #upcomingrelease #preordernow
@WTAWPress

Here's a mood board for my upcoming memoir THE BOAT NOT TAKEN. I can assure you all these things make an appearance in my story!

You can preorder your copy of my book at a limited-time discount here:
www.wtawpress.org/product-page...
@bettybooks.bsky.social

Hi East Bay friends! I’m very excited about my in-person book launch at Orinda Books, 4 PM on May 8th! Join us for a reading, Q&A, and book signing. I look forward to meeting you!

#WTAWPress #BettyBooks #inpersonbooklaunch #memoir #authorevent
@WTAWPress @BettyBooks

Join me for the virtual launch of my memoir THE BOAT NOT TAKEN at 5:30 PM (Pacific) on May 15, when I will be in conversation with Jimin Han. You can register for this free virtual event here: [link from Betty Books]
#WTAWPress #BettyBooks #virtualbooklaunch
@jiminhan @BettyBooks

In 1950s L.A., we didn’t have a Korea town. No napa cabbage? My
resourceful mother would substitute round cabbage. She’d make my
favorite foods from scratch: kimchi, mandoo, kimbap.
Preorder THE BOAT NOT TAKEN from Betty Books here:
www.wtawpress.org/product-page...

THE BOAT NOT TAKEN, From the chapter
“High School Years.”: “My opening number was ‘Danny Boy.’ This song is a
universal favorite. Even my mother knew this song.”

Preorder my memoir at 20% discount from Betty Books here:
www.wtawpress.org/product-page...
#StPatricksDay

Wonderful!!!

Check out these Indie Authors!

DM or comment if you want to be included in this starter pack!

#authors #booksky #indieauthors

go.bsky.app/2K5fa6Z

I so enjoyed the movie Genius about the birthing of Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolff, edited by Maxwell Perkins–the long process of editing and revising until author and editor are in agreement.

Preorder THE BOAT NOT TAKEN here: www.wtawpress.org/product-page...

It was my great pleasure reading a passage from the “Train to Pusan” chapter of THE BOAT NOT TAKEN at the Lamorinda Arts Council’s “Girls + Women Influencers” event this weekend.

THE BOAT NOT TAKEN: “We need to burn your mother’s clothes so that she has clothes to wear in the spirit world.” From the chapter “Jeong.”

My debut memoir will be launched on May 6, 2025. Preorder your copy from Betty Books here: www.wtawpress.org/product-page...

Wonderful!

I’m honored to be the Featured Writer at Lamorinda Arts Council’s Art Embraces Poetry event this Saturday @1:30p at the Town Hall Theatre in Lafayette. @lamorindaarts @thebettybooks @wtawpress

Egypt has pyramids. Korea has burial mounds. Somewhere in Pyongyang, my ancestors are buried in these earthen mounds. I wonder where they are located and who is taking care of them.

Preorder THE BOAT NOT TAKEN from Betty Books here: www.wtawpress.org/product-page...

It’s been 25 years since i’ve had a business card, and it certainly didn’t have a QR code with a link to my website on it!

My memoir, THE BOAT NOT TAKEN, will be launched on May 6, 2025.

You can secure your copies at 20% discount from Betty Books here: www.wtawpress.org/product-page...

The map of Korea looks like a rabbit with hind legs squatting, front paws frozen in a begging position. Since 1953, a thick line has incised the rabbit's midsection–the 38th parallel dividing Korea in half.
Preorder my memoir here: www.wtawpress.org/product-page...

Not bad for an 83 (almost 84!) year old?
#zumba #dancecommunity
Are there Starter Packs for Zumba lovers out there? I’d love to find some!

My “gamer” friends would absolutely love this 🥰
- from the beloved video game Zelda Ocarina of Time.