I’d like to introduce you to a fresh, new fiction voice, a young author whose first novel I was thrilled to discover. But full disclosure: it’s my daughter, Ann Mah.

Ann’s book, Kitchen Chinese, is a funny and poignant story about a young Chinese-American woman who travels to Beijing and discovers China, and herself, through the cuisine. Ann explores family relationships with perception and honesty (she assures me, however, that all the characters are purely fictional!). This is a story about identity, about losing and finding yourself in another culture, a tale that would have touched me even if I weren’t Ann’s mom.

I hope you enjoy discovering Kitchen Chinese – I am confident you will fall in love with this funny, heartfelt novel and I hope you will join me in spreading the word about it.

There is a joke in Chinese that says behind every successful man there is a strong wife – who is just like his mother. Well, behind Kitchen Chinese, there is simply a strong mother! I apologize for being a stereotypical pushy Asian mom… but if you read Kitchen Chinese, you’ll thank me – I promise.

Sincerely,

Adeline Yen Mah

Order a copy of Kitchen Chinese now.

“Adeline, congratulations on the great success of your new play, Falling Leaves.  It was truly a wonderful evening for all attending.  I certainly had tears in my eyes while watching.

Even though I have read your book and heard you speak about your book several times – it was so moving to hear the actors reading the script.

One listened – and wondered at the cruelty of your siblings.  How can people live with themselves and be so treacherous – especially your sister, Lydia.  To think of how you changed the lives of her two children with your generosity – and then to have her turn against you.  Greed and jealousy – two very powerful forces!!!!!!!!!!

Your script was excellent……the actors were excellent…

The audience was so attentive – you truly could “have heard a pin drop” throughout the entire evening!!!!!!!!!!!”

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Adeline signing books after her talk on “A Land of Dragons and Emperors”

Read MORE about Adeline’s recently published history of China.

For those who have read Falling Leaves, you already know that I have two children. My son is a physician and my daughter is a journalist and a GREAT cook who has studied in Italy. If you enjoy eating and cooking good food, please visit Ann’s website at www.annmah.net. Share your recipes with her. Ann would love to hear from you.

All the best,

Thank-you for visiting my website!

Chinese Cinderella – The Mystery of the Song Dynasty Painting
Published by Puffin Books on 6 August 2009 in Paperback, Price £6.99

• Adeline Yen Mah’s autobiography Falling Leaves was a publishing sensation, going on to sell over 1 million copies worldwide
• Her children’s adaptation of Falling Leaves, Chinese Cinderella, has achieved equal success with 450,000 copies sold in the UK and over 1 million copies worldwide.
• In Chinese Cinderella: The Mystery of the Song Dynasty Painting, Chinese Cinderella now goes on to new adventures, drawing children and people of all ages into a fascinating encounter with Chinese culture and an iconic painting from the Song Dynasty in particular

Painted during the 12th Century AD, Along the River During the Qing Ming Festival is China’s most famous painting. Mah has written a stunning historical novel reconstructing the circumstances of the painting’s creation by the artist Zhang Ze-duan.

Running to escape a mysterious woman in Shanghai Market, Chinese Cinderella scrabbles across wet roof shingles before tumbling into a void… Following her fall, she begins to recall a previous life, lived 800 years ago as the artist Zhang Ze-duan’s thirteen-year-old sister, Zhang Mei-lang.

Drawing on the history of the era, Adeline Yen Mah evokes the power struggles and domestic tensions within the Zhang household. Through the eyes of the young heroine, everyday life during the Song Dynasty is described so vividly that readers will smell the stench of latrines in the outhouse, see the calligraphy on the oblong red boxes, hear the songs being sung to zither music and taste the goose liver, deer’s tongue and bears’ paws being served.

Chinese Cinderella and the Mystery of the Song Dynasty Painting introduces Chinese art and history, at a time when China is taking its place as a pre-eminent world power, and an unprecedented number of children are learning Mandarin. The book incorporates the Chinese language throughout and a glossary of useful Chinese words, as well as colour illustrations of the painting and two other artworks which form part of the story.

Adeline Yen Mah’s book is a jewel of a tale that mirrors the elegance and beauty of the ancient painting that inspired it.

Author Information:

Adeline Yen Mah spent her childhood in Tianjin and Shanghai in China, Hong Kong and England. She studied medicine but gave up her career as a physician to become a full-time writer. Following her stepmother’s death, Adeline felt compelled to write her story and the result, Falling Leaves, became an international bestseller.

Adeline went on to adapt her story for children under the title Chinese Cinderella. Chinese Cinderella became a phenomenal success, selling over 450,000 copies in the UK alone and over a million worldwide. Adeline has gone on to write several further titles for both adults and children, including Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society, an adventure based on her own made-up stories when she was a lonely child.

In addition to her writing, Adeline is also involved with the Committee of 100 which is organizing the U.S. Pavilion for the forthcoming 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.

Adeline Yen Mah divides her time between California and London.

For further information please contact Caroline Brown or Truda Spruyt at Colman Getty on 020 7631 2666 or at Caroline@colmangetty.co.uk or Truda@colmangetty.co.uk