Hmong and Publishing

After years of deep social problems, the Hmong are developing some serious culture in Minnesota

Renowned writer, lecture learns about Hmong arts in Minnesota
By Tom LaVenture

ST. PAUL (November 1, 2007) – The Hmong American Institute Learning (HAIL) has long been known for its support for emerging Hmong writers and poets through the Paj Ntaub Voice Quarterly Journal, and for Bamboo Among the Oaks, the first Anthology of Hmong American writers. The organization is about to undergo a major transformation to accommodate the growth and direction of a new vision and focus on visual and performing arts along with the writers and traditional cultural arts and crafts.

Dyane Garvey, Interim-Executive Director, HAIL, said the organization received a grant from LINC (Leveraging Investments in Creativity), a ten-year national initiative to improve conditions for artists in all disciplines to allow for more creative work. It was instrumental in helping HAIL do a turnaround last year with an art exhibition and strategic planning.

Dr. Rustom Homi Bharucha, a Regent’s Lecturer in the Department of World Arts and Cultures, University of University of California at Los Angeles; and the Department of South and Southeast Asia, University of California, Berkeley, was in the Twin Cities in part to learn more about HAIL as one of 12 LINC grant recipients, to see how the funding has impacted small ethnically diverse organizations in the areas of social transformation and change.

Author Trudeau in Trouble

Court finds 'Natural Cures' author Trudeau in contempt

WASHINGTON – Best-selling author Kevin Trudeau violated a 2004 court order by making “patently false” claims in one of his books about a weight-loss regimen, a federal court said in a ruling released Monday.
The ruling found Trudeau in contempt of a 2004 court order that barred him from using infomercials to sell any product or service other than books and required that he not misrepresent the content of those books.

Young Author Tops the List

Young Author Strikes It Rich
BEIJING, Nov. 7 -- Young Chinese author Guo Jingming earns more than any other writers in China, according to the latest list of writer millionaires.

The annual list, which triggers controversy every year among both authors and readers, is based on interviews with major bookstores and publishers throughout the country. The 24-year-old Guo tops this year's list with 11 million yuan (US$1.48 million) in copyright royalties.

Guo's latest novel, "The River of Sorrow," hit shelves in April and sold a record high of one million copies in the first two weeks.

Toni Morrison

Helen Steiner Rice