ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE OF WRITING TheWriters Post A MAGAZINE OF LITERATURE AND LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION Published biannually – ISSN: 1527-5469 Copyright © The Writers Post 1999-2010. Nothing in this website may be downloaded, distributed, or reproduced without the permission of the author/ translator/ artist/ and The Writers Post. Creating links to place The Writers Post or any of its pages within other framesets or in other documents is copyright violation, and is not permitted. ISSN 1527-5469 – US-based, founded 1999. Founder & Editor: N. Saomai
Current issue: VOLUME 12 – NUMBER 1 – JAN 2010 “Thieu Nu va hoa Ngoc Lan”, oil on canvas, 30” x 40”, by Dinh Cuong ABOUT THE ARTIST: DINH CUONG, artist, poet and free-lance writer, professor of Fine Art at Dong Khanh College Hue in (...); he was born in Thu Dau Mot Vietnam in 1939, graduated from Hue Fine Art Shool (1963), National Shool of Fine Art Saigon (1964). Like other prominent artists, he joined the Young Vietnamese Artists Association, an active and well-known artist group, in the early 60's, and was the Association's general secretary in the period from 1969 to 1971. Dinh Cuong participated in many international events: Singapore (1974), Sao Paulo (1967), Tokyo (1966), Tunis (1964), Paris (1963), and International Exhibition in Saigon Vietnam (1962). His work is presented in many private collections in Canada, France, Germany, USA, and VietNam. In the field of literature, he composed poems, wrote essays on art, and contributed to numerous established journals and magazines. His poems and essays on art have appeared in many literary and art magazines, including Van Hoc Nghe Thuat, Hop Luu, Van, Van Hoc, The Ky 21. -----> Art: ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ TWP’s sister magazine: WORDBRIDGE (ISSN: 1540-1723). WORDBRIDGE, established 2002 by N. Saomai, published in the US, the first English-language literary magazine from the Vietnamese literary community, is a magazine of literature in translation, and a magazine for literary works of quality originally written in English by established and new writers, edited by the same editor of the Song-Van (ISSN: 1089-8123) and The Writers Post (ISSN: 1527-5469). Wordbridge contains selected literary pieces in a variety of genres: fiction (short stories, excerpts from unpublished novel), poetry (rhymed poems, free verse), translations, reviews, literary critiques, and essays on literature and art. N. SAOMAI, WORDBRIDGE, PREMIER ISSUE, SPRING 2002: “Wordbridge is a magazine of literature and literature in translation. Its aim is nothing less than to bring to the reader literary works from established and new writers, in the original language and in translation. Its part in translation is to introduce a foreign literature to those who appreciate not only the enjoyment of reading, but also the knowing and understanding of other cultures. The magazine is published biannually. It features selected pieces in a variety of genres, and will include¾ apart from its main contents, reviews, criticism, and essays. For the past two years I've had the opportunity to introduce to the online reader some English translations of fiction and poetry from Vietnamese authors through The Writers Post magazine at www. thewriterspost.net. This electronic literary magazine was launched on July 1999, with an emphasis on what the Wordbridge intends: to bring to readers who may want to read the literary works originally written in the Vietnamese language for long entrenched behind the barrier of language. Both magazines are under my editorship, and will work in association with each other…” (READ MORE) WORDBRIDGE is available from major universities and library collections:  THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Request in: Jefferson or Adams Bldg General or Area Studies Reading Rms  CORNELL UNIVERSITY Request in: Kroch Library Asia  HARVARD UNIVERSITY Request in: Widener Harvard Depository  YALE UNIVERSITY Request in: Southeast Asia Collection.  UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE Request in: UC Irvine Library.  UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES. Request in: UC Los Angeles Library  POETS HOUSE 72 Spring Street, 2^nd fl, New York, NY 10012  KYOTO UNIVERSITY [Japan] Request in: Center for Southeast Asian Studies. _____________________________________________________ VOLUME 12 - NUMBER 1 – JAN 2010 FRONT PAGE Introductions to contributing poets, writers, translators, and artists written by TWP’s editor N. Saomai. (The biographical introductions to contributing poets, writers, translators and artists published in THE WRITERS POST, and simultaneously in the WORDBRIDGE, are written by N. Saomai, the editor of the magazines, based on the biographical information submitted by the poets, writers, translators and artists. In The Writers Post, there are three places in which the biographical introductions may appear: this front page of the issue, the TWP Biographical Database, and the list of Vietnamese Poets and Writers abroad. Biographical data in the TWP Biographical Database are subject to change where needs be to bring factual information on the authors published in The Writers Post up to date. We thank the contributors published in The Writers Post who grant the magazine permission to publish the photographs of themselves along with the TWP’s introductions to contributors). Editorial Page & Letter to the editor THE WRITERS POST welcomes letters to the editor, especially letters which are in response to a critique published in The Writers Post. Letters must include the sender’s address and telephone number for verification, and senders must identify themselves by real name. Anonymous letters will not be read. If you send your letter via e-mail, it must be pasted into the body of the e-mail. Don’t send attachments. If you prefer to send your letter via conventional mail, please find The Writers Post’s conventional mail address in The Writers Post Home Page. The editor forfeits the right to correct typing errors or known factual errors, and your letter will be printed as-is. The writers published in The Writers Post express their readiness to discuss any issues they wrote, and The Writers Post would like to print any response, especially to criticism, for other point of view. However, a letter that is considered potentially libelous, or a response that includes the response of a third person will not be published (Here we have a simple reason, an indirect response is considered personal issue, and a bad-behaved response, if intended to be hidden inside the other person’s feedback is considered of low quality and anonymous). Although The Writers Post doesn’t guarantee their publication, all letters are welcomed. ---- FEATURED A DIRECTORY OF VIETNAMESE POETS AND WRITERS IN THE OVERSEAS [Vietnamese Poets And Writers Abroad LISTINGS] THE ‘VIETNAMESE WRITERS ABROAD LISTINGS’ AIMS TO PROVIDE FACTUAL INFORMATION ON POETS AND WRITERS LIVING ABROAD. Most of Vietnamese writers living abroad are first-generation immigrants, who left Vietnam for the free world as a result of the 1975 events, when South Vietnam collapsed and the Communist North took over the entire country. They are the ones who paved the way for a new literary community abroad, and subsequently, with writers who started writing after 1975 and second-generation writers who left Vietnam as teenagers, brought Vietnamese literature into existence in the overseas. [ Click here for their listings in the full list ] ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ IN THE NEWS OF SORROW We’re very sorry to bring you the news that SONG HO, poet and a journalist, died May 20, 2009. Born 1932, Song Ho began his writing career in 1952 in Hanoi (North Vietnam) and became a journalist after his resettling in 1954 in Saigon (South Vietnam), where he contributed to numerous newspapers, radio broadcast. His most recent book of poems, Da va Hoa, was published by Huong Duong Publisher (1992), after Tho Song Ho, a collection of poems, published by Khai Tri Publisher (Saigon, 1964). Hai Canh Hoa Tim, his first book of poetry, was published in 1960. Rock and Flower, an English-language version of Da va Hoa translated by Song Ho is published in 2000. Some of the poems in this translation version had been published in anthologies or magazines, including Transformed (On the Threshold Of A Dream, 1988), Sunday morning (American Poetry Anthology 1988), A Secular tree (Many Voices and Many Lands, 1989), Once more being a baby (Best New Poets Of 1988, under the title Once more to be a baby.), Lunar Eclipsed Night (Love's Greatest Treasures), The Seasons (Days Of Future's Past), On the Blue Dragon Hill (Selected Poets Of The New Era 1989) Real Golden Sun (The World's Largest Poem For Peace, UN 1991), Finer, Grass & Man, Man & Grass (Song Van Magazine -issue 8&9/1997), That is the difference but the same, Who gives to me, A pink lily (Song Van -issue 10/1997), Turning around ceaselessly, Chrysanthemum, Creation (Song Van, issue 11/1997), The Mountain (Song Van, 1999), Secular tree (Song Van, 1999). PHAM CHI LAN, writer and editor, died of cancer on November 21, 2009 in Dallas, Texas, US. Born in 1962 in Vietnam, she came, in 1975, to the US where she was educated and subsequently worked as a computer system analyst. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of the electronic literary magazine Van Hoc Nghe Thuat (Texas) launched in 1995. Van Hoc Nghe Thuat is the first ever Vietnamese electronic magazine published in the Vietnamese literary community abroad. Her short stories and translations appeared in the magazines Van, Van-Hoc, Hop-Luu, Tram Con, Song-Van. Her collection of short stories Mien Tham Lang was published in 2002 by Van Moi Publisher. VO DINH, real name VO DINH MAI, artist, poet and writer, died on May 31, 2009 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Born in 1933 in Hue Vietnam, he went to Paris in 1950 to study, in Literature at University of Sorbonne, in painting at Académie de la Grande Chaumière and School of Art in Paris. In 1960, he moved to the US. Vo Dinh is a man of broad cultural interests, and is author of several works in different categories, including poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. Vo Dinh achieved fame as a painter for his paintings having been showcased in Vietnam and abroad. As a translator, he translated into English a number of literary works by Vietnamese author living in the US. Taking part in War and Exile published by Vietnamese Pen East Coast USA in 1989, he translated nearly all of the short stories in this anthology. His work and bio were anthologized or recorded in Nhan vat Viet Nam (1974), Tho Van VN hai ngoai (1985), Who's in American Art, Contemporary Authors, Printworld, The New York, Art Review. His writings have appeared in Ngay Nay, Van Hoc Nghe Thuat, Van, Lang Van, Van Hoc, Hop Luu, The Union Joural, The Webster Review, The Vietnam Forum. ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ VOLUME 12 - NUMBER 1 – JULY 2010 FRONT PAGE Introductions to contributing poets, writers, translators, and artists written by TWP editor N. Saomai. (From the guidelines: … Although the biographical introductions to contributing poets, writers, translators and artists are mostly based on the curriculum vitas submitted by contributors, please be advised that the contributor should not expect TWP to have its introduction saying exactly what the contributor wants to say. In any case the contributor should not expect that he could give an editorial opinion on the introduction to the contributor written by The Writers Post. The editor reserves the right to refuse the contributor’s suggestion that certain information should be added from the submitted CV, and the right to omit certain information, even if it is factual. Also, please be advised that all biographical introductions to contributors published in The Writers Post are The Writers Post’s properties, copyrighted by The Writers Post, and cannot be in any ways and means reused by the contributor or anyone). Literature in translation SHORT STORY] DARKNESS IN THE UNDERGROUND Short story by Lu Quynh, translated by N. Saomai Darkness in the underground LU QUYNH, writer and poet, born in 1942 in Thua Thien, Hue, Vietnam. His works appeared, before 1975, in the literary magazines published in South Vietnam, including Bach Khoa, Mai, Pho Thong, Khoi Hanh, and Y Thuc. His publications include Cat Vang, a collection of short stories, published by Y Thuc in Saigon in 1971, the second edition was published by Van Moi in California (US) in 2006; Nhung Con Mua Mua Dong, a collection of short stories, published by Y Thuc in 1973; Vuon Trai Dang, a novella, published by Nam Giao in 1974; and a novel published periodically in Y Thuc magazine from 1971 to 1972. He settled in the US, and resumed his writing after 2001, contributing to Van Hoc, Khoi Hanh. His most recent collection of poems, “Sinh nhat cua mot nguoi khong con tre”, is published by Van Moi in 2009 (California: Van Moi, 2009). “Darkness in the underground”, the translation version of his short story “Bong toi duoi ham”, published in this issue is his first appearance in The Writers Post. Lu Quynh is now living in California. ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Darkness in the underground Lu Quynh’s Bio POETRY [ originally in free verse ] DECEMBER FLOWER by Phan Ni Tan (N.D.), translated by N. Saomai December - Flower PHAN NI TAN (N.D), born in 1948 in Can Giuoc VN, poet and musician, educated at University of Saigon, Faculty of Letters, former officer in the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces serving one years’ imprisonment in re-education camps. He escaped Viet-Nam by sea to Thailand 1979, and has been living at Downsview in Toronto, Canada. He started composed poem at the age of 16, and music at 20. In 1968, he participated the “wandering singer” movement headquartered at Suong Nguyet Anh Street in Saigon, and was an active member of the wandering singer group in Ba Me Thuoc, lead by Nguyen Quyet Thang, and a group in Nhatrang. In the overseas, he was vice-chairman of internal affairs of the Hung Ca Movement in 1995, lead by writer Ha Thuc Sinh. He traveled to sing in several countries. In the field of literature, his poems appeared in Van Học, Van, Hop Luu, The Ky 21, Thoi Tap, Khoi Hanh, Song Van, Hon Viet published in the US, Nang Moi, Song, Lang Van in Canada, Que Me in France, and Ðoc Lap in Germany. His publications include Day Lua Truong Son (music, Lua Viet, 1983), Em Hát Em Vui (music for children, with Nguyen Huu Nghia. (CAN: Lang Van, 1987), Hoi Ky Tho (poetry. CAN: Lang Van, 1987), Cau Tho Ve Nguoi (poetry. Nhan Van, 1996). ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ December - Flower Phan Ni Tan’s Bio WHEN I DIE, TAKE ME TO THE SEA Poetry by Du Tu Le Translated by Vu Dinh Dinh When I die, take me to the sea DU TU LE, pseudonym of Lê Cự Phách, born in 1942 in Ha Nam. The Geneva Accord in 1954 forced him to immigrate, with his brother, to South Vietnam, where he settled in Hoi An, Quang Nam, then later in Da Nang. Coming to Saigon in 1956, he pursued education at the high schools Tran Luc, Chu Van An, and the Saigon University Faculty of Letters. He joined the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARV), graduated as an officer from Thu Duc Military Academy, Course 13, and worked at the Psychological Warfare Department as a war correspondent and the managing editor of the ARV’s Tien Phong Magazine. In 1969, he was sent to a training seminar in basic journalism in Indianapolis City, Indiana. As a result of the 1975 events, he came to the US, and resettled in California in April 1975. Du Tu Le started composing and publishing poetry at an early age, in 1953, under many different pseudonyms. The pseudonym Du Tu Le was initially used for a poem published in Mai magazine in Saigon in 1958, and has since been the only pseudonym under his books. His poems has appeared in a number of Vietnamese-language literary magazines at home and abroad before and after 1975, and in the Los Angeles Times in 1983, the New York Times in 1996, the anthology World Poetry / An anthology of Verse From Antiquity To Our Time (New York: Norton) in 1998; also, his poems appeared in some universities’ textbooks since 1990, or used in some universities for education purpose. Jean-Claude-Pomonti, a leading writer for the Le Monde, had chosen one of his poems to translate into French, and had it published in La Rage D’Etre Vietnamien. Du Tử Lê was once mentioned by the late writer Mai Thao as one of the distinguished poets in the Vietnamese contemporary literature; the others are: Vu Hoang Chuong, Dinh Hung, Bui Giang, Nguyen Sa, Thanh Tam Tuyen, and To Thuy Yen. Du Tu Le is the author of more than 40 books. His eponymous debut collection of poems ‘Tho Du Tu Le’ was published in 1964, his most recent ‘[neu can,] hay cho bai thoú mot ten goi !?!’ published in 2006 by HT Productions. “When I die, take me to the sea” published in this issue is a translation version taken from ‘Selected Vietnamese Poetry’ by Vu Dinh Dinh, published by R&M (Stafford, Texas: R&M, 2001). ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ When I die, take me to the sea Du Tu Le ’s Bio Translator VU DINH DINH VU DINH DINH was born and grew up in Vietnam. Pursuing higher education he came to the US in 1956 and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Chicago, and University of Hawaii where he obtained his Ph.D. He was recipient of an East-West Center Grant, a National Endowment for the Humanities Grant, and a National Science Foundation Honorable Mention Award, and having served as Senior Heath Planner with the Houston Department of Health and Human Services, taught at the college level, and had scientific research works published in international journals. His publications on Vietnamese culture include “In Search of a Tradition Code of Behavior and Cochinchina: Reassessment of the Origin and Use of a Westernized Place Name”. In 2001, his ‘Selected Vietnamese Poetry’ was published by R&M (Stafford, Texas: R&M, 2001). Published bilingually, the book includes 100 original poems in Vietnamese language he selected, and 100 translation versions he translated into English. The poems, which cover a period of more than one thousand years beginning with Ly Thuong Kiet’s dating from 1077 when this General repelled the Tong invasion (from China), range over various topics taken as the translator’s main focus of human love and passions: the beloved land, patriotic appeals, family ties, and human nature. ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Vu Dinh Dinh’s Bio CLAIMING MY RIGHT TO BEING A NITWIT by Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh, translated by Nguyen Ngoc Bich Claiming my right to being a nitwit NGUYEN THI THANH BINH, fiction writer and poet. Her most recent book is Dau An, a collection of short stories published by Van Moi Publisher (2004). This is the fifth book of the author, after Tron Vao Giac Mo Em, a collection of poetry published by Thanh Van Publisher (1997), O Doi Song Nay (a collection of short stories) published by Dai Nam Publisher (1989), Giot Le Xe Hai (a novel) published by Van Khoa Publisher, and Cuoi Dem Dai (a collection of short stories) published by An Tiem Publisher (1993). Her poems have appeared in numerous magazines, one of her short stories has been anthologized in "Tho van hai ngoai nam 2000" (CA: Van Moi Publisher, 2000). Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh is the editor of Gio Van, a literary magazine founded in 2002 in the US. Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh’s Bio Claiming my right to being a nitwit Translator NGUYEN NGOC BICH NGUYEN NGOC BICH, educator, lecturer, author, translator, born in Hanoi Vietnam, educated in Saigon, the US, Japan and Europe, received his B.A. in Political Science from Princeton University in 1958. He did graduate work in Asia studies at Columbia University (1959-65), Japanese literature at Kyoto University (1962-63) bilingual education and theoretical linguistics at Georgetown University (1980-85). In 1975, he came to the US, settled in Virginia, where he taught adult education, elementary school and high school in Arlington, then Vietnamese Literature and Vietnamese Culture and Civilization at Trinity College, George Mason University, and taught at Georgetown University as a teacher trainer in bilingual and Multicultural Education. He is also one of the founders of National News Service, which provides news of interest to readers of Vietnamese language newspapers worldwide. In 1997, he joined RFA (Radio Free Asia) as the Director of the Vietnamese Service at Free Asia in Washington DC. Nguyen Ngoc Bich is the author of several books mainly in English, editor of the anthology War and Exile: A Vietnamese Anthology, an anthology of stories and poems, published by Vietnamese PEN Abroad East Coast Center in the US (1989). His first book 'The Poetry of Vietnam' published by Asia Society of New York in 1969 was followed by three others: North Vietnam: Backtracking on Socialism (1971), An Annotated Atlas of the Republic of Vietnam (1972), and A Thousand Years of Vietnamese Poetry (Knopf, 1975). He co-authored with his wife, Dr. Dao Thi Hoi, a bilingual collection of Christmas carols (1975), and had a hand in doing a photography book by Tran Cao Linh, Vietnam, My Country Forever (Aide à l’Enfance du Vietnam, 1988), the catalogue of a traveling exhibition of Vietnamese and Vietnamese American paintings, An Ocean Apart (Smithsonian, 1996), the book Thai Tuan: Selected Paintings and Essays (VAALA, 1996). In the field of translation, he translated into English Truong Anh Thuy’s Truong Ca Loi Me Ru / A Mother’s Lullaby published (1989), a book on Vietnamese Architecture published (1972), two verse collections by Nguyen Chi Thien: Hoa Dia Nguc / The Flowers of Hell (1995) and Hat Mau Tho / Blood Seeds Become Poetry (1996), and poems by some poets living in the US. Nguyen Ngoc Bich’s Bio ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ NOTED AT THE GREAT WALL LOVE TEXT NO 16 IN AUTUMN FLOWERS RECITING A DREAM Three poems by Mai Van Phan, translated by Do Xuan Oanh Three poems by Mai Van Phan Mai Van Phan, born in 1955 in Ninh Binh, Red River Delta, North Vietnam, member of Vietnam Writer’s Association, winner of some awards for poetry in the provincial and national competition. Mai Van Phan’s Giot Nang (Sun Drop), a collection of poems published by Hoi Van Hoc Nghe Thuat Thanh Pho Hai Phong /’The Literature and Arts Association of Hai Phong City’ in 1992, was followed by Goi Xanh /Calling Green poetry collection (Vietnam: Hoi Nha Van Vietnam /Vietnam Writer’s Association, 1995), Cau Nguyen Ban Mai (Morning Prayer – poetry collection. Hai Phong, Vietnam: Hai Phong Publisher, 1997), Nghi Le Nhan Ten (Name Giving Ceremony – poetry collection. Hai Phong, Vietnam: Hai Phong Publisher, 1999), Nguoi Cung Thoi (People in the same Era – epic. Hai Phong, Vietnam: Hai Phong Publisher, 1999), Vach Nuoc (Water wattle - poetry collection. Hai Phong, Vietnam: Hai Phong Publisher, 2003). His poems also appeared in more than 30 anthologies, including FULCRUM 3 published in the US; in many journals published in Vietnam, including the monthly VAN of the Vietnam Writer’s Association of Ho Chi Minh City, which is under the editorship of Anh Duc, editorial address: 81 Tran Quoc Thao – Q.3 – TP. Ho Chi Minh (Anh da roi, Van: Xuan Mau Dan 1998, Thanh pho Ho Chi Minh 12.1997 – 1.1998); and in the magazines and Vietnamese language websites published abroad, including “Thi Luan” Magazine (S. Korean) and TIEN VE, an online centre for literature and the arts, based in Australia. ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Three poems by Mai Van Phan Mai Van Phan’s Bio Translator DO XUAN OANH Do Xuan Oanh, born in Quang Yen, Quang Ninh Province, North Vietnam on January 4, 1923, into a poor worker family of the coalmine area; self-educated and became a jack-of-all-trades – journalist, painter, writer, social worker, songwriter, translator, peace activist etc. Joining the revolution before 1945, he wrote the famous Nineteen August song on the August 1945 General Uprising Day, and subsequently many songs and music works during the wars. In the translation field, he translated into Vietnamese many American novels, including Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn first published in Vietnam. Into English he translated the play Truong Ba’s Soul in the Butcher’s Skin to be performed in America. For a while he joined the Vietnam Peace Committee and Vietnam-US Society as Vice-chairman and General Secretary. As a people’s diplomat representing social organisations, he worked with the Vietnam delegation in Vietnam-US Paris Peace Talks from 1968 to 1973. He retired in 1990 to continue with music and translation works. ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Do Xuan Oanh’s Bio THE GREEN EXPRESSION OF LOVE by Nguyen Huu Thuy, translated by N. Saomai The green expression of love NGUYEN HUU THUY, poet, born on 01-01-1954 in Quang Nam, Central Vietnam, where he grew up and was educated at Phan Chau Trinh High School in Da Nang. He left Central Vietnam for Saigon in 1972, pursuing higher education at Saigon University, Faculty of Law. His works appeared in a number of magazines published in South Vietnam. His debut “Hoa Tim” is a collection of poems, published by Tre Publisher in 1997. His unpublished poetry include “Trong vuon ca dao”, and “Tho buom, danh cho tuoi moi lon”. He is now living in Tan Binh. The green expression of love Nguyen Huu Thuy’s Bio ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ English literature POETRY – ARTICLES THE RECYCLERS, THE SCREENAGER POEM FOR FATHER’S DAY Three poems by Christopher Barnes The Recyclers – The Screenager - Poem For Father’s Day CHRISTOPHER BARNES, British poet, won the Northern Arts Writers Award in 1998, published the debut poetry collection LOVEBITES in 2005 (Chanticleer Press, 6/1 Jamaica Mews, Edinburgh).Christopher Barnes performed numerous poetry readings, in July 2001 at Waterstones bookshop to promote the anthology ‘Titles Are Bitches’, on Christmas of the same year at Newcastle’s Morden Tower debuting the poet’s own poems, in August 2003 at the Edinburgh Festival as a Per Verse poet at LGBT Centre, Broughton St. Each year Christopher Barnes reads for Proudwords lesbian and gay writing festival. As a poet taking an active part in the literary circles of Newcastle, Christopher Barnes involved in events and partook in workshops, works include making radio programme for Web community radio, entering a poem/visual image into The Art Café project, making a digital film with artists Kate Sweeney and Julie Ballands at a film making workshop called Out Of The Picture which was shown at the festival party for Proudwords. Also, Christopher Barnes worked on the collaborative art and literature project How Gay Are Your Genes, facilitated by poet Lisa Mathews, exhibited at The Hatton Gallery, Newcastle University. Christopher Barnes’ The Holiday I Never Had was recorded by The South Bank Centre in London. The poet can be heard reading it on www.poetrymagazines.org.uk/magazine/record.asp?id=18456 Christopher Barnes is living in Newcastle, UK. ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Christopher Barnes’ Bio ABOUT THE EDITOR N. Saomai / Nguyen Sao Mai N. SAOMAI [photograph 1989, US], author and editor, born in 1940 in Quang Ngai where he lived for 7 months before being brought to Saigon, grew up in Saigon, Dalat, and Nhatrang. He started his writing in the early sixties, contributed miscellaneous essays and general journalism to Saigon-based daily newspapers as a freelance writer. Also, from 1968 to 1972, he was on the editorial board of the monthly Nuoc-Ta, wrote stories, poems, and essays under his real name HMB and pseudonym Phuong-Thao. He began to write novel in 1962, and completed four novels (written in the period from 1962 to 1975), which remained unpublished during the Viet-Nam war. 'Can Nha', a novel having got past the military government's censors of the press, been ready to be published in 1974, was published 23 years later in the US. He left Viet Nam on April 29^th 1975, one day before the fall of Saigon on April 30 via a Chinook piloted by his brother, escaped Saigon for the sea and landed on the U.S.S. Duluth (LPD6) of the 7^th Fleet which was then outside Vung Tau’s territorial waters, with his three motherless children. One of them later became Tap-chi Song-Van’s managing editor Thanh-Tam. He came to the US in May 1975, settled in Miami in June 1975. Can Nha, published periodically in Tap-chi Song-Van (ISSN 1089-8123), and in book form in December 1997, is his third novel. Several excerpts from the novel were republished in the literary Van (CA: Van, issue 35, November 1999), and in the anthology Tho Van Hai Ngai Nam 2000 (CAN: Viet Thuong, 2000). His second 'Bon no le trong den tho', written on the starting date of 1964, was also published periodically in Tap-chi Song-Van, issue 15. This was the last issue before the discontinuity of the magazine in December 1999. One excerpt from his fourth novel (1973) was published in Gio Van magazine. N. Saomai is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of the magazines Tap-chi Song-Van [ISSN: 1089-8123], The Writers Post at http://www.thewriterspost.net [ISSN: 1527-5469]), and Wordbridge [ISSN: 1540-1723). As a founder and editor of the magazines aiming to introduce Vietnamese literature into Western literary communities, he brought through his translations a number of new and established Vietnamese poets and writers to an English speaking audience. The translation versions were published in Tap-chi Song-Van, The Writers Post, and Wordbridge. ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Return to top A DIRECTORY OF VIETNAMESE POETS AND WRITERS IN THE OVERSEAS: Vietnamese Poets And Writers Abroad LISTINGS THE ‘VIETNAMESE WRITERS ABROAD LISTINGS’ AIMS TO PROVIDE FACTUAL INFORMATION ON POETS AND WRITERS LIVING ABROAD. ranging from little-known to famous, compiled and listed by Luan Hoan. The listings are edited, rewritten in English, and given added information to where needs be, by The Writers Post. Also, new listings may be added by the The Writers Post. We apologise for any deficiency, to the reader, and to any poet or writer whose name is not in the list as information is not available. [ Click here for their listings in the full list ] Return to top Return to Contents HOME Contact: N. Saomai, Editor, The Writers Post PO. Box 832464 Miami, Florida 33283 USA E-mail: songvan@msn.com	CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS AND ARTISTS: Christopher Barnes Du Tu Le Dinh Cuong Lu Quynh Phan Ni Tan (ND) Do Xuan Oanh Mai Van Phan Nguyen Huu Thuy Nguyen Ngoc Bich Nguyen Sao Mai Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh Vu Dinh Dinh Vietnamese Poets and Writers VIETNAMESE POETS AND WRITERS ABROAD. The listings provide information on Vietnamese Poets and Writers living Abroad (click here for VIETNAMESE POETS & WRITERS ABROAD). TWP BIOGRAPHICAL DATABASE Photographs, and factual information on contributing authors (Click here for TWP BIOGRAPHICAL DATABASE LINKS Links provide access to literature and art. Click HERE for Links To Lit & Art A Note On Submissions ... Any essay, review containing libel, invasion of privacy, obscenity, substantial disruption will not be accepted. As always, translations and poems will not be edited. The author/ translator should check the work for typing errors before submitting. On the work(s) published in The Writers Post the author/ translator owns the copyright. The publisher may contact the author/ translator if interested in featuring the work(s) into print publication. (See a note on submissions). TITLES RECEIVED Note: Titles here in this page presented, or in the issues mentioned, are not intended to be ordered through this website. New titles are added at the top of this section; the older ones slide down the column with Cover Art removed Titles received in this year, but published in previous years are added accordingly among the others published in the same year (some exceptions may be made for books published in Vietnam). LU QUYNH’S SINH NHAT CUA MOT NGUOI KHONG CON TRE A poetry collection 123 pages; 20cm. Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: $15.00 (California, US: Van Moi Publisher, 2009) Contact information: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 BUOM SAU CANH A COLLECTION OF BLANK VERSE A collection of blank verse by five authors Bien Bac, Bim, Thien Dang, Nguyen Tat Do, and Giang Anh Ien. 112 pages; 20cm. Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: No Price Given Limited edition distributed to friends. (VN: Nha xuat ban Tho Tan Hinh Thuc, 2008). BLANK VERSE An anthology of VIETNAMESE NEW FORMALISM POETRY anthologized by Khe Iem, partly translated by Do Vinh, introduction by Dang Tien. ISBN: 0-9778742-0-6 500 pages; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese and English paper/ US: $20.00 (CA: Tan Hinh Thuc Publishing Club, 2006) Contact information: Contact the publisher at: P.O. Box 1745 Garden Grove, CA 92842 INRASARA’S CHUYEN 40 NAM … A poetry collection 112 pages; 20cm. Language: Vietnamese paper/ VN: $DONG 20,000 (VN: Nha xuat ban Hoi Nha van, 2006) Contact information: INRASARA 107, Duong 45, Phuong 6, Quan 4, Thanh pho Ho Chi Minh VIETNAM THE BOOK OF HOPES AND DREAMS A POETRY ANTHOLOGY Published by Bluechrome to raise money for the Medical Aid (Afghanistan) appeal of the Glasgow-based charity Spirit Aid, which is an entirely volunteer run organisation, headed by Scottish actor and director, David Hayman. There are contributions from Margaret Atwood, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, John Heath-Stubbs, Carol Ann Duffy, Simon Armitage, Tony Harrison, Alasdair Gray, Edwin Morgan, Penelope Shuttle, Anne Stevenson, Jon Stallworthy, Alan Brownjohn, Ruth Fainlight, David Constantine, Moniza Alvi, Cyril Dabydeen, Elaine Feinstein, Vicki Feaver, Michael Horovitz, Tom Leonard, Robert Mezey, Lawrence Sail, Jay Ramsay, Charles Ades Fishman, Geoffrey Godbert and Ian Duhig, amongst others. Language: English paper/ UK £9.99 Available from all good bookstores in the UK. Outside the UK via the Bluechrome or UK Amazon Moe information about the book on Dee Rimbaud’s website at http://www.thunderburst.co.uk PATERNSON LITERARY REVIEW ISSUE 35 Edited by Maria Mazziotti Gillan 418 pages; 22,5 cm. Language: English paper/ US: $13.00 Contact information: Passaic County Community College One College Boulevard Paterson, NJ 07505-1179 LUAN HOAN’S O TINH LAN LUNG A poetry selection 630 pages; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: $30.00 (CAN: Nhan Anh, 2007) Contact information: Nha Xuat Ban Nhan Anh Email: lehan3359ca@yahoo.com SONG THAO’s CHON CU A novel 228 pages; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: $17.00 (CAN: Nhan Anh, 2006) Contact information: Contact the author at: 7805 Claire Fauteux #1 Montreal, PQ H1K5B6 DU TU LE’s [neu can] hay cho bai tho mot ten goi !?! The 44^th book of the author, a collection of poems written from 2000 to 2006 published by HT Productions in August 2006. 156 pages; 21cm. Cover: derek pham Layout: vuong trung duong Author’s photograph: le dinh thang Art work: dinh cuong Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: $12.00 (CA: HT Productions, 2006) Contact information: Contact the publisher at: HT Productions 12751 Lucille Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92841 - 4711 Email: hanhtuyen@hotmail.com FACTOTUM SOUNDTRACK CD The score to the Charles- Bukowski’s-novel-based film “Factotum” was composed by the renowned Norwegian singer & songwriter Kristin Asbjornsen, in which she performed two poems by Bulowski. In addition to the music from the film, the soundtrack contains two more songs based on poems by Bukowski taken from ‘What matter most is how well you walk through the fire’. The CD is available from Milan Entertainment, Inc. beginning August 1^st. Contact information: Milan Entertainment 3500 W. Olive Ave. Suite 750 Burbank, CA 91505 ph: 818.953.7818 fx: 818.953.7801 Khe Kinh Kha’s TO TINH A collection of poems and songs by Khe Kinh Kha, writer and musician, author of Que huong trong noi nho, Luu vong ca (music, 1980), Di chuc cho con (music, 2005). Khe Kinh Kha’s debut poetry collection To Tinh includes 66 poems and 14 songs, of which a number of poems was already published in literary magazines in Vietnam before 1975, dating from 1966. To Tinh Collection of poems and songs 154 pages; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: No Price Given Limited edition distributed to friends. (NJ: Thu An Quan, 2006) Contact information: P.O. Box 58 S. bound Brook, NJ 08880 E-mail: tranhoaithu@yahoo.com Tl # (908) 769-1718 DAUGHTERS of the RIVER HUONG A novel by Uyen Nicole Duong, author of Mui Huong Que (Mui Huong Que was published under her real name Duong Nhu Nguyen), is released by RavensYard Publishing, Ltd. The book is available online from RavensYard, Amazon.com, and Barnes and Nobles. Daughters of the River Huong ISBN 1-928928-16-1 271 pages; 21cm. Language: English Trade paperback; SRP $ 17.95 Contact information: Contact the publisher at: info@ravensyard.com GREEN PLUMS A collection of poems in English and Vietnamese by Do Vinh. Green Plums 143 p.; 21cm. Language: English and Vietnamese No price or publisher given Contact: Joseph Dovinh: 12519 Larkin Drive Bakersfield, California 93312 TAC GIA, VOI CHUNG TA by Le Quynh Mai. A compilation of interviews with author conducted by Le Quynh Mai, who is in charge of the Literature and Art Programme on ‘Tieng Noi Viet Nam’ Radio (103.3 FM), Montreal, Canada, and a contributor providing literature and art news to the readers of Hop Luu magazine. Tac gia, voi chung ta 334 p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Khanh Truong paper/ US: $18.00 US/ CAN: $20.00 CAN (CAN: Khoi Nguyen, 2004) Contact: Khoi Nguyen 6567 Ernest Lavigne Montréal P.Q H1M 1C4 Canada lequynhmaii@yahoo.com LUAN HOAN, MOT DOI THO by Le Han A compilation of writings about poet Luan Hoan by 154 writers and acquaintances, ranging from articles, interviews, and poems dedicated to the poet. The book also contains Luan Hoan’s family pictures, and drawings by friends and artists. Compiled by Le Han. Luan Hoan, mot doi tho Cover: Luan Hoan’s portrait by Dinh Cuong. Layout by Le Han Copy editor: Doan Phe Binding: Central Perfect Bindery, Toronto 604p, 21cm Language: Vietnamese (CAN: Song Thu, 2004) No price given. THE BATTLE OF SAIGON A translation version of the short -story collection ‘Mat tran o Saigon’ by Ngo The Vinh, author of The Green Belt, published by XLibris. “The Battle of Saigon presents war and post war traumatic experience and dreams from the perspective of Vietnam Diaspora” The battle of Saigon Jacket design by Khanh Truong Jacket photographs © by Tim Page 200 p.; 21cm. Language: English Hardcover ISBN 1-4134-6377-0 Softcover ISBN 1-4134-6376-2 (US: Xlibris Corporation, 2005) Contact: Xlibris Corporation 1-888-795-4274 www.Xlibris.com Orders@Xlibris.com O CUA By Tran Hoai Thu O Cua - The complete poetry works of Tran Hoai Thu (Some published poems are revised) Poetry—374p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Than Trong Minh Design & Layout: Tran Hoai Thu paper/ US: No Price Given (NJ: Thu An Quan, 2004) Contact: Tran Hoai Thu P.O. Box 58 S. bound Brook, NJ 08880 E-mail: tranhoaithu@yahoo.com Tl # (908) 769-1718 DAU AN by Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh, author of ‘O doi song nay’ (short story, 1989), Giot le xe hai (novel, 1991), Cuoi dem dai (short story, 1993), Tron vao giac mo em (poetry, 1997). Dau an A collection of published short stories. 325p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Dinh Cuong Design: Cao Hoang paper/ US: $14.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2004) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 E-mail: Kimanquan@yahoo.com VAN XUOI TOAN TAP by Kinh Duong Vuong The complete prose works of Kinh Duong Vuong. Van xuoi toan tap 1198p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Rung Hardcover/ No price given (Saigon: 2004) DUNG NHAM, THO TOAN TAP by Dung Nham The complete poetry works of Dung Nham. Dung Nham, tho toan tap 450p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Rung paper/ No price given (Saigon: 2004) VACH NUOC by Mai Van Phan author of Giot Nang (Sun Drop), Goi Xanh (Calling Green), Cau Nguyen Ban Mai (Morning Prayer), Nghi Le Nhan Ten (Name Giving), Nguoi Cung Thoi (People in the same Era). Vach nuoc Poetry—83p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Layout: T&P Design Responsibility for publishing: Pham Nga Copy editor: Nguyen Anh Nguyet Hardcover/ VN: VN$25,000.00 (Vietnam: 2003) Contact: Mai Van Phan 12/56 Cat Cut Hai Phong, VIETNAM E-mail: maivanphan@hn.vnn.vn LUC BAT HOANG XUAN SON by Hoang Xuan Son author of 3 poetry collections. Luc Bat Hoang Xuan Son Poetry—166p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Hoang Xuan Son Design: Pham Van Nhan Prologue by Cao Vi Khanh Illustrated Art by Tran Quy Thoai paper/ US: $15.00 (NJ: Thu An Quan, 2004) Contact: Hoang Xuan Son #38, 14 street Roxboro Quebec H8Y 1M6 - Canada E-mail: son_hoang42@yahoo.com Interested readers CLICK HERE to read Luc Bat Hoang Xuan Son LAM CHUONG, TRUYEN VA NHUNG DOAN VAN By Lam Chuong. Lam Chuong, Truyen Va Nhung Doan Van Story, Essay—219p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Khanh Truong Design: Son Ca paper/ US: $12.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2004) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 HUONG MUA A poetry collection by Song Vinh, author of Ve Duoi Hien Xua (2000 Huong Mua , a poetry collection collected 106 poems the author recently composed, prologues by Nguyen Dong Giang, Thai Thuy Vi, Thao Nguyen, and Luan Hoan. Some poems are set to music by Phan Ni Tan (ND), Pham Anh Dung, and Mai Duc Vinh. Cover art by Hoang Vi Kha. paper/ 130 pp – 21cm. (Printed at Andrew Printing Co.) Contact: SONG VINH 107 Bromfield way Cary, NC 27519 Tel: (919) 301-5129 E-mail: song_vinh@hotmail.com THE GREEN BELT by Ngo The Vinh translated into English by Nha Trang & William L. Pensinger co-authors of the novel The Moon of Hòa Bình. The Green Belt was published by Ivy House Publishing, Hard Cover,  $ 23.95,  256 Pages (US: Ivy House Publishing, 2004) For more info on The Green Belt, visit www.thegreenbelt.com CHE TAO THO CA by Phan Nhien Hao Author of Thien Duong Chuong Giay Che Tao Tho Ca Collection of Poems—94p.; 23cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Design by Nguyen Danh Bang paper/ US: $15.00 (CA: Van, 2004) Contact: Tu Luc Distributor: www.tuluc.com Tu Luc Bookstore 14318 Brookhurst St Garden Grove, CA 92843 BAT NHA CA By Tu Hoa Author of Nhap Phap Gioi Luoc Giai Bat Nha Ca Poetry—70p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: $10.00 (PA: Ban Tu Thu Tu Hoa, 2004) Contact: Ban Tu Thu Tu Hoa Dauxua756@aol.com NGHI VE VAN HOC HAI NGOAI By Nguyen Mong Giac, Author of 10 books. Nghi ve Van hoc Hai Ngoai Essay—253p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Nguyen Dong and Nguyen Thi Hop paper/ US: $13.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2004) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 SONG VOI CHU By Nguyen Hung Quoc Author of 8 books Song Voi Chu (Living with Words) Essay on language and literature—202p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Nguyen Hung Author’s photo Credit: Pham Huu Khanh (Saigon: 12, 2002) paper/ US: $12.00 (CA: Van Moi & Tien Ve Online Centre for Arts, 2004) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 THAP TA By To Thuy Yen Thap Ta Second poetry collection of the author 140p.; 21cm. (Published by the author, under An Tiem Publisher’ name, 2004) paper/ US: $16.00 Contact: Mrs. Huynh Dieu Bich 1210 Bluebonnet Pl.Cir Apt L Houston, TX 77019  USA VAN HOC VIET NAM THE KY 20 MOT SO HIEN TUONG VA THE LOAI By Nguyen Vy Khanh Author of 5 books. Van Hoc Viet Nam The Ky 20 Mot so hien tuong va the loai Research—663p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Justin Nguyen paper/ US: $22.00 (CA: Dai Nam, 2004) VAN HOA, GIOI TINH VA VAN HOC By Nguyen Hoang Van Van Hoa, Gioi Tinh va Van Hoc Essay—265p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Hoang Ngoc Dieu paper/ US: $14.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2004) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 CHU DUOI CHAN TUONG By Nguyen Vien Author of 6 books. Chu duoi chan tuong Story—204p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: $12.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2004) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 TUOI 20 YEU DAU By Nguyen Huy Thiep Tuoi 20 yeu dau Novel—193p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Nguyen Trong Khoi paper/ US: $12.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2004) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 MAU HE By Tran Yen Hoa Author of 5 books. Mau He Novel—412p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Ho Thanh Duc paper/ US: $15.00 (CA: The Ky, 2004) Contact: Tran Yen Hoa. 14272 Hoover St #95 Westminster, CA 92683. Phone: 714-636-2390 714-623-2642 AO GAM VE LANG By Tran Yen Hoa Author of 5 books. Ao Gam Ve Lang Collection of stories—295p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Ho Thanh Duc paper/ US: $15.00 (CA: The Ky, 2004) Contact: Tran Yen Hoa. 14272 Hoover St #95 Westminster, CA 92683. Phone: 714-636-2390 714-623-2642 BEN LUNG NHUNG CON CHU By Song Thao Author of six books. Ben Lung Nhung Con Chu Collection of short stories—218p; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: $12.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2003) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 MADE IN VIETNAM By Thuan Made in Vietnam Collection of short stories—192p; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: $12.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2003) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 THUONG NHO HOANG LAN By Tran Thuy Mai Thuong Nho Hoang Lan Collection of short stories—240p; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: $12.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2003) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 TINH THOM MAY NHANH By Le Han Tinh Thom May Nhanh Collection of Poems—177p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Dinh Cuong paper/ US: No price given (CA: No publisher given, 2003) Contact: leh@aecl.ca lehan3359ca@yahoo.com MAY SONG CUNG LOI By Hoang Chinh Author of 4 books. May Song Cung Loi Novel—285p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art: Thieu Nu by Vi Vi paper/ US: $13.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2003) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 PATERSON LITERARY REVIEW Literary Journal Issue 32 Editor: Maria Mazziotti Gillan Paternson Literary Review A multicultural literary journal, established in 1979, Issue 32 contents includes: poetry, translations, prose, fiction, memoir, essay, reviews. 354 p.; 23cm. Language: English paper/ US: $10.00 Contact: Maria Mazziotti Gillan, Editor Paterson Literary Review 1 College Boulevard Paterson, NJ, 07505-1179 USA Return to top
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