Brace yourself for a wrenching journey through the pages of “Ghost Town,” as Kevin Chen, the author of this gripping novel, gears up for an in-person appearance in Pasadena next weekend.
Chen’s novel follows the story of a Taiwanese man who flees his traditional family in a small village in Taiwan for the bright lights of Berlin in search of acceptance and freedom. However, his dreams are soon shattered when he is imprisoned for the murder of his boyfriend, and he is forced to return to his impoverished and barren hometown. With no family to turn to and nothing left for him there, Keith must face the ghosts of his past as he tries to make sense of the shattered pieces of his life.
“Ghost Town” is a visceral exploration of identity, belonging, and the struggle to come to terms with one’s darkest demons. Don’t miss the chance to witness Chen’s haunting prose brought to life in this exclusive event.
The Red Hen Press will host author Kevin Chen for an in-person author talk about his latest novel, “Ghost Town,” on Saturday, April 21 at 7 p.m.will. Following the talk, there will be a book signing where fans can meet the author and get their copies of “Ghost Town” signed.
“Ghost Town” was released in English in October 2022 and quickly became one of the most anticipated books of the fall. The novel explores the landscape of Chen’s hometown, Yongjing Changhua in Taiwan, and alternates between the voices and perspectives of numerous living and deceased individuals. The book challenges our imagination of ghosts while exploring themes of family trauma, secrets, and identity. Translator Darryl Sterk translated the book, which has been selected for the PEN Translation Prize 2023, a rare feat for Taiwanese literary works.
Kevin Chen started his career as a cinema and theater actor and has since become a Taiwanese author with several published novels, essays, and short story collections. Although he has been living in Germany for several years, his writing continues to explore the complexities of Taiwanese culture.
Moderator Pete Hsu, a Taiwanese American writer based in Pasadena, will lead the discussion. His work has been featured in several journals and anthologies, including the Asian American Writers’ Workshop’s The Margins, F(r)iction, The Los Angeles Review, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. Hsu was a 2017 PEN Center USA Emerging Voices Fellow, as well as the 2017 PEN in the Community Writer in Residence.
This event is free and open to the public, and all literature enthusiasts are welcome to attend. The talk will take place at the Red Hen Press located at 1540 Lincoln Ave. in Pasadena. For more call (626) 356-4760
