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Kao Kalia Yang is the award-winning author of three memoirs: The latecomer, The poet of the song, and Somewhere in the unknown world. She is the collaborator and co-editor of the revolutionary collection, Which God is honored here? : Writings on Miscarriages and Infant Loss by and for Indigenous Women and Women of Color. She is also the author of children’s books: A map in the world, The shared room, The most beautiful thing, and Yang warriors. Yang’s work has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, National Book Critics Circle Award, Chautauqua Prize, PEN America Literary Awards, Dayton Literary Peace Prize, as Outstanding Books by the American Library Association, Kirkus Best Books of the Year, the Heartland Booksellers Award and won four Minnesota Book Awards. She will be part of the upcoming Chippewa Valley Book Festival October 24-29, talking about her latest book Somewhere in the unknown world – a collective refugee memoir that tells the powerful stories that refugees carry in their quest for peace and their quest to build homes for those they love.
What are you eager to share about your work?
Somewhere in the unknown world is a story for our present moment; it deals with the lives of many refugees here and of those on the way. Understanding the political forces and personal stories that bring people here is helpful for all Americans.
If you could say something to your young writer, what would it be?
Kao Kalia Yang, the life you will live is nothing like what you imagine. In many ways, it’s more beautiful. Be prepared to be grateful and delighted, to discover a world that will learn from you.
What do you hope readers will learn from your books?
Every book I write is a love letter to someone somewhere. My hope is that the readers of my books will be filled with a greater understanding and a deeper sense of love after reading my work.
Which book would you most like to re-read for the first time?
The little Prince.
What are you reading at the moment?
Sweetgrass braiding.
Do you have a favorite quote on reading and / or writing?
I don’t have a favorite quote on reading and / or writing, but I love one on history: “A story is a stop sign in the road of life. Its purpose is to make you pause, look both ways, and check the path of the horizon before continuing. – Uncle Eng Yang
Learn more about Kao Kalia Yang at kaokaliayang.com.
