Asian Art Museum | Book Release Celebration: Jaime Cortez and Claire Light

Asian Art Museum celebrates the publication of two new books with readings by Jaime Cortez and Claire Light, moderated by artist and author Joel Tan.

Jaime Cortez reads from his debut story collection, "Gordo" (Black Cat/Grove Atlantic), set in a 1970s migrant workers camp near Watsonville, California. You'll meet Gordo, a young, probably gay boy, as he enters manhood while negotiating cultural and familial constrictions. Cortez's stories give voice to a marginalized generation of migrant workers in Steinbeck country and redefine what "all-American" means.

Claire Light reads from her debut urban fantasy novel "Monkey Around" (Solaris), an action-packed spin on the classic Chinese tale Monkey King set in San Francisco, written under the pen name Jadie Jang. She introduces us to her protagonist, were-monkey Maya McQueen, who is well on her way to figuring herself out when Occupy Wall Street emerges, the Bay Area’s shapeshifters start falling to a shadowy murderer, and the city's spirit tasks Maya with finding its guardian.

Followed by a Q&A with the authors.

Want to watch from home? This program will also be livestreamed to our YouTube channel.

ASL will be provided.