482. A Fantastic New Year Gift

I’m going on a book tour in southern California soon. Invited by the Flying Tigers WWII Veterans Association, I’ll be one of the two guest speakers at their 78^th Anniversary Reunion in San Diego. Also, I’ll give three presentations in the area and two more around Palm Springs. For more info, please check

My third novel has been accepted for publication! Legacy of the Tigers is the third of the Tiger Saga trilogy—in China’s political chaos, a woman’s struggle to survive and to search for her family and the American pilot she loves. It’ll be published this summer by the same publisher, Open Books.

Two years ago, I was struggling to find a publisher. It was a tedious process. Frustrating. And painful. Looking at all the book covers, I longed to be a published author and see my own book cover among them. Whenever I received a rejection letter, I gave myself permission to eat an ice cream bar. Luckily, I didn’t have to sabotage my weight loss effort for too long.

At the end of January 2018, I received four offers and signed a contract with Open Books for both of my novels at the same time. Wings of a Flying Tiger was published in June 2018, and Will of a Tiger was released last January. Both books have received excellent reviews and touched many people, including a son of a Flying Tiger who gave his father’s flight jacket to me. I was thrilled to be interviewed on National Public Radio and honored to be a guest speaker at the Flying Tigers WWII Veterans Reunion.

It’s so hard to believe that in two years I have two books published and the third one is on its way. Dreams do come true if one works hard enough. I’m so glad I didn’t give up when the time was hard, the noise was strong, and the odds were against me—a scientist born and raised in China to be a fiction writer.

www.irisyang-author.com

By the way, I’m going to travel to Iceland in August and September. Stay tuned for pictures.

477. Last Chance to Hike

We were offered a city tour of Dublin on the last day in Ireland. I’d already walked around the city for half a day when I first got there. So, I decided to take off from the group and venture out of the city. A thirty minutes train ride took me to Howth peninsula. I hiked along the cliff for four hours in the rain. The natural beauty put me in ease, and I felt so free. 

Honestly speaking, I’ve been frustrated with the tours in Scotland and Ireland. They are so inactive, very hard for a hiker like me. We drove past many gorgeous places without stopping. We stopped to take pictures, but we were not allowed to step away. We visited stunning places like Giant’s Causeway and Cliff of Moher, but we had very limited time to walk around (less than two hours each).

I hiked as much as possible when we had free time. However, knowing the beauty is all around me while I have to stay in a shop or a factory to learn how to make crystal, pottery, or tweed jacket is more than frustrating.

Well, I learned my lesson. I’ll do my homework better next time, either to travel on my own or to find a tour that gears toward hikers.  

http://www.irisyang-author.com

476. Blarney Castle and Garden

475. The Ring of Kerry + Killarney National Park

The Ring of Kerry is a scenic drive in southwest Ireland’s County Kerry. It’s 180 km long, with rugged and verdant coastal landscapes. Killarney National Park is part of the scenic drive. 

http://www.irisyang-author.com

474. Cliffs of Moher

This is another reason I wanted to visit Ireland. The Cliffs of Moher are sea cliffs located in west Ireland. They run for about 14 km, rising hundreds of feet above sea. The cliffs rank among the most visited tourist sites in Ireland, and it’s easy to see why.  

 

http://www.irisyang-author.com

472. Untamed landscapes of Connemara

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

471. Magic Giant’s Causeway

Giant’s Causeway is one of the reasons I wanted to visit Ireland. Ever since I’ve seen pictures of those hexagons, I wanted to see them in person. There are 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, created by volcanic and geological activity. With beautiful coastline and ancient folklore, it is a magic place. I only wish we had more time!

 

http://www.irisyang-author.com

470. Glasgow Botanic Gardens

It’s not a large garden and I’ve seen most of the flowers they have, but it’s still a nice place to spend a couple of hours.

(Glottiphyllum Linguiforme)

(Cochliostema Jacobiana)

(Thunbergia Mysorensis)

((Thunbergia Mysorensis))

469. Charming Oban

468. Inveraray and Loch Lomond

We had only a little more than an hour to see this beauty.