Hundreds of Books, One Community: The 2026 Iu Mien Authors Book Fair in Sacramento

On Saturday, October 10, 2026, I joined readers, families, and community members at the Iu Mien Authors Book Fair in Sacramento. The gathering was hosted by Iu Mien Community Services at Asian Resources Inc., with a purpose that mattered to all of us: to raise awareness of the need to promote literacy in Iu Mien communities, especially literacy about Iu Mien culture, tradition, and history.

I came as the featured author of Love In Wonderland. It was a special feeling to bring a book shaped by Iu Mien culture, tradition, and history to an event centered on sharing stories with the next generation. But the best part of the day was not simply seeing my book on the table. It was meeting people, talking about our stories, and watching children leave with books of their own.

A day for stories and community

The fair ran from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Asian Resources Inc., 6270 Elder Creek Road in Sacramento. The schedule gave visitors time to meet authors, ask questions, and share a meal together: book signing and meet the author from 11 a.m. to noon, an author forum and audience Q&A from noon to 1 p.m., and lunch with the authors from 1 to 2 p.m.

People came by the tables to browse, talk, and find books that spoke to them. I was glad to meet my readers face to face, as well as local community members and supporters of Iu Mien literacy. Every conversation reminded me that a book can be more than pages and words. It can open a door to a family memory, a cultural tradition, or a question someone has been waiting to ask.

At my table, I signed copies of Love In Wonderland and spoke with visitors about the stories behind it. I wrote the book with the hope that readers would connect with the people, experiences, and cultural background it carries. For Iu Mien readers, those stories can feel close to home. For readers encountering them for the first time, they can offer a way to learn about a community’s history and lived experience.

Why stories about Iu Mien culture matter

Literacy is not only about learning to read. It is also about having access to stories that reflect who we are, where we come from, and what we want to pass on. Books about Iu Mien culture, tradition, and history can help young readers see their heritage represented. They can also help families share knowledge across generations and invite neighbors to understand experiences they may not know.

That matters for Iu Mien communities in the US, where many families are building lives across generations and navigating different languages and cultural settings. A book can give parents and children a starting point for conversations. It can preserve memories, make cultural knowledge more visible, and remind young people that their stories deserve a place on the shelf.

This is one reason Love In Wonderland felt like a natural fit for the fair. Its cultural and historical elements made it part of the larger conversation about what we choose to record and share. At the event, I could talk with people about the book and hear what they hoped children would learn from reading it.

Hundreds of books, freely given

One of the most meaningful parts of the day was seeing children receive books at no cost. Between the four Iu Mien authors, we gave out hundreds of books to children for free. Each book was a chance for a young reader to take a story home, open it, and make it their own.

A child receiving a book may be the start of a new reading habit. It may also be the beginning of a conversation with a parent, grandparent, or caregiver. When children have books they can keep, they can return to them, share them, and ask questions as they grow. Making books available is a simple act, but it can have a lasting effect.

I enjoyed meeting readers and seeing the interest children brought to the tables. The moments were simple (a greeting, a question, a signed book) but they carried a lot of meaning. They showed the importance of creating welcoming spaces where young people can meet authors and discover stories connected to their community.

Learning from one another

The author forum gave us time to answer questions and talk about writing. Hearing questions from the audience made the event feel like a shared conversation rather than a one-way presentation. People were curious about the stories, the writing process, and why it matters to document culture and history. Those questions are important because they show that readers want to learn and connect.

The gathering also gave the authors and supporters time to be together. We came from different experiences, but we shared a belief in the value of stories and in encouraging young readers. Seeing the four Iu Mien authors and supporters together was a reminder that this work is not done alone. Writers, families, community organizations, and readers all help keep stories moving from one generation to the next.

The event’s focus on literacy connects with work I care about beyond my writing. As a board member of the Mien International Enrichment Network, I value efforts that help expand literacy resources and support Iu Mien communities. I also work as an Iu Mien culture and language consultant. In each role, I see how important it is to make cultural knowledge accessible and to support people who are working to preserve it.

Readers interested in related literacy efforts can learn more about the Mien International Enrichment Network’s Children’s Literacy Project. You can also find information about my upcoming gatherings and book events on the events page.

Thank you for making the fair possible

I am grateful to Iu Mien Community Services for hosting the fair and bringing people together around books, culture, and community. Many thanks to the sponsors for making this event possible. Their support helped create a space where authors could meet readers and children could receive books to take home.

I left the fair thankful for the conversations, the readers I met, and the children who received books. An event like this may last only a few hours, but its purpose reaches beyond the day itself. When we make room for books about Iu Mien culture and Iu Mien history, we help young people see that their stories matter. When we share those stories with the wider community, we build understanding as well as connection.

As the author of Love In Wonderland and The Promised Land series, I believe stories can help us remember and learn from one another. Events like the 2026 Iu Mien Authors Book Fair keep Iu Mien literacy, culture, tradition, and history alive for the next generation: one conversation, one reader, and one book at a time.