Strawberry Yellow Nov 2018

STRAWBERRY YELLOW by Naomi Hirahara

November 8, 2018

PERSONAL INFORMATION:
Born May 12, 1962, in Pasadena, CA; daughter of Isamu (a gardener) and Mayumi

Hirahara; married Wes Fukuchi. Education: Stanford University, B.A.,

1983; studied at the Inter-University Center for Advanced Japanese

Language Studies, Tokyo, Japan. Memberships: Mystery Writers of

America. Addresses: Home: Pasadena, CA. E-mail:

bachi@naomihirahara.com.

CAREER:
Writer. Rafu Shimpo, reporter and editor, until 1996; Newman University,

Wichita, KS, Milton Center Fellow in creative writing, 1996-97; freelance

writer, 1997--. Member of advisory boards, Asian Pacific American Book

Festival, Los Angeles, CA, 2007, and Orange County Agricultural and

Nikkei Heritage Museum, Fullerton Arboretum; teaches writing workshops

and a bilingual writing class at the Japanese Retirement Home, Los

Angeles.

AWARDS:
"Ten Best Mysteries and Thrillers of 2004" citation, Chicago Tribune, and

"Best Books of 2004" pick, Publishers Weekly, both for Summer of the

Big Bachi; Edgar Allan Poe award for best paperback original, 2007, for

Snakeskin Shamisen; grant, National Endowment for the Arts; T.

Jefferson Parker Award, Southern California Independent Booksellers

Association, 2014, for best mystery, for Murder on Bamboo Lane.

WRITINGS:
"MAS ARAI" MYSTERY SERIES. (Most Recent: Mar 2018)

(First book in series) Set in modern L.A., this novel of moral and spiritual

reckoning finds a Japanese American who survived the horrors of

Hiroshima forced to relive the nightmare when a stranger show up looking

for him. Original.

    Summer of the Big Bachi, 2004.
    Gasa-Gasa Girl, Delta2005.
    Snakeskin Shamisen, 2006.
    Blood Hina, 2010.
    Strawberry Yellow, 2013.

    Sayonara Slam, 2016

    Hiroshima Boy, 2018

ELLIE RUSH MYSTERIES.  (Most Recent: Apr 2015)
    Murder on Bamboo Lane (Apr 2014)

    (First book in series) During the L.A.'s Chinese New Year Parade,

rookie bike cop        Ellie Rush's day turns dangerous when a murder

investigation falls into her lap.

   

       Grave on Grand Avenue (Apr 2015)

Author. Read-alikes
1.   Massey, Sujata  Reason: Massey and Hirahara write amateur

detective mysteries that feature Japanese American sleuths. Their

sleuths are likeble characters who are sensitively dealing with their

multicultural heritage. The stories feature sharp dialogue, ingenious plots,

and sharp characterization. The books bring in interesting information

about Japanese heritage while giving a keen sense of place. -- Merle Jacob
2.   Friedman, Daniel, Reason:  Daniel Friedman and Naomi Hirahara

write mysteries featuring senior citizens as their amateur sleuths. The

gruff elderly Jewish ex-cop and Japanese American gardener use their

cultural and worldly knowledge of people to solve crimes. The books are

filled with ethnic details, funny dialogue, and intricately detailed plots. --

Merle Jacob