ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE OF WRITING TheWriters Post A MAGAZINE OF LITERATURE AND LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION Published biannually – ISSN: 1527-5469 Copyright © The Writers Post 1999-2006. Nothing in this website may be downloaded, distributed, or reproduced without the permission of the author/ translator/ artist/ and The Writers Post. Creating links to place The Writers Post or any of its pages within other framesets or in other documents is copyright violation, and is not permitted. ISSN 1527-5469 – US-based, founded 1999. Founder & Editor: N. Saomai
Current issue: VOLUME 8 -NUMBER 2, JUL 2006 Horses, oil on canvas, 30 x 40 inches by Nguyen Khai ABOUT THE ARTIST: NGUYEN KHAI, pseudonym of Buu Khai, born in Hue in 1940, graduated from the National School of Fine Art in 1963, won the Bronze medal at a Spring Art Exhibition in Saigon even before his graduation. One of the founders of the Young Vietnamese Artists Association -- an active and well-known artist group -- in the early 60's, Nguyen Khai committed himself to painting and found it his only way to probe the depth of reality, his inner state, and to pursue the marvellous. While still in his twenties, he became one of the most famous artists in Vietnam. The fall of the South Vietnam forced him to flee his country in 1981, and settled in the American State of California. The painter resumed his painting, and exhibited regularly since then. His most recent exhibitions were at Hoa Mai Gallery, Paris, French (2004), and Viet Art Gallery, Houston, Texas, USA (2005). -----> Art: Horses, oil on canvas, 30 x 40 inches ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ TWP’s Sister magazine: WORDBRIDGE (ISSN: 1540-1723). WORDBRIDGE, established 2002 by N. Saomai, published in the US, the first English-language literary magazine from the Vietnamese literary community, is a magazine of literature in translation, and a magazine for literary works of quality originally written in English by established and new writers, edited by the same editor of the Song-Van (ISSN: 1089-8123) and The Writers Post (ISSN: 1527-5469). Wordbridge contains selected literary pieces in a variety of genres: fiction (short stories, excerpts from unpublished novel), poetry (rhymed poems, free verse), translations, reviews, literary critiques, and essays on literature and art. N. SAOMAI, WORDBRIDGE, PREMIER ISSUE, SPRING 2002: “Wordbridge is a magazine of literature and literature in translation. Its aim is nothing less than to bring to the reader literary works from established and new writers, in the original language and in translation. Its part in translation is to introduce a foreign literature to those who appreciate not only the enjoyment of reading, but also the knowing and understanding of other cultures. The magazine is published biannually. It features selected pieces in a variety of genres, and will include¾ apart from its main contents, reviews, criticism, and essays. For the past two years I've had the opportunity to introduce to the online reader some English translations of fiction and poetry from Vietnamese authors through The Writers Post magazine at www. thewriterspost.net. This electronic literary magazine was launched on July 1999, with an emphasis on what the Wordbridge intends: to bring to readers who may want to read the literary works originally written in the Vietnamese language for long entrenched behind the barrier of language. Both magazines are under my editorship, and will work in association with each other…” ( MORE…) WORDBRIDGE is available from major universities and library collections:  THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Request in: Jefferson or Adams Bldg General or Area Studies Reading Rms  CORNELL UNIVERSITY Request in: Kroch Library Asia  HARVARD UNIVERSITY Request in: Widener Harvard Depository  YALE UNIVERSITY Request in: Southeast Asia Collection.  UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE Request in: UC Irvine Library.  UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES Request in: UC Los Angeles Library  POETS HOUSE 72 Spring Street, 2^nd fl, New York, NY 10012  KYOTO UNIVERSITY [Japan] Request in: Center for Southeast Asian Studies. _____________________________________________________ VOLUME 8 NUMBER 2 OF JUL 2006 FRONT PAGE Introductions to contributing poets, writers, translators, and artists written by TWP’s editor N. Saomai. (The biographical introductions to contributing poets, writers, translators and artists published in THE WRITERS POST, and simultaneously in the WORDBRIDGE, are written by N. Saomai, the editor of the magazines, based on the biographical information submitted by the poets, writers, translators and artists. In The Writers Post, there are three places in which the biographical introductions may appear: this front page of the issue, the TWP Biographical Database, and the list of Vietnamese Poets and Writers abroad. Biographical data in the TWP Biographical Database are subject to change where needs be to bring factual information on the authors published in The Writers Post up to date. We thank the contributors published in The Writers Post who grant the magazine permission to publish the photographs of themselves along with the TWP’s introductions to contributors). Editorial Page & Letter to the editor THE WRITERS POST welcomes letters to the editor, especially letters which are in response to a critique published in The Writers Post. Letters must include the sender’s address and telephone number for verification, and senders must identify themselves by real name. Anonymous letters will not be read. If you send your letter via e-mail, it must be pasted into the body of the e-mail. Don’t send attachments. If you prefer to send your letter via conventional mail, please find The Writers Post’s conventional mail address in The Writers Post Home Page. The editor forfeits the right to correct typing errors or known factual errors, and your letter will be printed as-is. The writers published in The Writers Post express their readiness to discuss any issues they wrote, and The Writers Post would like to print any response, especially to criticism, for other point of view. However, a letter that is considered potentially libelous, or a response that includes the response of a third person will not be published (Here we have a simple reason, an indirect response is considered personal issue, and a bad-behaved response, if intended to be hidden inside the other person’s feedback is considered of low quality and anonymous). Although The Writers Post doesn’t guarantee their publication, all letters are welcomed. ---- Clarification: The following is to clarify the TWP’s standpoint THE WRITERS POST is a non-aligned, non-political magazine that focuses on the world of literature. The magazine is under the ownership and editorship of N. Saomai/ Nguyen Sao Mai. Editor N. Saomai/ Nguyen Sao Mai has no affiliation with any political organization, supports no political movement, has never allied himself with any literary group or association. As always, The Writers Post maintains independence and objectivity in serving the literary community. FEATURED A DIRECTORY OF VIETNAMESE POETS AND WRITERS IN THE OVERSEAS [Vietnamese Poets And Writers Abroad LISTINGS] THE ‘VIETNAMESE WRITERS ABROAD LISTINGS’ AIMS TO PROVIDE FACTUAL INFORMATION ON POETS AND WRITERS LIVING ABROAD. Most of Vietnamese writers living abroad are first-generation immigrants, who left Vietnam for the free world as a result of the 1975 events, when South Vietnam collapsed and the Communist North took over the entire country. They are the ones who paved the way for a new literary community abroad, and subsequently, with writers who started writing after 1975 and second-generation writers who left Vietnam as teenagers, brought Vietnamese literature into existence in the overseas. [ Click here for their listings in the full list ] ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ VOLUME 8 - NUMBER 2 – JULY 2006 FRONT PAGE Introductions to contributing poets, writers, translators, and artists written by TWP editor N. Saomai. (From the guidelines: … Although the biographical introductions to contributing poets, writers, translators and artists are mostly based on the curriculum vitas submitted by contributors, please be advised that the contributor should not expect TWP to have its introduction saying exactly what the contributor wants to say. In any case the contributor should not expect that he could give an editorial opinion on the introduction to the contributor written by The Writers Post. The editor reserves the right to refuse the contributor’s suggestion that certain information should be added from the submitted CV, and the right to omit certain information, even if it is factual. Also, please be advised that all biographical introductions to contributors published in The Writers Post are The Writers Post’s properties, copyrighted by The Writers Post, and cannot be in any ways and means reused by the contributor or anyone). (See a note on submissions). Literature in translation SHORT STORY POETRY ESSAYS NEW FORMALISM THE BEAT OF NEW ERA An Introduction to New Formalism Poetry by Dang Tien, translated by Joseph Do Vinh New Formalism the beat of new era DANG TIEN, born in 1940 in Quang Nam, educated at Lycée Blaise Pascal in Ðà Nẵng, Jean Jacques Rousseau in Saigon, and Saigon University’s Faculty of Letters from where he received his B.A. in Literature. He pursued higher education in 1966 in France, where he is now living and working as an Instructor of Classical Vietnamese Literature at University of Denis Diderot (Paris Seven). Dang Tien started writing at the beginning of 60’s, and had works published in the Saigon-based literary magazines Tin Sách, Văn, and Bách Khoa. In the overseas, he contributed to the magazines Diễn Ðàn, Thông Luận, Ðoàn Kết (Paris), Hợp Lưu, Văn, and Văn Học (USA). He is the author or co-author of ‘Vu tru Tho’ (Vietnam: Giao Diem, 1972). ‘Xuan Dieu’ (co-authored, Hanoi: Tac Pham Moi Publishing House, 1987), ‘The Lu’ (co-authored, Hanoi: Hoi Nha Van Publishing House, 1991), ‘Vu Ngoc Phan’ (co-authored, Hanoi: Hoi Nha Van Publishing House, 1995). ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Dang Tien’s Bio Translator DO VINH: Do Vinh is pseudonym of Joseph Do Vinh Tai, who was born in Vietnam in 1968, immigrated with his family to the US in 1975, and studied at the University of Washington, from where he graduated BS in Political Science. He started in the literary community in 1980, and subsequently became active in the literary circles of the Pacific Northwest from the mid 1980’s to the early 1990’s. His poetry and writings have appeared in Tien Rong, The New Asian Journal, The Seattle Weekly, The Vietnam Forum of Yale University, Nguoi Viet and Viet Bao daily newspapers, Vien Dong, Van hoa, Viet Weekly, and Tap chi Tho. His debut collection of poetry ‘Green Plums’ was published in 2005. In the same year, he worked in close collaboration with poet Khế Iêm on the anthology-in-progress BLANK VERSE/ Thơ Không Vần as a translator. He was responsible for the Blank Verse’s English section, and translated into English 68 poems in the anthology, which includes 162 poems by 64 contemporary Vietnamese poets. The anthology was published by Tan Hinh Thuc Publishing Club in May 2006. Đỗ Vinh’s first published translation appeared in Wordbridge and The Writers Post in 2005 with his translation of Khe Iem’s ‘Contemporary Vietnamese Poetry on the path of transformation - A portrait of Vietnamese Literature’ (Wordbridge 6 Spring 2005, The Writers Post Volume 7 Number 1 Jan. 2005). He is currently living in Central Valley, California. ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Do Vinh’s Bio THE SACRED RIVER WILL NEVER BE DRAINED DRY An excerpt from ‘Cuu Long can dong, bien Dong day song’ by Ngo The Vinh, translated by the author The Sacred River Will Never Be Drained Dry NGO THE VINH, doctor, member of the editorial staff and the editor-in-chief of Tinh-Thuong magazine, a monthly published by students of the School of Medicine (Saigon University), former 81^st Airborne Ranger M.D. during the Vietnam War serving three years’ imprisonment in re-education camps after 1975. After released, he worked as a Physiatrist at Saigon Rehabilitation Centre and the School of Physiotherapy in Saigon. His novel Vong Dai Xanh (The Green Belt), published in 1970, won the 1971 National Prize for Literature. Vong Dai Xanh 2^nd edition was published in 1987 (California: Van Nghe, 1987). After Gio Mua published in 1965, Bong Dem 1964, and May Bao 1963, Vong Dai Xanh is the fourth book of the author published before 1975, after several requests for permission to publish met refusal from the censorship Bureau in Saigon. The interval between the authority refusing the existence of a literary work and the literary community recognising the worth of a literary work’s existence was just a matter of few months. The National Prize winner, however, shortly after receiving the prize was summoned to the court of Law in connection with his short work ‘Mat tran o Saigon’ published in the journal Trinh Bay Issue 34, December 1971. The work was considered to disturb social order and ‘undermine the discipline and fighting spirit of the army’. Twenty-five years later, ‘Mat tran o Saigon’ was collected to be published in the US by Van Nghe Publisher in 1996, in a collection that bore the same title. ‘Mat tran o Saigon’ is a collection of 12 short stories, half of which was written before 1975 in Vietnam, the other half written abroad after 1975, and of which the best-known is the short story ‘Mat tran o Saigon’. His most recent books are Cuu Long Can Giong Bien Dong Day Song (also published by Van Nghe Publisher. California: 2000), The Green Belt, a translation version of Vong Dai Xanh translated by Nha Trang and William L. Pensinger (Raleigh, NC: Ivy House Publishing Group, 2004), and ‘The Battle of Saigon’, translation version of ‘Mat tran o Saigon’ published by Xlibris. Coming to the US in 1983, he is now living in California, and is a board certified internist, an Attending physician, and an Assistant clinical professor at University of California-Irvine, College of Medicine. ‘The Sacred River Will Never Be Drained Dry’ published in this issue is an excerpt from his Vietnamese-language novel ‘Cuu Long can dong, bien Dong day song’: Chapter IX ‘Song thieng ma tat can’. The Sacred River Will Never Be Drained Dry Ngo The Vinh’s Bio ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ THE PLACE WHERE MOTHER RETURNED Poetry by Du Tu Le Translated by Thien Nhat Phuong & Tran Le Khanh The place where Mother returned DU TU LE, pseudonym of Lê Cự Phách, born in 1942 in Ha Nam. The Geneva Accord in 1954 forced him to immigrate, with his brother, to South Vietnam, where he settled in Hoi An, Quang Nam, then later in Da Nang. Coming to Saigon in 1956, he pursued education at the high schools Tran Luc, Chu Van An, and the Saigon University Faculty of Letters. He joined the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARV), graduated as an officer from Thu Duc Military Academy, Course 13, and worked at the Psychological Warfare Department as a war correspondent and the managing editor of the ARV’s Tien Phong Magazine. In 1969, he was sent to a training seminar in basic journalism in Indianapolis City, Indiana. As a result of the 1975 events, he came to the US, and resettled in California in April 1975. Du Tu Le started composing and publishing poetry at an early age, in 1953, under many different pseudonyms. The pseudonym Du Tu Le was initially used for a poem published in Mai magazine in Saigon in 1958, and has since been the only pseudonym under his books. His poems has appeared in a number of Vietnamese-language literary magazines at home and abroad before and after 1975, and in the Los Angeles Times in 1983, the New York Times in 1996, the anthology World Poetry / An anthology of Verse From Antiquity To Our Time (New York: Norton) in 1998; also, his poems appeared in some universities’ textbooks since 1990, or used in some universities for education purpose. Jean-Claude-Pomonti, a leading writer for the Le Monde, had chosen one of his poems to translate into French, and had it published in La Rage D’Etre Vietnamien. Du Tử Lê was once mentioned by the late writer Mai Thao as one of the distinguished poets in the Vietnamese contemporary literature; the others are: Vu Hoang Chuong, Dinh Hung, Bui Giang, Nguyen Sa, Thanh Tam Tuyen, and To Thuy Yen. Du Tu Le is the author of more than 40 books. His eponymous debut collection of poems ‘Tho Du Tu Le’ was published in 1964, his most recent ‘[neu can,] hay cho bai thoú mot ten goi !?!’ published in 2006 by HT Productions. “The place where Mother returned” published in this issue is the fifth encomium taken from Du Tu Le’s ‘tributes to Mother on her way home via pacific ocean” translated by Thien Nhat Phuong and Tran Le Khanh, and published by HT Productions in 2002. The place where Mother returned Du Tu Le ’s Bio ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Translator THIEN NHAT PHUONG Thien Nhat Phuong, pseudonym of Douglas Van Dung, born in 1937 in Ha Dong, North Vietnam, translator, social worker in the State of Washington (1975-2002), former teacher at Vietnamese American Association School and several high schools in Vietnam before 1975. Thien Nhat Phuong received his BA. in Education from Saigon University, Faculty of Pedagogy (1962), and his MSW from University of Washington (1993). As a translator, he translated into Vietnamese ‘The end of the affair’ by Graham Green (Vietnam: Khai Tri, 1965), ‘A good scent from the strange mountain’ by Robert Olen Butler (US, Seattle: North West News Weekly, 1993), and into English ‘Truong khuc me ve bien Dong’ by Du Tu Le / ‘Tributes To Mother On The Way Home Via Pacific Ocean’ (co-translator with Tran Le Khanh – US, Garden Grove: HT Productions, 2002). ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Thien Nhat Phuong Translator TRAN LE KHANH Tran Le Khanh, writer, translator, social worker in the State of Washington, former teacher at Trung Vuong High School (Saigon, South Vietnam). Tran Le Khanh received her B.A. in Education from Saigon University, and her M.A. in Mental Heath Counseling from Pacific Lutheran University in Washington. She taught ESL and Vietnamese, and is a State Social Worker in Washington. As a translator, she translated into English ‘Truong khuc Me ve bien Dong’ by Du Tu Le / ‘Tributes To Mother On The Way Home Via Pacific Ocean’ (in collaboration with Thien Nhat Phuong). ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Tran Le Khanh’s Bio THE NIGHT SPRING BEGINS SELECTING A SCENE MY BROTHER. Three poems by Mai Van Phan, translated by Do Xuan Oanh Three poems by Mai Van Phan Mai Van Phan, born in 1955 in Ninh Binh, Red River Delta, North Vietnam, member of Vietnam Writer’s Association, winner of some awards for poetry in the provincial and national competition. Mai Van Phan’s Giot Nang (Sun Drop), a collection of poems published by Hoi Van Hoc Nghe Thuat Thanh Pho Hai Phong /’The Literature and Arts Association of Hai Phong City’ in 1992, was followed by Goi Xanh /Calling Green poetry collection (Vietnam: Hoi Nha Van Vietnam /Vietnam Writer’s Association, 1995), Cau Nguyen Ban Mai (Morning Prayer – poetry collection. Hai Phong, Vietnam: Hai Phong Publisher, 1997), Nghi Le Nhan Ten (Name Giving Ceremony – poetry collection. Hai Phong, Vietnam: Hai Phong Publisher, 1999), Nguoi Cung Thoi (People in the same Era – epic. Hai Phong, Vietnam: Hai Phong Publisher, 1999), Vach Nuoc (Water wattle - poetry collection. Hai Phong, Vietnam: Hai Phong Publisher, 2003). His poems also appeared in more than 30 anthologies, including FULCRUM 3 published in the US; in many journals published in Vietnam, including the monthly VAN of the Vietnam Writer’s Association of Ho Chi Minh City, which is under the editorship of Anh Duc, editorial address: 81 Tran Quoc Thao – Q.3 – TP. Ho Chi Minh (Anh da roi, Van: Xuan Mau Dan 1998, Thanh pho Ho Chi Minh 12.1997 – 1.1998); and in the magazines and Vietnamese language websites published abroad, including “Thi Luan” Magazine (S. Korean) and TIEN VE, an online centre for literature and the arts, based in Australia. ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Mai Van Phan’s Bio Translator DO XUAN OANH: Do Xuan Oanh, born in Quang Yen, Quang Ninh Province, North Vietnam on January 4, 1923, into a poor worker family of the coalmine area; self-educated and became a jack-of-all-trades – journalist, painter, writer, social worker, songwriter, translator, peace activist etc. Joining the revolution before 1945, he wrote the famous Nineteen August song on the August 1945 General Uprising Day, and subsequently many songs and music works during the wars. In the translation field, he translated into Vietnamese many American novels, including Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn first published in Vietnam. Into English he translated the play Truong Ba’s Soul in the Butcher’s Skin to be performed in America. For a while he joined the Vietnam Peace Committee and Vietnam-US Society as Vice-chairman and General Secretary. As a people’s diplomat representing social organisations, he worked with the Vietnam delegation in Vietnam-US Paris Peace Talks from 1968 to 1973. He retired in 1990 to continue with music and translation works. ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Do Xuan Oanh’s Bio BEING A POET OUR TIME THE BIRD Three poems by Chu Vuong Mien translated by Peter Nguyen Three poems by Chu Vuong Mien Chu Vuong Mien, pseudonym of Nguyen Van Thuong, born in 1941 in Kien An, North Vietnam. He came to South Vietnam in 1954, joined later the South Vietnam Armed Forces, serving for four years before being invalided home. In 1984, he came to the US, under the HO status, settled in Rancho Cucamongo. He started in the literary community in 1960, contributing to Thoi Nay, Bach Khoa, Van Hoc, Van Nghe Tien Phong, and Thai Do magazines. In the overseas he contributed to Van, Van Hoc, The Ky 21, Doc Lap, Que Me, Khoi Hanh, Gio Van, Song Van, Lang Van. He is the author of several books of poetry, and was once the editor of Song magazine in Toronto, Canada. ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Chu Vuong Mien’s Bio RAIN WHERE COULD IT BE Two poems by N. Saomai, translated by the author Rain Where could it be N. Saomai, writer and editor, was born in 1940 in Quang Nam, started his writing in the early sixties, contributed miscellaneous essays and general journalism to Saigon-based daily newspapers as a freelance writer. He began to write novel in 1962, and completed four novels (written in the period from 1962 to 1975), which remained unpublished during the Viet-Nam war. 'Can Nha', a novel having got past the military government's censors of the press, been ready to be published in 1974, was published 23 years later in the US. He left Viet Nam on April 29^th 1975, one day before the fall of Saigon on April 30 via a Chinook piloted by his brother, escaped Saigon for the sea and landed on the U.S.S. Duluth (LPD6) of the 7^th Fleet which was then outside Vung Tau’s territorial waters, with his three motherless children. One of them later became Tap-chi Song-Van’s managing editor Thanh-Tam. He came to the US in May 1975. Can Nha, published periodically in Tap-chi Song-Van (ISSN 1089-8123), and in book form in December 1997, is his third novel. Several excerpts from the novel was later republished in the literary Van, and in the anthology Tho Van Hai Ngoai Nam 2000. His second 'Bon no le trong den tho', written on the starting date of 1964, was also published periodically in Tap-chi SongVan, issue 15. This was the last issue before the discontinuity of the magazine in December 1999. One excerpt from his fourth novel ‘O cho cuoi con duong’ (1973) was published in Gio Van magazine. N. Saomai is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of the magazines Tap-chi Song-Van [ISSN: 1089-8123], The Writers Post at http://www.thewriterspost.net [ISSN: 1527-5469]), and Wordbridge [ISSN: 1540-1723). As a founder and editor of the magazines aiming to introduce Vietnamese literature into Western literary community, he translated into English a number of short stories and poems by new and established Vietnamese poets and writers. The translation versions were published simultaneously in The Writers Post and Wordbridge. ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Rain Where could it be N. Saomai English literature POETRY – MISCELLANEOUS ESSAY Poet TAN DA, and the ‘little girl’ who dared to challenge him miscellaneous essay by Vu Dinh Dinh Poet TAN DA, and the ‘little girl’ VU DINH DINH was born and grew up in Vietnam. Pursuing higher education he came to the US in 1956 and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Chicago, and University of Hawaii where he obtained his Ph.D. He was recipient of an East-West Center Grant, a National Endowment for the Humanities Grant, and a National Science Foundation Honorable Mention Award, and having served as Senior Heath Planner with the Houston Department of Health and Human Services, taught at the college level, and had scientific research works published in international journals. His publications on Vietnamese culture include “In Search of a Tradition Code of Behavior and Cochinchina: Reassessment of the Origin and Use of a Westernized Place Name”. In 2001, his ‘Selected Vietnamese Poetry’ was published by R&M (Stafford, Texas: R&M, 2001). Published bilingually, the book includes 100 original poems in Vietnamese language he selected, and 100 translation versions he translated into English. The poems, which cover a period of more than one thousand years beginning with Ly Thuong Kiet’s dating from 1077 when this General repelled the Tong invasion (from China), range over various topics taken as the translator’s main focus of human love and passions: the beloved land, patriotic appeals, family ties, and human nature. ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Vu Dinh Dinh’s Bio THE WHITE CLOUDY ROAD A poem by Tran Yen Thao The white cloudy road TRAN YEN THAO, pseudonym of Tran Ngoc Minh, poet, writer and translator, who was born in 1940 Binh Thuan (Phan-thiet, Central Vietnam). Before and after 1975 when South Vietnam collapsed, he has contributed to several literary magazines published in Vietnam. His debut short story collection ‘Mac Can’ was published in 1970 by Tu Thuc Publisher in Saigon, which was followed by ‘Hat tu tho Tran Yen Thao’ (collection of poems set into music by musicians Tran Van Bui, Viet Chung and Nguyen Tung published by Hanh Dong in 1971), ‘Qua tang nguoi xua’ (collection of poems published by Tre Publisher in 1998), and ‘Rung nguyen so’ (collection of poems published by Tre Publisher in 1999). Besides, his works have been selected for several anthologies, including ‘Luc Bat Tinh’ (which includes 501 authors, published by Dong Nai in 1997), ‘Sac Huong Hoa But’ (several authors, published by Van Nghe in 2001), ‘Tuyen tap 7 Tac-gia trong va ngoai nuoc’(US: Thu An Quan, 2004), and ‘Ben troi’ (US: Thu An Quan, 2004). In the field of translation, he translated into Vietnamese ‘Nhung kiet-nhan cua nen van-minh co-dai Trung-Quoc’ (co-translated from Chinese with Lam Hong Lan; VN: Nha Van-Hoa Thong-Tin, 2001). Tran Yen Thao’s another book of translation ‘17 The-ky lich-su cua con duong to lua’ is now going to press. The book which is due to reach the market this year will soon be released in the next few months. He is living in Binh Thuan, Vietnam. ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Tran Yen Thao’s Bio ABOUT FLOWER A poem by Doan Thuan About flower DOAN THUAN, pseudonym of Tran Van Thuan, poet and professor, who was born in 1940 in Binh Thuan Vietnam. Graduated from Saigon University, Faculty of Letters and Faculty of Pedagogy in 1969, he ever since worked as a teacher at several high schools until recently was taking retirement. His debut collection of poems ‘Mua Bac Bien’ published in 1995 was followed by six others: ‘Loi Chieu’ (1996), ‘LaGi ngan xanh’ (1997), ‘Lua dem mua’ (1998), ‘Lua dau non’ (1999), ‘Khoang lang cua hoa’ (2001), ‘Tuong’ (2002), ‘Doi Say’ (2003). Before and after the fall of Saigon in 1975, he has contributed to several literary magazines published in Vietnam and the overseas. In the US, his works were selected by Thu An Quan for its selections ‘Tuyen tap tac gia trong va ngoai nuoc’and ‘Tuyen tap 14 tac gia mien Nam’ published in 2003 and 2004. He is living in Binh Thuan, Vietnam. ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Doan Thuan’s Bio MY LOCAL BURNING INVESTMENT ADVISES Two poems by Dinh Linh My local burning Investment advises DINH LINH was born in 1963 in Saigon, came to the US in April 1975. Starting in the literary community, he gained literary recognition with his chapbook of poems published in 1998, Drunkard Boxing, which was followed by Fake House (short-story collection -Seven Stories Press, 2000), A Small Triumph Over Lassitude (poetry -Leroy 2001), and A Glass of Water (poetry -Skanky Possum Press 2001). He is contributing editor to Xconnect, editor and co-translator of the anthologies: Night again: Contemporary Fiction from Vietnam (Seven Stories Press 1996), Three Vietnamese Poets (Tinfish 2001). His articles, stories, poems, and translations have appeared in Manoa, Sulfur, Denver Quarterly, Transconnect, American Poetry Review, Kenyan Review, Xconnect The Threepenny Review, Moorabbit Review, New Observations, Northeast Corridor, Vietnam Forum, Viet Magnet, Seven Arts, Hop Luu, and Van Hoc. ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Dinh Linh’s Bio WITHOUT YOUR LOVE Poetry by Khe Kinh Kha Without your love KHE KINH KHA was born in Ha Tinh in 1946. Pursuing higher education, he came to the US in 1967, attended the University of Massachusetts where he obtained his Master degree in Chemical Engineering. He started writing in 1963, his poems appeared now and then in some literary magazines published in Vietnam dating from 1966. In the oversea, he did not resumed his writing until 2005, when his poems appeared in Van, Van Hoc, Hop Luu, The Ky 21, Thu Quan Ban Thao. His ‘To Tinh’, a collection of poems and songs was recently published in limited edition by Thu Quan Ban Thao. ÿ RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS ÿ Khe Kinh Kha’s Bio Return to top A DIRECTORY OF VIETNAMESE POETS AND WRITERS IN THE OVERSEAS: Vietnamese Poets And Writers Abroad LISTINGS THE ‘VIETNAMESE WRITERS ABROAD LISTINGS’ AIMS TO PROVIDE FACTUAL INFORMATION ON POETS AND WRITERS LIVING ABROAD. ranging from little-known to famous, compiled and listed by Luan Hoan. The listings are edited, rewritten in English, and given added information to where needs be, by The Writers Post. Also, new listings may be added by the The Writers Post. We apologise for any deficiency, to the reader, and to any poet or writer whose name is not in the list as information is not available. [ Click here for their listings in the full list ] Return to top Return to Contents HOME Contact: N. Saomai, Editor, The Writers Post PO. Box 832464 Miami, Florida 33283 USA E-mail: songvan@msn.com	CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS AND ARTISTS: Chu Vuong Mien Du Tu Le Dang Tien Dinh Linh Doan Thuan Do Vinh Do Xuan Oanh Khe Kinh Kha Mai Van Phan Ngo The Vinh Nguyen Sao Mai Nguyen Khai Thien Nhat Phuong Tran Le Khanh Tran Yen Thao Vu Dinh Dinh Vietnamese Poets and Writers VIETNAMESE POETS AND WRITERS ABROAD. The listings provide information on Vietnamese Poets and Writers living Abroad (click here). TWP BIOGRAPHICAL DATABASE Photographs, and factual information on contributing authors (Click here for TWP BIOGRAPHICAL DATABASE LINKS Links provide access to literature and art. Click HERE for Links To Lit & Art A Note On Submissions ... Any essay, review containing libel, invasion of privacy, obscenity, substantial disruption will not be accepted. As always, translations and poems will not be edited. The author/ translator should check the work for typing errors before submitting. On the work(s) published in The Writers Post the author/ translator owns the copyright. The publisher may contact the author/ translator if interested in featuring the work(s) into print publication. (See a note on submissions). TITLES RECEIVED Note: Titles here in this page presented, or in the issues mentioned, are not intended to be ordered through this website. New titles are added at the top of this section; the older ones slide down the column with Cover Art removed Titles received in this year, but published in previous years are added accordingly among the others published in the same year (some exceptions may be made for books published in Vietnam). FACTOTUM SOUNDTRACK CD The score to the Charles- Bukowski’s-novel-based film “Factotum” was composed by the renowned Norwegian singer & songwriter Kristin Asbjornsen, in which she performed two poems by Bulowski. In addition to the music from the film, the sountrack contains two more songs based on poems by Bukowski taken from ‘What matter most is how well you walk through the fire’. The CD is available from Milan Entertainment, Inc. beginning August 1^st. Contact information: Milan Entertainment 3500 W. Olive Ave. Suite 750 Burbank, CA 91505 ph: 818.953.7818 fx: 818.953.7801 DU TU LE’s [neu can] hay cho bai tho mot ten goi !?! [neu can] hay cho bai tho mot ten goi !?! The 44^th book of the author, a collection of poems written from 2000 to 2006 published by HT Productions in August 2006. 156 pages; 21cm. Cover: derek pham Layout: vuong trung duong Author’s photograph: le dinh thang Art work: dinh cuong Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: $12.00 (CA: HT Productions, 2006) Contact information: Contact the publisher at: HT Productions 12751 Lucille Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92841 - 4711 Email: hanhtuyen@hotmail.com BLANK VERSE An anthology of VIETNAMESE NEW FORMALISM POETRY anthologized by Khe Iem, partly translated by Do Vinh, introduction by Dang Tien. ISBN: 0-9778742-0-6 500 pages; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese and English paper/ US: $20.00 (CA: Tan Hinh Thuc Publishing Club, 2006) Contact information: Contact the publisher at: P.O. Box 1745 Garden Grove, CA 92842 Khe Kinh Kha’s TO TINH A collection of poems and songs by Khe Kinh Kha, writer and musician, author of Que huong trong noi nho, Luu vong ca (music, 1980), Di chuc cho con (music, 2005). Khe Kinh Kha’s debut poetry collection To Tinh includes 66 poems and 14 songs, of which a number of poems was already published in literary magazines in Vietnam before 1975, dating from 1966. To Tinh Collection of poems and songs 154 pages; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: No Price Given Limited edition distributed to friends. (NJ: Thu An Quan, 2006) Contact information: P.O. Box 58 S. bound Brook, NJ 08880 E-mail: tranhoaithu@yahoo.com Tl # (908) 769-1718 DAUGHTERS of the RIVER HUONG A novel by Uyen Nicole Duong, author of Mui Huong Que (Mui Huong Que was published under her real name Duong Nhu Nguyen), is released by RavensYard Publishing, Ltd. The book is available online from RavensYard, Amazon.com, and Barnes and Nobles. Daughters of the River Huong ISBN 1-928928-16-1 271 pages; 21cm. Language: English Trade paperback; SRP $ 17.95 Contact information: Contact the publisher at: info@ravensyard.com GREEN PLUMS A collection of poems in English and Vietnamese by Do Vinh. Green Plums 143 p.; 21cm. Language: English and Vietnamese No price or publisher given Contact: Joseph Dovinh: 12519 Larkin Drive Bakersfield, California 93312 TAC GIA, VOI CHUNG TA by Le Quynh Mai. A compilation of interviews with author conducted by Le Quynh Mai, who is in charge of the Literature and Art Programme on ‘Tieng Noi Viet Nam’ Radio (103.3 FM), Montreal, Canada, and a contributor providing literature and art news to the readers of Hop Luu magazine. Tac gia, voi chung ta 334 p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Khanh Truong paper/ US: $18.00 US/ CAN: $20.00 CAN (CAN: Khoi Nguyen, 2004) Contact: Khoi Nguyen 6567 Ernest Lavigne Montréal P.Q H1M 1C4 Canada lequynhmaii@yahoo.com LUAN HOAN, MOT DOI THO by Le Han A compilation of writings about poet Luan Hoan by 154 writers and acquaintances, ranging from articles, interviews, and poems dedicated to the poet. The book also contains Luan Hoan’s family pictures, and drawings by friends and artists. Compiled by Le Han. Luan Hoan, mot doi tho Cover: Luan Hoan’s portrait by Dinh Cuong. Layout by Le Han Copy editor: Doan Phe Binding: Central Perfect Bindery, Toronto 604p, 21cm Language: Vietnamese (CAN: Song Thu, 2004) No price given. THE BATTLE OF SAIGON A translation version of the short -story collection ‘Mat tran o Saigon’ by Ngo The Vinh, author of The Green Belt, published by XLibris. “The Battle of Saigon presents war and post war traumatic experience and dreams from the perspective of Vietnam Diaspora” The battle of Saigon Jacket design by Khanh Truong Jacket photographs © by Tim Page 200 p.; 21cm. Language: English Hardcover ISBN 1-4134-6377-0 Softcover ISBN 1-4134-6376-2 (US: Xlibris Corporation, 2005) Contact: Xlibris Corporation 1-888-795-4274 www.Xlibris.com Orders@Xlibris.com O CUA By Tran Hoai Thu O Cua - The complete poetry works of Tran Hoai Thu (Some published poems are revised) Poetry—374p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Than Trong Minh Design & Layout: Tran Hoai Thu paper/ US: No Price Given (NJ: Thu An Quan, 2004) Contact: Tran Hoai Thu P.O. Box 58 S. bound Brook, NJ 08880 E-mail: tranhoaithu@yahoo.com Tl # (908) 769-1718 DAU AN by Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh, author of ‘O doi song nay’ (short story, 1989), Giot le xe hai (novel, 1991), Cuoi dem dai (short story, 1993), Tron vao giac mo em (poetry, 1997). Dau an A collection of published short stories. 325p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Dinh Cuong Design: Cao Hoang paper/ US: $14.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2004) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 E-mail: Kimanquan@yahoo.com VAN XUOI TOAN TAP by Kinh Duong Vuong The complete prose works of Kinh Duong Vuong. Van xuoi toan tap 1198p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Rung Hardcover/ No price given (Saigon: 2004) DUNG NHAM, THO TOAN TAP by Dung Nham The complete poetry works of Dung Nham. Dung Nham, tho toan tap 450p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Rung paper/ No price given (Saigon: 2004) VACH NUOC by Mai Van Phan author of Giot Nang (Sun Drop), Goi Xanh (Calling Green), Cau Nguyen Ban Mai (Morning Prayer), Nghi Le Nhan Ten (Name Giving), Nguoi Cung Thoi (People in the same Era). Vach nuoc Poetry—83p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Layout: T&P Design Responsibility for publishing: Pham Nga Copy editor: Nguyen Anh Nguyet Hardcover/ VN: VN$25,000.00 (Vietnam: 2003) Contact: Mai Van Phan 12/56 Cat Cut Hai Phong, VIETNAM E-mail: maivanphan@hn.vnn.vn LUC BAT HOANG XUAN SON by Hoang Xuan Son author of 3 poetry collections. Luc Bat Hoang Xuan Son Poetry—166p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Hoang Xuan Son Design: Pham Van Nhan Prologue by Cao Vi Khanh Illustrated Art by Tran Quy Thoai paper/ US: $15.00 (NJ: Thu An Quan, 2004) Contact: Hoang Xuan Son #38, 14 street Roxboro Quebec H8Y 1M6 - Canada E-mail: son_hoang42@yahoo.com Interested readers CLICK HERE to read Luc Bat Hoang Xuan Son LAM CHUONG, TRUYEN VA NHUNG DOAN VAN By Lam Chuong. Lam Chuong, Truyen Va Nhung Doan Van Story, Essay—219p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Khanh Truong Design: Son Ca paper/ US: $12.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2004) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 HUONG MUA A poetry collection by Song Vinh, author of Ve Duoi Hien Xua (2000 Huong Mua , a poetry collection collected 106 poems the author recently composed, prologues by Nguyen Dong Giang, Thai Thuy Vi, Thao Nguyen, and Luan Hoan. Some poems are set to music by Phan Ni Tan (ND), Pham Anh Dung, and Mai Duc Vinh. Cover art by Hoang Vi Kha. paper/ 130 pp – 21cm. (Printed at Andrew Printing Co.) Contact: SONG VINH 107 Bromfield way Cary, NC 27519 Tel: (919) 301-5129 E-mail: song_vinh@hotmail.com THE GREEN BELT by Ngo The Vinh translated into English by Nha Trang & William L. Pensinger co-authors of the novel The Moon of Hòa Bình. The Green Belt was published by Ivy House Publishing, Hard Cover,  $ 23.95,  256 Pages (US: Ivy House Publishing, 2004) For more info on The Green Belt, visit www.thegreenbelt.com CHE TAO THO CA by Phan Nhien Hao Author of Thien Duong Chuong Giay Che Tao Tho Ca Collection of Poems—94p.; 23cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Design by Nguyen Danh Bang paper/ US: $15.00 (CA: Van, 2004) Contact: Tu Luc Distributor: www.tuluc.com Tu Luc Bookstore 14318 Brookhurst St Garden Grove, CA 92843 BAT NHA CA By Tu Hoa Author of Nhap Phap Gioi Luoc Giai Bat Nha Ca Poetry—70p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: $10.00 (PA: Ban Tu Thu Tu Hoa, 2004) Contact: Ban Tu Thu Tu Hoa Dauxua756@aol.com NGHI VE VAN HOC HAI NGOAI By Nguyen Mong Giac, Author of 10 books. Nghi ve Van hoc Hai Ngoai Essay—253p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Nguyen Dong and Nguyen Thi Hop paper/ US: $13.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2004) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 SONG VOI CHU By Nguyen Hung Quoc Author of 8 books Song Voi Chu (Living with Words) Essay on language and literature—202p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Nguyen Hung Author’s photo Credit: Pham Huu Khanh (Saigon: 12, 2002) paper/ US: $12.00 (CA: Van Moi & Tien Ve Online Centre for Arts, 2004) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 THAP TA By To Thuy Yen Thap Ta Second poetry collection of the author 140p.; 21cm. (Published by the author, under An Tiem Publisher’ name, 2004) paper/ US: $16.00 Contact: Mrs. Huynh Dieu Bich 1210 Bluebonnet Pl.Cir Apt L Houston, TX 77019  USA VAN HOC VIET NAM THE KY 20 MOT SO HIEN TUONG VA THE LOAI By Nguyen Vy Khanh Author of 5 books. Van Hoc Viet Nam The Ky 20 Mot so hien tuong va the loai Research—663p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Justin Nguyen paper/ US: $22.00 (CA: Dai Nam, 2004) VAN HOA, GIOI TINH VA VAN HOC By Nguyen Hoang Van Van Hoa, Gioi Tinh va Van Hoc Essay—265p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Hoang Ngoc Dieu paper/ US: $14.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2004) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 CHU DUOI CHAN TUONG By Nguyen Vien Author of 6 books. Chu duoi chan tuong Story—204p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: $12.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2004) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 TUOI 20 YEU DAU By Nguyen Huy Thiep Tuoi 20 yeu dau Novel—193p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Nguyen Trong Khoi paper/ US: $12.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2004) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 MAU HE By Tran Yen Hoa Author of 5 books. Mau He Novel—412p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Ho Thanh Duc paper/ US: $15.00 (CA: The Ky, 2004) Contact: Tran Yen Hoa. 14272 Hoover St #95 Westminster, CA 92683. Phone: 714-636-2390 714-623-2642 AO GAM VE LANG By Tran Yen Hoa Author of 5 books. Ao Gam Ve Lang Collection of stories—295p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Ho Thanh Duc paper/ US: $15.00 (CA: The Ky, 2004) Contact: Tran Yen Hoa. 14272 Hoover St #95 Westminster, CA 92683. Phone: 714-636-2390 714-623-2642 BEN LUNG NHUNG CON CHU By Song Thao Author of six books. Ben Lung Nhung Con Chu Collection of short stories—218p; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: $12.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2003) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 MADE IN VIETNAM By Thuan Made in Vietnam Collection of short stories—192p; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: $12.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2003) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 THUONG NHO HOANG LAN By Tran Thuy Mai Thuong Nho Hoang Lan Collection of short stories—240p; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: $12.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2003) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 TINH THOM MAY NHANH By Le Han Tinh Thom May Nhanh Collection of Poems—177p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art by Dinh Cuong paper/ US: No price given (CA: No publisher given, 2003) Contact: leh@aecl.ca lehan3359ca@yahoo.com MAY SONG CUNG LOI By Hoang Chinh Author of 4 books. May Song Cung Loi Novel—285p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese Cover Art: Thieu Nu by Vi Vi paper/ US: $13.00 (CA: Van Moi, 2003) Contact: Van Moi Publisher P.O. Box 287 Gardena, CA 90248 PATERSON LITERARY REVIEW Literary Journal Issue 32 Editor: Maria Mazziotti Gillan Paternson Literary Review A multicultural literary journal, established in 1979, Issue 32 contents includes: poetry, translations, prose, fiction, memoir, essay, reviews. 354 p.; 23cm. Language: English paper/ US: $10.00 Contact: Maria Mazziotti Gillan, Editor Paterson Literary Review 1 College Boulevard Paterson, NJ, 07505-1179 USA LUU DAN THI THOAI A Selected Works of Stray Immigrants’ Poetry Critique By Dien Nghi & Song Nhi. · Literary essay and constructive criticism. Luu Dan Thi Thoai, critique—585p.; 21cm. Language: Vietnamese paper/ US: $20.00 (CA: Coi Nguon, April 2003) Contact: CSTV Coi Nguon C/o Song Nhi 322 Ryegate Court, San Jose, CA 95133 USA Tel: (408) 729-8352 Fax: (408) 258-0142 E-mail: songnhi_2000@yahoo.com Or : songnhi2000@hotmail.com SONG NUI CUNG NGUOI THOM NGAT THO By Luan Hoan Author of 18 poetry collections. His 17^th collection is Co Hoa Goi Dau, published by Song Van in 1997. Song nui cung nguoi thom ngat tho Poetry — 138p.; 21cm. paper/ US: 10$.00 Language: Vietnamese (CAN: Tho, 2003) Contact: Le Ngoc Chau 11351 ARMAND LA VERGNE Montréal Nord PQ H1H-5W3 CANADA Tel: (514) 325-6409 E-mail: luanhoan@videotron.ca Note: Titles in this page presented, or in the issues mentioned, are not intended to be ordered through this website. Return to top
Copyright © The Writers Post 1999. Nothing in this website may be downloaded, distributed, or reproduced without the permission of the author/ translator/ artist/ and The Writers Post. Creating links to place The Writers Post or any of its pages within other framesets or in other documents is copyright violation, and is not permitted. ISSN 1527-5469 – US-based, founded 1999. Founder & Editor: N. Saomai