In this special installment of Birthing the Book, we’ll hear from Kim Green, who co-wrote the book Slow Noodles by Chantha Nguon. The event will be moderated by Yurina Yoshikawa, and they will discuss the unique process of writing someone’s story, the relationship between the author and co-writer, and the process from drafting, publishing, to promoting.

About Slow Noodles: In this lyrical and inspirational memoir, Chantha Nguon reflects on her life as a Cambodian refugee, grappling with the loss of home, family, and country during Pol Pot's regime. This emotional and lyrical memoir, accompanied by over 20 Khmer recipes, narrates Nguon's journey from an idyllic childhood in Battambang to hiding in Phnom Penh, escaping to Saigon, enduring hardship in war-torn Vietnam, and ultimately returning to a transformed Cambodia. Her unwavering spirit shines through as she recounts survival in a refugee camp, working in diverse roles, and finding solace in her mother's slow and deliberate approach to cooking. Slow Noodles becomes a poignant act of resistance, reclaiming identity, preserving values, and honoring her mother's memory, showcasing the transformative power of culinary heritage in shaping hope amid adversity. Learn more about the book at https://www.slownoodles.com.

“A heart-lifting story of radiant compassion, Slow Noodles reminds us of a life-affirming truth: Even when all seems lost, who we most essentially are, like what we most unerringly love, somehow remains. We have never needed this beautiful book more.” —Margaret Renkl