OCTOBER 2023

Inspired and Invigorated in Asia

We returned a week ago, jet-lagged and exhausted, from our trip to Hong Kong, Singapore, Cambodia, and Tokyo, and while I admit that the stark differences in culture and custom had me a little on edge going in, I came away nothing but invigorated and inspired. The people we met were universally kind and compassionate, going way more than halfway to help us understand and enjoy everything from food to shopping to fascinating historic sites to sometimes jarring urban landscapes. Seared memories include:

• The neighborhood eatery in Hong Kong where we ate dim sum in the company of office professionals and construction workers on their lunch breaks.

• The bustling hawker centers of Singapore, and one particularly desperate hunt for a bucket of iced Tiger beer.

• The perspiration that poured out of me as we toured the temples at Ankor Wat, and got a comprehensive education on Cambodia’s ancient history from our charming guide, Lucky.

• A tiny sushi bar in Asakusa, Tokyo, where I had to fold my six-foot-three frame around the corner of a tiny wooden table.

It’s not hyperbole to say, this was the trip of a lifetime.

Kirkus Reviews Weighs in on The Cyclone Release

I’m not going to lie, Kirkus Reviews didn’t love The Cyclone Release. Curiously, that hasn’t stopped their sales team from repeatedly contacting me with “opportunities to leverage my review to increase sales!” (paraphrasing). Nonetheless, in an otherwise lukewarm review, they did have some nice things to say:

“…thoughtful emotional drama…”

“…an impressively realistic peek into the pressurized environment of a tech startup.”

“…a fascinating portrait of Silicon Valley and its inhabitants.”

Why mention an unfriendly review in my newsletter? you might ask. To which, I say, why not? It’s just one person’s opinion, which is nowhere near enough to shake my confidence—and if you’re a writer, shouldn’t be enough to shake yours either.

Real Quick, One Last Time

If you happen to be vacationing in the Northern California Wine Country this weekend—or, gasp, if you happen to be lucky enough to actually live there—come on out to the Jessel Gallery Writers’ Salon in Napa on Saturday night for wine, words, and inspiration. I understand I’ll be the first reader up, and we’ll have books for sale and both schmoozing and autographs on offer.

Reminders…

• Reviews — If you’ve read The Cyclone Release, please consider dropping a rating and review on Amazon. If you’re so inclined, you can drop the same review on Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, or any other platform for book lovers you might use.

• Newsletter — If you know anyone who would enjoy quality literary fiction from the unique viewpoint of a Silicon Valley original, feel free to forward this e-mail along. New subscribers are welcome!

• Book clubs — Feel free to contact me about discounted copies and author appearances.

And in case you missed them, previous editions of the Bruce Overby | Author newsletter can be viewed online here.