Maya Fleischmann's Blog

If our lives are dominated by a search for happiness, then perhaps few activities reveal as much about the dynamics of this quest–in all its ardour and paradoxes–that our travels.

Alain de Botton. The Art of Travel

Here is a follow up on my previous post on why I travel. There are a myriad of travel resources online. These help us decide where to go, how to get there, where to stay, and even what to wear. It’s assumed that you know why you are going wherever you are heading. But travel can b...

I journal most mornings to liberate my brain of thoughts and ideas that it churns out endlessly – even when I’m trying to sleep. I’m not complaining. A fountain of inspiration is wonderful for a writer. But, I used to worry about losing those ideas. So I started to journal – decades ago. I unload those ramblings onto paper in case I ever need to refer back to them. Mainly though, it’s so the well of creativity can fill again. To ensure that the journaling flows, I have my process that relies on...

So far this year I’ve travelled to California, Texas, Washington State, and Germany. Why do I deposit myself in semi-familiar or totally unfamiliar locations? 

I ask myself this question whenever my stomach lurches during turbulent flights, when jet lag floats blurry eyes into my forehead, or when I tally up all my travel expenses. 

Then I think about the memories:

Demoralizing, misdirecting, and misleading. These are just a few of the words I associate with the news media. I can choose to turn off the television and selectively watch the news. But what happens when people around you talk politics? Can you easily avoid and/or disengage from partaking in such diverting conversation? After watching the entertaining YouTube video by master of communication, Dan O’Connor, I’ve discovered the verbiage to do so. Why would I head off such divert...

I am thrilled to announce that Yun Theatre has selected my play, ‘Baby Bird Flies’, for their production of shorts entitled, In Between. ‘Baby Bird Flies‘ will be performed (in English and translated into Mandarin) in August 2023 at the Seattle Center.

The post ‘Baby Bird Flies’ to be produced by Yun Theatre appeared first on Maya Fleischmann.

I have loved to write for as long as I can remember and, though I didn’t realise it in my earlier decades, my adoption has inspired many of my stories. My stories, poetry, and essays have been my way to work through anger, guilt, and a strange sense of grief that I felt growing up feeling lost, misunderstood, and confused. My adoption continues to fuel many of my projects, including my novel, Finding Ching Ha. 

I am creating NOWhere Anthology to provide a place where...

There are tantalizing and touching stories told by diverse voices in AudioFile Magazine’s picks for the Best Memoirs of 2022.

Listen to narrations by Viola Davis, Harvey Fierstein, Amy Bloom, Javier Zamora, and Sandra Cisneros, as well as a full cast performance in Rebecca Hall’s Wake.

Read more in AudioFile Magazine

The post AudioFile Magazine’s Best Memoirs of 2022 appeared first on Maya Fleischmann.

Click here to be transported to my feature story in AudioFile Magazine

The post Seven Audiobooks to Help You Find Perspective and Create Peace appeared first on Maya Fleischmann.

It’s been ages since I last posted, but I’m still around, with my desk piled of assigned reviews and writing and art projects.

One of the writing projects that I’m working on is an Anthology of Writing by Asian Adoptees. Stay tuned for updates and, if you are an Asian Adoptee, perhaps even submit writing to be considered for this anthology.

In the meantime, check out my new reviews on A Novel Fiend, and news on Finding Ching Ha.

Happy reading and writing.

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“The word ‘sensitivity’ comes from the Old French ‘sensitif”, which means ‘capable of feeling.’ In a way I supposed it was good, to know that I was and I could.”

~ Julie Fine, The Upstairs House.

After the birth of her daughter Chloe, new mother Megan sees and interacts with the new upstairs neighbor, who is none other than the children’s author, Margaret Wise Brown. 

Megan is drawn into the ghostly af...