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  Traci Chee
News

You Are Here Cover Reveal

12/1/2022

 
cover for YOU ARE HERE: CONNECTING FLIGHTS edited by Ellen Oh
ICYMI: Yesterday We Need Diverse Books revealed the cover for YOU ARE HERE: CONNECTING FLIGHTS, edited by Ellen Oh!
✈️ I’m so proud to be part of this first title from Allida—out next spring on March 7—with contributions from Mike Chen, Meredith Ireland, Mike Jung, Erin Entrada, Minh Le, Grace Lin, Ellen Oh, LindaSue Park, Randy Ribay, Christina Soontornvat, and Susan Tan!
✈️ I love seeing the way artist Marcos Chin put all our characters on display as they make their way through this Chicago airport. (Check out my character in her Kiki’s Delivery Sevice bow!)
✈️ Head to We Need Diverse Books to read more about the project from Ellen Oh!

I'm writing another fantasy!

11/11/2022

 
An image of fire on a black background with a deal announcement that reads: Emilia Rhodes at Clarion Books has bought Kindling by NBA finalist Traci Chee, a YA reimagining of Seven Samurai. Set against a war-ravaged fantasy world where kindling warfare--the use of elite, magic-wielding teenage soldiers--has been outlawed seven kindlings search for purpose and identity as they prepare for one final battle. Publication is slated for winter 2024; Barbara Poelle at Irene Goodman Literary Agency negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
I was first introduced to the film Seven Samurai (1954) and its American counterpart Magnificent Seven (1960) while working at my hometown movie theater between my first and second years of college, and as soon as I started watching, I was enraptured by these stories--

their slowness & their action,
their bleakness & their beauty,
their swagger & their sadness.

I knew already that I wanted to be a writer, and watching these films helped shape the kind of writer I wanted to be. A writer who was interested in stories that were always more than one thing at once--

literary & entertaining,
artful & adventurous,
epic & small.

I’m so thrilled to be working with Emilia Rhodes, Clarion, and the whole team at HarperCollins to bring this story blazing across your shelves, and I cannot wait for you to meet these kindlings, these wandering warriors, these lost children searching for home. ⚔️

Look at that shiny new sticker...

11/3/2022

 
cover of A Thousand Steps into Night with a white medal that reads
Ka-pow! ​💥

Some thoughts as the news sinks in...

9/15/2022

 
Traci Chee in a burgundy blouse holding a copy of her book A Thousand Steps into Night
It's finally starting to sink in. A THOUSAND STEPS INTO NIGHT is on the longlist for the 2022 National Book Award.
 
Yesterday, when I read the news, I thought at first that it must be a mistake. My book? My silly Ghibli-esque adventure? My tongue-in-cheek romp? My episodic road trip through a magical world teeming with demons and spirits? My haunting Japanese-inspired folktale? My critique of American patriarchy in the guise of an escapist fantasy? My unapologetic declaration of joy?
 
Was important? Literary? Worthy of recognition?
 
Wow.
 
YES.
 
That’s what this incredible recognition says to me. Yes, there is value in adventure, in laughter, in critique and fantasy and joy. Yes, these things are necessary, noteworthy, and engaged in a national conversation about gender and sexism and power, hierarchy and marginalization and the making of a better, more inclusive world.
 
They’re also (I hope) fun. And there’s value in that too.
 
As I come to grips with the news, I find that I’m excited. I’m tickled. And I’m so, so grateful.
 
My bird boy is on the National Book Award longlist.
My trash monkeys are on the National Book Award longlist.
My demon girl in all her awkwardness is on the National Book Award longlist.
 
Congratulations, little heroes. Today, you are seen.
 
Thank you to my editors, Catherine Onder and Emilia Rhodes, and to the entire team at Clarion and HarperCollins. Thank you to the National Book Foundation and the judges for recognizing this story among so many notable and important titles. And my deepest congratulations again to all the longlisters! It is truly such an honor to be here with you.
 
Kelly Barnhill, The Ogress and the Orphans
 
Isaac Blum, The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen
 
Johnnie Christmas, Swim Team
 
Anna-Marie McLemore, Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix
 
Sonora Reyes, The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School
 
Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile, Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist For Justice
 
Sabaa Tahir, All My Rage
 
Sherri Winston, Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution
 
Lisa Yee, Maizy Chen’s Last Chance

2022 National Book Award for Young People's Literature Longlist

9/14/2022

 
ten book covers on a white background with the text
A THOUSAND STEPS INTO NIGHT is on the 2022 National Book Award Longlist for Young People's Literature! 🌠 Thank you so much to the judges for recognizing this goofy, demony, second-world fantasy road trip in all its patriarchy-smashing ferocity. 👹 And HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to all the longlisters! 🎉

Kelly Barnhill, The Ogress and the Orphans

Isaac Blum, The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen

Traci Chee, A Thousand Steps into Night

Johnnie Christmas, Swim Team

Anna-Marie McLemore, Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix

Sonora Reyes, The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School

Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile, Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist For Justice

Sabaa Tahir, All My Rage

Sherri Winston, Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution

Lisa Yee, Maizy Chen’s Last Chance

Asian Folklore Panel

3/29/2022

 
graphic reading
This SUNDAY! Come see me, Elizabeth Lim, Axie Oh, Kylie Lee Baker & Van Hoang on this Asian Folklore Panel, hosted by Lili at Utopia State of Mind! I am so excited to discuss books & inspirations with this amazing group of authors! This virtual event starts at 3pm ET/12 pm PT on the Utopia State of Mind YouTube channel, and it will feature a book giveaway as well! Mark your calendars and watch it here.

SE-YA Book Fest 2022

3/10/2022

 
beige graphic with the cover of A Thousand Steps into Night, an author photo of Traci Chee, and the text
More bookish events! Come see me at SE-YA Book Fest starting TOMORROW!

  • Fri. 3/11, 10am CT: AND THEN THERE WAS HOPE (with Sharon Cameron, Jay Coles, and Jonny Garza Villa) Register here!
  • Sat. 3/12, 1:30pm CT: SISTERS ARE DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES (with Lisa Fipps, Maika Moulite, and Maritza Moulite) Register here!

​Don't forget to check out all the fabulous SE-YA programming on their
website. Hope to see you there!

Epic Reads Virtual Fantasy Meetup

3/8/2022

 
blue graphic with several book covers and several headshots advertising the Epic Reads Virtual Fantasy Meetup on March 10th at 4pm ET
​I've got events coming up this week! First up, this fabulous Virtual Fantasy Meetup with Epic Reads on Thu. 3/10 at 4pm ET! Come join me, Claire Legrand, Madeleine Roux, Deborah Falaye & Akshaya Raman as we speak with Lili from Utopia State of Mind about magic and power and so many other wonderful things. Tune in via Facebook this Thursday!

This event is in partnership with Oblong Books, so if you're interested in any of these titles, please do order from Oblong!

Want more? Check out all my upcoming events on my events page!

1000 Steps Launch!

3/1/2022

 
Traci Chee, out of focus, holding up in focus a hardcover of A THOUSAND STEPS INTO NIGHT, with a blue background

​Happy launch day, little book! 🌙👹 You arrive at a painful and tumultuous time in the world and in my personal life, and sometimes I’m overwhelmed by the incongruity of celebrating in the midst of such uncertainty, such tragedy, such sudden and paralyzing loss. But then I remember that this is by design. I wrote you as a response to the uncertainty, the pain, and the tragedy that have marked all of our lives these past few years, because I needed a different kind of story, a more lighthearted story and a more hopeful one, a story, in the words of the Storyteller at the end of The Reader Trilogy, “with less suffering and more joy.”


That’s you, little book. You are the book I needed, and I hope, as you find your way into the world today, you find the readers who need you too. So go, little book. ❤️ Here’s to a little more silliness, here’s to a little more laughter, here’s to indefatigable joy. ❤️


So much gratitude to my agent Barbara Poelle, my editors Cat Onder and Emilia Rhodes, and my whole pub team at Clarion and HarperCollins, who have shown such enthusiasm and support for this strange little patriarchy-smashing folktale since the beginning. And to my friends and family, who have never stopped believing in me, and let me know it every single day. My endless thanks to you all for supporting me through the writing of this book and especially this difficult week. Finally, thank you to my readers, old and new, for finding and loving these stories again and again and again. May we all share a little joy with each other this week. ❤️


Pre-order campaign ends at MIDNIGHT tonight, so get your receipts in to claim your gifts! I’m offering two sticker sheets (six stickers total!) with illustrations by the talented Yutaan. Buy links & details below:


Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, Amazon
beige graphic detailing the pre-order offer for A Thousand Steps into Night
With your proof of purchase (or proof of library request) for A Thousand Steps, you can get:
  • two sheets of custom chibi stickers illustrated by Yutaan
This offer is open internationally until March 1, 2022 at 11:59pm PST or while supplies last.

To enter, submit the following to chee.preorders @ gmail . com (without the spaces):
  • your proof of purchase OR proof of library request
  • your name & mailing address exactly as they should appear on the envelope

​You can order from any retailer, like Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon.

For signed copies, contact your local independent bookseller to see if they have signed copies available! (Don't know your local indie? Find yours here.)
​

Awaran Language Lessons #4 (Tujiyazai, doro yagra)

2/24/2022

 
It's the final installment of Awaran Language Lessons, wherein I teach you some words from the made-up language of A THOUSAND STEPS INTO NIGHT! ?? In this video, please allow me to introduce to you our primary antagonist and malevolence demon, Tujiyazai, who's possessing the body of one of the most powerful people in the realm of Awara! ?

Miss a video? Catch up on all the Awaran Language Lessons here! 

FINALLY, launch is right around the corner, so time is running out to pre-order your copy of A THOUSAND STEPS and send in your receipt for a free sticker set, featuring chibi versions of Miuko, Geiki, and Tujiyazai illustrated by Yutaan! Check them out below!

​Pre-order Offer | IndieBound | Bookshop | Barnes & Noble | Amazon​
beige graphic detailing the preorder offer for A Thousand Steps into Night
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  • Home
  • Bio
  • Books
    • Anthologies >
      • You Are Here
    • The Reader Trilogy >
      • The Reader
      • The Speaker
      • The Storyteller
    • We Are Not Free
    • A Thousand Steps Into Night
  • News
  • Events
  • etc
    • F.A.Q.
    • A Thousand Steps Extras
    • We Are Not Free Extras
    • The Reader Trilogy extras
    • Other Projects
  • Contact