The last #WeAreNotFree Research Stories is here! It's 1945, near the end of the war, and my grandpa is drafted into the army. The day after he leaves, he starts writing to my grandma, and in those letters I found the beginning of their love story. ? Watch to find out more!

CATCH UP ON THE REST OF THIS SERIES:
* Research Stories #1: Best Story Behind a Photograph
* Research Stories #2: Most Striking Moment from an Interview
* Research Stories #3: Most Memorable Travel Experience
* Research Stories #4: Best Surprise from a Primary Source

More Research Stories! ? One of the coolest things about writing about a history you're personally connected to is finding all these little connections between yourself and your research. Today, I'm talking about the Best Surprise from a Primary Source! ? 
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CATCH UP ON THE REST OF THE SERIES:
* Research Stories #1: Best Story Behind a Photograph
* Research Stories #2: Most Striking Moment from an Interview
* Research Stories #3: Most Memorable Travel Experience

BOOK OR CAKE? 📖🎂🔪 Can you spot the difference? Scroll down to see!

Thank you to my mama, who brought me a We Are Not Free book cake by Cake Board Desserts on my launch day! And to the family & neighbors who gathered outside & socially distanced to celebrate and share with me! 🍰 In case you weren’t able to make my launch party on Tuesday, the recording is now available on the JCCCNC Facebook page—🎉 go here to watch!
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This week has been such a whirlwind, and I have felt so supported and loved. 💛 Thank you so much to everyone who pre-ordered, showed up to party, posted about your excitement, reviewed the book, recommended it to your friends and family, and in general showered this book with enthusiasm and joy. I am so, so grateful that you are here with me. 🌻

Time for another Research Stories! While dreaming up & drafting #WeAreNotFree, I visited three of the incarceration camps--Topaz, Manzanar & Tule Lake--which left a huge impression on me. This week, I talk about how these trips impacted the telling of this story in my Most Memorable Travel Experience!

CATCH UP ON THE REST OF THIS SERIES:
* Research Stories #1: Best Story Behind a Photograph
* Research Stories #2: Most Striking Moment from an Interview

And just an extra thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the launch of We Are Not Free last night! It was such a special evening, and I am so grateful for all your love and support. Plus, in case you missed it, you can watch the recording on the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California Facebook here!

UPDATE! We are at capacity for my virtual launch party on Tuesday, 9/1 at 6pm PDT! Registration is now closed, but JCCCNC will be broadcasting the program on Facebook Live for anyone who was unable to sign up in advance. CLICK HERE TO WATCH.

For my virtual launch this year, I'm partnering with longtime Japantown institution, the Japanese Community and Cultural Center of Northern California, and local Bay Area bookseller, Books Inc. Even though we can't all be together right now, it's such an honor to be working with these local organizations, and I hope you continue to give them your support!

Tuesday, September 1 at 6pm PDT
with Misa Sugiura (This Time Will Be Different) and THREE very special surprise guests!
​Please register here for the Zoom link.​

You have a few days left to pre-order your copy of We Are Not Free and submit your receipt to receive your pre-order gifts!

​With your proof of purchase (or proof of library request) for We Are Not Free, you can get:

• one We Are Not Free poster (11x17 in.) illustrated by Yoshi Yoshitani
• one signed bookmark***
• one signed bookplate

This offer is open internationally until Sep. 1, 2020 at 11:59pm PDT or until 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 package

***If you order from Books Inc. in San Francisco, you can get the whole set of six signed collectible bookmarks, as seen here! This offer is good while supplies last.

You can order from any retailer, like Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or your favorite local bookstore, which you can find at IndieBound! Just don't forget to send in your receipt!

New Research Stories! ? Today I'm talking about the temporary detention centers where 100,000+ Japanese Americans were imprisoned after their forced eviction from the west coast, and paying homage to my great Auntie Mary, who so generously shared her story with me. Go watch!

CATCH UP ON THE REST OF THIS SERIES:
* Research Stories #1: Best Story Behind a Photograph

We’re ONE WEEK out from launch now, so don't forget to pre-order! Then submit your receipts for some special goodies, including a beautiful poster illustrated by Yoshi Yoshitani! AND register for my virtual launch party all in the same place! Go here for details!

I have a new video series! And a YouTube channel! ? Please allow me to regale you with all my favorite discoveries from researching We Are Not Free, starting with this story about my mom, my grandpa, and the Smithsonian Museum... ✨ Click here to go directly to the video or watch it above!

CATCH UP ON THE REST OF THIS SERIES:
​* Research Stories #2: Most Striking Moment from an Interview

We're two weeks out from launch now, so don't forget to pre-order! Then submit your receipts for some special goodies, including a beautiful poster illustrated by Yoshi Yoshitani! Go here for details!