College of the Rockies VP holding book launch

Dr. Stan Chung's latest book is a compilation of his best essays and stories over the last ten years.

Dr. Stan Chung, College of the Rockies Vice President, Academic and Applied Research, and local author. — Photo: COTR

College of the Rockies Vice President, Academic and Applied Research, Dr. Stan Sae Hoon Chung, will be launching his second book, I Held My Breath for a Year, at the Heid Out in Cranbrook on Sunday, November 20.

Chung is an award winning writer of creative non-fiction, a form of memoir concerned with family, upbringing and social trends. He is a regular column contributor to the Kootenay News Advertiser and other publications. I Held My Breath for a Year is a compilation of his best essays and stories over the last ten years.

“This book is about me growing up a Korean Canadian and trying, like everyone else, to negotiate life and love,” Chung says. “My guest editorials in the Kootenay Advertiser have been an unexpected joy because so many people have responded.”

Chung’s work has been widely recognized by readers throughout the world but the stories, essays and memoirs are essentially Canadian. His best-selling book: Global Citizen: River of Love and Other Stories is currently in its third printing.

Calgary mayor, Naheed Nenshi, describes Chung’s writing as “…deeply real” and says that “he tears down pretence to reveal a simple honest truth in which we can see just a little bit of ourselves.”

“I have always been a writer,” Chung adds. “The greatest thing about being a writer is hearing from your readers. What I care about most is being a ‘local’ writer, serving my local community first. I can’t wait to meet people, sign books and talk about the East Kootenays.”

Chung will be signing copies of his book and providing a reading at the November 20 launch. There is no charge for attending.