‘The Foremost Good Fortune’ for ‘Slurping Soup’ author Kathryn Tonges when she met Susan Conley.

Susan Conley author of the highly acclaimed memoir The Foremost Good Fortune conducted a creative writing workshop hosted by the Yin Yang Centre and held at The Cottage in Beijing on June 14. Kathryn thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to participate and learn from Susan. She also heard Susan read from her memoir the next evening at VIVA: Beijing Professional Women’s Network.  Susan hurried from the meeting to catch a train with a copy of ‘Slurping Soup’ under her arm and looking forward to sharing the stories with her two young sons and husband on another adventure holiday in China. (More on Susan below).

 

Authors sharing books: Kathryn Tonges with Susan Conley's 'The Foremost Good Fortune' and Susan with 'Slurping Soup'.

VIVA wrote, “The Foremost Good Fortune, chronicles Susan’s two and a half years living with her husband and two young sons in Beijing – and a resulting journey into ‘the haze of cancerland’ when she is diagnosed with breast cancer. As well as capturing the bewildering life of being an expat family in China, the book offers a candid look at morality, culture and belonging.

The Foremost Good Fortune has been receiving acclaim in the United States for its high literary caliber and fierce honesty. O, The Oprah Magazine named the memoir as one of their top 10 reads for February 2011, and the New York Times Magazine recently published an excerpt. “You hear about riveting prose, and this is it,” wrote The Washington Post. “A beautiful [story] about China and cancer and how to be an authentic, courageous human being.””

More info: www.SusanConley.com