Ang Lee's essay about never giving up on your dreams

Ang Lee's essay on Never Ending Dream - http://whatshihsaid.com/2013/02/26/ang-lee-a-never-ending-dream/

Art requires authentic emotions

I am reminded today how much art requires authentic emotions. Anyone can duplicate and replicate, but it takes real emotions and experiences to originate. This goes for writers, actors, musicians, screenwriters, dancers and anyone with art in their soul. If you haven't experienced it, you can't express it! That's the secret formula.

Madea's loud and sassy character inspired some of the characters and dialogue in the book series

The Friday movie series inspired some of the humorous character development and scenes and dialogue in book series

My Big Fat Greek Wedding inspired many of the cultural nuances and comedic and sometimes wise references to "Old China" in the book series

One of the creative inspirations for the Beijing Family book series

Finished Book 2 and am started Book 3 today.

Finished Book 2 of the Beijing Family and am ready to publish it. My editor said that it's better than Book 1. I started Book 3 today. After Book 3, I'm taking a break and reassessing The Beijing Family. Several entertainment companies in China and US want to convert this story into television or film. I am presently undecided. Meanwhile, I've put my real estate career on hold to focus on all of this.

Beijing is a ghost town after 9 million leave for Spring Festival

Beijing is like a ghost town after 9 million leave for Spring festival

Seeds of your success are in your failures!

Your best stories will come from your struggles. The seeds of your successes are in your failures. Your praises will be birthed from your pains. Keep standing, I have never seen a storm last forever. Seasons Change!

Red envelopes

Red for good luck

Chinese firecrackers

Read The Beijing Family today for only $2.99 ebook today!

Enjoy hilarious comedy about a Chinese billionaire and his family living in Beverly Hills today for only $2.99 ebook. Here is the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Beijing-Family-ebook/dp/B00AQZ5518/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356845817&sr=8-1&keywords=the+beijing+family

Ditch the Diet for the Snake!

My mom told me to ditch the dieting for Chinese New Year. I'm good with that! Last night, rice cake dessert. Tonight, stir fried rice cakes with meat and vegetables Shanghai style.

Panda rice cakes

Panda rice cakes

Rice cakes for long life

Rice cakes for long life

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year! Wishing you lots of joy and happiness in the Year of the Snake.

China

A snake handler performs ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Year of the Snake begins on Feb 10.

PSY and Jackie - star power!

Passengers queue to board trains at Jiujiang Raiway Station in East China's Jiangxi province. Lunar New Year is like Christmas in the US where everyone heads home for the holidays. The entire country shuts down and parties for two weeks straight. It's one of the busiest routes for all inbound flights coming into LAX from Shanghai and Beijing.

Cards with people's New Year wishes written on them are tied to wishing trees.

Pagoda in Li Jiang

Moon Bridge, Beijing, China.

Waterfalls in Jiuzhaigou Valley, Sichuan.

A little boy views the cards with people's New Year wishes written on them under a wishing tree at a shopping mall.

Happy Magic Water, Cube Water Park - Beijing

A Cormorant Fisherman at sunset on the Li River near Xing Ping. Guangxi Province – Southern China.

A series of Lunar New Year activities to bring together foreign and Chinese citizens in the Maizidian community in Beijing, capital of China, began on January 25, 2013. It is the 9th year of the event. Young diplomats and their families, expats and Chinese citizens living in the community get to experience New Year traditions, including paper-cutting and making dumplings.

To educate somebody, you should start from poems, emphasize ceremonies, and finish with music." -- Confucius 551-479 BC

Xitang, Zhejiang Province