I’ve got China’s Wings presentations and book signings scheduled at some of California’s finest bookstores, and in April, I’m presenting and signing at a friend’s wine tasting room in Healdsburg. I’ll be delivering a slide show of excellent period photographs, most of which weren’t able to find space in the book’s photo insert, and telling stories from the writing and researching adventure.
March 3, Saturday, at 4:00 p.m. at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena. (695 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA)
March 13, Tuesday, at 7:00 at Bookshop West Portal in San Francisco. (80 West Portal Avenue, San Francisco, CA)
March 14th, Wednesday, at 7:00 p.m. at Chaucer’s Books in Santa Barbara, a bookstore I’ve loved since I was a kid. (3321 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA)
March 25th, Sunday, at 2:00 p.m. at The Avid Reader at the Tower in Sacramento. (1600 Broadway, Sacramento, CA. 916-441-4400)
March 25th, Sunday, at 5:00 p.m. at The Avid Reader in Davis. (617 Second Street, Davis, CA 95616. 530-758-4040)
April 13th, Friday, at 6:00 p.m. at Garagiste Healdsburg, a wine tasting room run by my dear friend Serena Lourie and her boyfriend Alan Baker. I’m looking forward to presenting with a glass of wine in my hand. (439 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA 95448; 707.431.8023)
If you’re a California person, I’d love to see you at one of these events.
My distant cousin, Donald Chan told me about your book. My husband and I just got back from a visit to the Pacific War Museum in Fredericksburg TX. I did not see your book there. I think that would be the perfect venue for your book. Perhaps you could see if they wanted to stock your title?
That’s a great idea, Lyra. Thanks for kicking it along. And very great to hear that Don is stumping for China’s Wings. :-)
Greg:
Don’t know if you remember me, I met you at the GTCR a couple of summers ago. Anyway, just finished China’s Wings this afternoon and throughly enjoyed it. I was familiar with parts of the history of this time period, but your book filled in a lot of “holes” in my knowledge and added a lot of color to the period.
I have a brother-in-law who was a Navy pilot during Vietnam, spent 20 years with Eastern Airlines before it’s demise and has spent the last 18 years or so with Federal Express. Although in a different era with modern equipment and more regulations, he shares a common flying experience as many of the people in your book. I’m going to buy a copy of China’s Wings for him.
Best regards, Gordon
Of course I remember you, Gordon! We talked for ages at the Climber’s Ranch that season. Very glad to hear that you enjoyed China’s Wings. Be sure to point out to your brother the strong connection between CNAC and Fedex that’s explained in the footnote on page 389. Thanks for checking in, GC
I have information about the Bixby family – one of the 4 daughters is still alive!
Dear Charles, I interveiewed Elizabeth “Bo” Bixby when I was writing China’s Wings. She was delightful! I was under the impression that she’d passed away since then, however. She was a really lively interview, full of perky details.
Thanks, GC
Greg, my father was one of the pilots you chronicle in your book. I was born in Shanghai in 1947, at which point he was flying for CNAC, having flown the hump in the China India Burma (CIB) theater in the Army Air Corps. He had an interesting experience with CNAC when, on take-off, the engine of a passenger plane he was piloting caught fire; the plane was filled with passengers. His Chinese co-pilot fainted from fright, and he was on his own. He landed the plane safely, and was awarded something by the Chinese government. Despite this, he talked little about these experiences, and your book will fill in a lot of detail for my family. I look forward to reading it!
He died in 1996 at the age of 81. I’d love to hear from the children of other pilots who flew the hump.
Susan
Thanks for checking in, Susan, and for sharing your connection to China’s Wings and CNAC. What was your father’s name? There are many second-generation hump pilots involved in the CNAC association. Are you hooked up with the group? If not, perhaps best contacted through Tom Moore at cnac.org. Hope you like China’s Wings. Best, GC
Susan – If you and I are not connected, please drop me a note and tell me more about your father – and I’d love to connect you toother sons and daughters of CNAC p;ilots and employees.
Thanks,
Tom
Oops – my e-mail address is pepperbud@dc.rr.com my phone number in Rancho Mirage, California is 760-832-8213