Susan Blumberg-Kason

Twenty-four hours in Berkeley

Susan Blumberg-Kason — Tue, 12 May 2026 23:28:37 +0000

A couple weekends ago I had the great privilege of participating in the 2nd annual Jewish Arts and Bookfest in Berkeley, California. I was on a panel with authors Zeeva Bukai and Shelly Sanders. We had so much fun and spoke about our books–each set in different parts of the world–and why they are considered Jewish stories. I spoke mostly about how I became interested in Old Shanghai and why I was so determined to write about this period.

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I’ve been in conversation with both Zeeva and Shelly at different times in suburban Chicago, so it was great fun to meet up with them in California. We all first met last fall in New York.

I wished I could have stayed longer, but this short time in the Bay Area was great fun and memorable. I even survived the red-eye back to Chicago better than I imagined!

2026 CASL Gala!

Susan Blumberg-Kason — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 03:27:33 +0000

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Photo by Chinese American Service League

It was an honor to attend the Chinese American Service League’s 2026 gala last year, which took in an astonishing $630,000 for programs and services to Chicago’s Chinatown community and beyond.

One of the highlights of the evening was finally meeting Linda Yu, Chicago’s first Chinese American news reporter and anchor and the author of the introduction of my latest book, When Friends Come From Afar: The Remarkable Story of Bernie Wong and Chicago’s Chinese American Service League. All author proceeds are going to CASL’s Pine Tree Senior Council.

I was actually on set with Linda 20 years ago for my first book, All the Tea in Chicago. I was working not too far from the news studio and was pregnant with my daughter, so I not only snuck out of work to film this segment, but also had to get in a quick lunch before returning to the office. Fun times!

YouTube talk about Bernardine and Anna May Wong!

Susan Blumberg-Kason — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 03:12:21 +0000

Last week I had the great honor to speak to the Stanford Asian Pacific Alumni Association and the Stanford Jewish Alumni Network about Bernardine and her friendship with Anna May Wong. A huge thank you to Katie Gee Salisbury for the invitation and for hosting! This YouTube video captures our lovely conversation! It’s 50 minutes, but goes by very quickly!

Sunday in New York!

Susan Blumberg-Kason — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 03:17:26 +0000

If you are in New York this weekend, I’ll be speaking at the New York Jewish Book Festival about Bernardine’s Shanghai Salon and am so excited to be on a panel with other women who write about salons. Nancy Ludmerer and Deborah Hertz write about Venice and Berlin, respectively.

The Festival is free and open to the public and we’ll be signing books after our panel event!

The Writers’ Mifgash

Susan Blumberg-Kason — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 03:30:58 +0000

Last month I had the great honor to help plan and then attend the Artists Against Antisemitism’s first writers’ Mifgash, or gathering. It was like going to a wedding. I saw old friends as well as social media friends in person for the first time. I also met writers I had admired for years. It hasn’t been easy for Jewish writers these last couple of years. I’ve personally lost two literary agents in the last year and am basically on my own to find a publisher for a fascinating biography I’m writing about Golda Meir’s childhood and teenage years in the great city of Milwaukee (with a two-year hiatus in Denver). Anyway, these are just some of the photos from this magical day!

Printers Row Lit Fest!

Susan Blumberg-Kason — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 19:15:50 +0000

I’m so honored to have the chance to sign books at this weekend’s Printers Row Lit Fest in Chicago! I’ll be there most of the day on Sunday, September 7th and will be signing copies of Good Chinese Wife, Bernardine’s Shanghai Salon, and When Friends Come From Afar. If you’re in Chicago, please stop by!!

Book Event August 2, 2025

Susan Blumberg-Kason — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 03:18:07 +0000

I am excited to talk about When Friends Come From Afar this Saturday at the Chinese American Museum of Chicago! I’ll be speaking with C.W. Chan, one of the founders of CASL, and Grace Chan McKibben, Executive Director of the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community. Tickets are free and available here.

JF Books in Washington, DC

Susan Blumberg-Kason — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 02:30:09 +0000

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to speak at JF Books in Washington, DC and it couldn’t have gone better. Jifeng Books was a staple in Shanghai for over 20 years before it relocated to DC last year. The DC store is small, yet incredibly inviting. If I ran my own bookshop I’d want it to look like JF Books!

I spoke about Bernardine, 1930s Shanghai, and the arts scene she promoted there. The audience was full of insightful questions and comments and I’m sharing just some of the photos from that evening. If you’re ever in DC, a stop at JF Books is a must-do!

Friday, July 18th in Washington, DC

Susan Blumberg-Kason — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 21:27:44 +0000

If you’re in the Washington, DC area, please join us at JF Books Friday, July 18th at 6pm. JF Books relocated from Shanghai to Washington some years ago and holds a weekly salon centered around China and books. I’m thrilled to speak at their salon about Bernardine’s salon!

El Ateneo Grand Splendid

Susan Blumberg-Kason — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 21:59:40 +0000

I was in Buenos Aires for spring vacation a few weeks ago and went to a fabulous bookstore housed in an old theatre. El Ateneo Grand Splendid had been a theatre for decades, but after it fell out of fashion, it was repurposed as a bookstore and has become one of the most popular shops in Buenos Aires. I hope you enjoy these photos!