Bestselling author Lisa See plans to discuss her new book, "Shanghai Girls," as well as early California history, at 11 a.m. Sept. 27 at the Art Theatre, 2025 E. Fourth St.
Long Beach Heritage invited the author of "On Gold Mountain," "Peony in Love," "The Secret Fan" and "Snow Flower" to speak and sign books at the historic cinema on Retro Row.
See has an interesting background that includes family ties to Long Beach and Signal Hill.
The author was born in Paris and raised in Los Angeles. Her family's chain of antique stores had five locations, including one at The Pike in Long Beach. Her great-grandfather owned property in Signal Hill in the 1920s.
On Sunday, "Shanghai Girls" ranked 34th on the New York Times' Bestseller List for hardcover fiction and No 7 on the Los Angeles Times' regional list.
See's work is often steeped in history. Her new book begins in 1937, "when Shanghai was the Paris of Asia." The protagonists are sisters Pearl and May Chin, whose father owns a successful rickshaw business.
Things are going great until the Japanese bomb Shanghai, forcing the sisters to escape to the Chinese countryside and eventually to the United States.
In addition to See's lectures, Naples historian Stan Poe will show slides of old Long Beach while brunch is being served.
See will lecture and allow questions and answers prior to signing copies of her new book. "Shanghai Girls" will be sold for $25.
The cost to attend the lecture, which includes brunch, is $30 for Heritage members and $35 for non-members.
For tickets, send a self-addressed envelope to Long Beach Heritage, PO Box 92521, Long Beach, CA 90809 or use PayPal at www.lbheritage.org.
Tickets will be mailed if the order is received by Sept. 22.
For questions and will call tickets, call 562-493-7019.
No tickets will be available on the day of the event.
