ACROSS THE SEAS a daughter, Mia T. Starr, returns to the village of Mong Phu, her father's birthplace in Viet Nam. The true story you read below takes you back to that day, a journey that is now woven into Mia's MORNING SUN, a historical fiction about an ordinary Vietnamese boy who must survive a time beset by famine, sacrifices, doubts, and two wars, if he is to honor his father's last wish and save their family.
A FAMILY PASSAGE
MONG PHU, VIET NAM
by Mia T. Starr
In February 2001 our Vietnamese driver and translator, Tuan, said in English, "We are almost there."
I was quiet, sitting in the back seat of the car and looking out the window at the peaceful countryside. A foreign landscape of tranquil rice paddies, farmers at work, mountains, and rivers rich with history unfolded before me.
My friend, Tom, who had hired the translator and made the trip possible, turned around in the front seat. He said, "Are you okay?"
I gave him a smile for reassurance. I said, "Yes."
"I'm happy we're here," Tom said and leaned back to give me space. He didn't want to be in the way of my journey home.
The car moved forward. The rocks beneath the wheels crumbled, and I thought about my father walking barefoot on this same dirt road sixty-three years ago. That was 1936. He was six years old and in search of work, food, and wood to keep his family alive. [read more to continue the story]
A FAMILY PASSAGE
MONG PHU, VIET NAM
by Mia T. Starr
In February 2001 our Vietnamese driver and translator, Tuan, said in English, "We are almost there."
I was quiet, sitting in the back seat of the car and looking out the window at the peaceful countryside. A foreign landscape of tranquil rice paddies, farmers at work, mountains, and rivers rich with history unfolded before me.
My friend, Tom, who had hired the translator and made the trip possible, turned around in the front seat. He said, "Are you okay?"
I gave him a smile for reassurance. I said, "Yes."
"I'm happy we're here," Tom said and leaned back to give me space. He didn't want to be in the way of my journey home.
The car moved forward. The rocks beneath the wheels crumbled, and I thought about my father walking barefoot on this same dirt road sixty-three years ago. That was 1936. He was six years old and in search of work, food, and wood to keep his family alive. [read more to continue the story]
A NOTE ABOUT THE WRITER: Mia T. Starr was born in Vietnam and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her writing credits include published poems, an Honorable Mention for ASPIRING AUTHOR in the New York Stories 2005 Short Fiction Contest, and a Finalist placing for CLOUDS in the 2006 Glimmer Train Fiction Open Contest. Mia is currently working on completing revisions to her historical fiction, MORNING SUN.
A NOTE ABOUT THE PHOTOS: Each was taken from Mia's trip to Vietnam on that day in 2001 when she returned to the village of Mong Phu, her father's birthplace. For more photographs and the story behind them, continue here.
JOURNEY INTO WRITING: Read about Mia's writing moments through her blog posts at Four Days A Week. She shares excerpts from her works in progress, sharing her experiences as she moves toward her dreams of publishing MORNING SUN and other works in multiple formats. Popular posts include:
A NOTE ABOUT THE PHOTOS: Each was taken from Mia's trip to Vietnam on that day in 2001 when she returned to the village of Mong Phu, her father's birthplace. For more photographs and the story behind them, continue here.
JOURNEY INTO WRITING: Read about Mia's writing moments through her blog posts at Four Days A Week. She shares excerpts from her works in progress, sharing her experiences as she moves toward her dreams of publishing MORNING SUN and other works in multiple formats. Popular posts include:
The light behind the Morning Sun, my historical fiction in progress bit.ly/w73kyL. TY @softypaws @carolyncjjoness for your support.❤
— Mia T. Starr (@FourDaysAWeek) January 16, 2012
Cảm ơn bạn rất nhiều. Thank you so much @carolyncjjones for reading the excerpt. My trip to Mong Phu, #Vietnam is one I will never forget.
— Mia T. Starr (@FourDaysAWeek) January 18, 2012
RT @muz4now: RT @FourDaysAWeek: Daring to share more from Morning Sun bit.ly/w73kyL. #ReadNow
— anita bondi (@anitabondi) January 18, 2012
