A day or two ago, Cat Fitzpatrick wrote this great article for the Guardian about trans people and their poetry. My work is mentioned there, as well as three presses I’ve worked with: Topside, Trans-Genre, and Biyuti. I want to talk a bit about Why Dust Shall Never Settle Upon This Soul. It is my first book entirely dedicated toward […]
Getting involved in anime has been a blessed time–the simple joy of following a series (or three or six) with the brain out of the way… But now, I’m slowly getting restless–seeing plot holes again, rewriting dialogue in my head. Not sure how much anime I’ll follow next season. The next book is moving well, […]
This is why I visit colleges… I think I’ll always love learning and sharing… “Ryka Aoki’s visit to Swarthmore was nothing short of extraordinary. Her readings from all three of her books were hilarious, deeply moving, and thought-provoking all at once. By far the most memorable part of her time here, however, was our post-reading […]
So, Stephanie Barbé Hammer just wrote a beautiful review of He Mele A Hilo. At first, I was speechless–reviews from readers are always cherished, but this was so enthusiastic and so dead on. (Besides, how often does one get mentioned in the same article as Yowamushi Pedal?!?) I feel, in this time of so much violence and ugliness, the […]
OK! So I really screwed up the publicity for this event, and I know many of you probably have plans–BUT!! If you come, I’ll be reading and talking about Hawaii, and signing books, with maybe a discount, and THERE WILL BE DONUTS! “RYKA AOKI reads from her debut novel, A Mele A Hilo: A Hilo […]
This from Casey over at: Ask Your Friendly Neighbourhood Lesbrarian # 8: LGBTQ Magic Realism Finally, I want to highly recommend He Mele a Hilo (A Hilo Song) by Ryka Aoki. It perhaps doesn’t fit your question, because it doesn’t feature LGBT characters except in passing, but it is written by a trans woman (an issue she discusses in […]
Hi All! I just wanted to share this news! This is a piece I wrote for Publishers Weekly. It’s my first time in a mainstream national publication!
Sometimes, I do a different sort of performance. This is a martial arts set! Ryka May 29-30: Introducing….QUEER REBELS FEST! Two nights of provocative performance by queer and trans artists of color! From the Third World Student strikes to LA Riots to Black Lives Matter movement, we examine spaces of separation and solidarity among communities of […]
Hi Everyone! Ryka here. I have a big favor to ask of you, especially those who have read and enjoyed my novel, He Mele A Hilo. The summer is coming up, and I am wondering if you might recommend my book to your family, your reading group, an aunty–anyone whom you think might want to take a […]
“Hilo” actually means “to twist” or “to braid.” I mention the ti leaf lei in the book briefly. Stories talk of Kamehameha I using a ti leaf rope to secure his boats off Hilo Bay. I thought to interweave the story as I did, in part because of Hilo’s name. In a way, you can […]