From December 11, 2024, to January 8, 2025, I am traveling in a camper van! And I am writing a travelogue, 5in29, in my newsletter AABB, to capture the highlights of my long-planned trip to several Southwest states by vehicle. 

This trip checks off several of my bucket list items: (1) visit and revisit several southwest states including NV, CA, AZ, NM, and TX, (2) revisit New Mexico State University (NMSU) in Las Cruces, NM I attended 35 years ago and the location of my memoir Las Crosses to give a talk and/or book signing, and (3) travel by an RV, a trailer, or a camper van for a new experience. 

I am traveling with my friend Roman who shares my travel passions and also wants to check off several of his bucket list items, especially traveling with a camper van and checking off a few states to complete his 50 states in the U.S. goal. 

For this travelogue, I’ll organize the daily trips by several themes in no particular order. I plan to send out posts every several days. I may add more photos to the posts I send out already but only on the website, which you will not get once you receive the original email. So, if interested, visit the AABB website under the 5in29 tab to see more photos and updates. 

Welcome to travel with me and share my experience, good or bad. Enjoy reading!

[Note: you can subscribe to my newsletter AABB below to read posts in your email when I send them out every few days, or visit the AABB website to read the published posts directly without subscribing.]

In the shadow of China’s tumultuous mid-20th century, an ambitious civil engineer is determined to protect her baby girls.

Despite a childhood marked by tragedies, Jun carves out a stable life for herself while shrewdly and skillfully navigating a male-dominated and politically charged society. As she rises through the ranks in her profession, she turns to her in-laws to help care for her daughters.

But when the Red Guards target her young family due to their connection with her in-laws’ capitalist class, Jun fears their very existence is in jeopardy.

Amid frequent threats to their safety, can Jun rise above the challenges and safeguard both her family’s future and their fragile stability?

 "Mother of Red Mountains" is an epic tale that creatively weaves together history, personal stories, and the complex culture of revolutionary China, magnificently crafted by Apple An. Showcasing the power of sheer grit and determination, this book traces the journey of a formidable woman who dares to dream against all odds. 

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