Fil-Am books out this fall: Memoir, childhood, folktales

Three titles from the Philippine American Literary House are now available, two reissues and one new tome.

LOS ANGELES —Three titles from the Philippine American Literary House are now available, two reissues and one new tome.

Will You Happen, Past the Silence, Through the Dark?

Remembering Leonard Ralph Casper

By Linda Ty-Casper

Late Literary critic Leonard Ralph Casper wrote books about Philippine writing such as Wayward Horizon: Essays on Modern Philippine Literature (1961) and New Writing from the Philippines: A Critique and Anthology (1966). He taught at several universities there and was a colleague and friend to literati and academics.

In this chronicle, his spouse Linda Ty-Casper has collected the epistles written to and from him, offering a view of who he was to friends and peers. Ty-Casper describes the book as the memoir that her husband did not get to write.

In addition to correspondence with Filipino writers, exchanges include Casper’s accounts from the European front during World War II submitted to the editors of the Southwest Review Magazine and inquiries from American poet, novelist and critic Robert Penn Warren as he was working on his dissertation.

Author and editor Joel Pablo Salud has praised the book, calling it “a treasure trove of charms and jewels forthose like me who find Leonard Casper a bit of a cryptic, enigmatic figure. Linda Ty-Casper has done a great service by shedding light    on Len’s memory, allowing us a voyeur’s look into a life dedicated to the magic andunease found in letters. I am sure this book will remain relevant for decades to come.”

Growing Up Filipino 3:

New Stories for Young Adults

Edited by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

A collection of 25 short stories by Filipino authors in the U.S. and the Philippines on what it means to be young and Filipino.

The stories explore the universal themes of coming-of-age, love, angst, family, relationships, and other young adult issues.

The stories reveal Filipino and Filipino American culture, mores, history, society, politics, and other nuances. For instance, Filipino respect for their elders, extended families, religious practices, funeral rites, and love for folklore are apparent in the stories.

The first two titles in this series, Growing Up Filipino: Stories For Young Adults (2003) and Growing Up Filipino II: More Stories For Young Adults(2010), were included in National Geographic’s Reading List in 2020. Used by educators in their classrooms, these books are enjoyed by adults and young adults alike.

Contributors include Nikki Alfar, Marilyn Alquizola, Gina Apostol, Cecilia Bainard, Patrick Joseph Caoile, Ian Casocot, Noelle de Jesus, George Deoso, Migs Bravo Dutt, James Fajarito, Yvette Fernandez, Patricia Go, Sarge Lacuesta, Zak Linmark, Veronica Montes, Kannika Pena, Oscar Peñaranda, Danton Remoto, Brian Roley, Renee Macalino Rutledge, Dom Sy, Eileen Tabios, Linda Ty-Casper, Marianne Villanueva and Jack Wigley.

Asian and Philippine Folktales:

Retellings by PAWWA

Edited by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

A collection of 25 Asian and Philippine folktales intended for readers ages 9 and older as retold by members of the Philippine American Women Writers and Artists (PAWWA).

The stories were previously published in two separate books that have been out-of-print for many years. This new collection includes folktales from places such as Laos, Japan, Korea, Sumatra, Vietnam, China, Bali, Indonesia, India, and the Philippines.

PAWWA was a support group for Filipina women writers in Southern California in the 1990s. Its work supporting books by Filipino American and Filipino authors has spun off with the Philippine American Literary House imprint, currently overseen by Cecilia Brainard.

Contact [email protected] or visit palhbooks.com.