Join International Booker Prize-shortlisted author Cheon Myeong-kwan for a reading from his novel Whale. Translated from the Korean by Chi-Young Kim, Whale is a sprawling adventure-satire about three interconnected women, set in a remote village in South Korea. Cheon will be joined in conversation by author Naomi Hirahara and will sign books following the discussion. The event will take place on Friday, June 9th at 7 pm PST at North Figueroa Books in Los Angeles.

Cheon Myeong-kwan is a South Korean novelist, screenwriter, and director. Whale, his debut novel, was published in 2004 and was the winner of the 10th Munhakdongne Award. The novel has since become a contemporary classic in South Korea. His work has been translated into Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Thai, Turkish, Russian, and Vietnamese.

Naomi Hirahara is the author of a number of mystery novels, including the award-winning Mas Arai series, as well as a historical novel and a young adult novel. A former journalist at The Rafu Shimpo, she has also written nonfiction books on California and Japanese American history.