From the Desk of Lela Lee

Summer shirt sale

2009-06-29T06:31:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone.

There's a summer sale on tshirts. Enter code 4OFFSHIRT to get $4 off.

Enjoy your summer!

How was Hawaii?

2009-06-14T22:07:00.001-07:00

Hawaii was f*@king awesome! Here's a picture of me with the Honolulu Star Bulletin I was in. Thanks to all the great folks who came out to meet me at Animation Addict and Split Obsession. The staff at Animation Addict and the owners were so terrific. Thanks too to Kris who helped coordinate the event. (And thanks Janis for hooking Spencer up with some cool cars!). Thanks to Bruce and Erica the owners of Split Obsession for having an art show of my prints. I rarely make prints and rarely have art shows, but I wanted to have a show in Hawaii as I know Hawaiians love ALAG! I met a lot of cool people at Split Obsession (especially Nadine, Cat, Steve and Candace-thanks for my shirt!) and I know there are still some prints available for sale. I'm going to leave the prints there for Split Obsession to sell because then there'll be no shipping cost. (shipping from the mainland to Hawaii is really expensive, so Hawaii people, take advantage of the prints being there www.splitobsession.com). Pictures from my trip are on my facebook page here.
I hope to come out again to the Islands. Mahalo!!!

Oahu here I come!

2009-05-27T22:14:00.000-07:00

details for Jun 6th & 7th in Hawaii here:

Shirt Sale!!!

2009-05-22T14:03:00.001-07:00

$4 OFF SHIRTS! enter code 4OFFSHIRT at checkout. Sales ends 7/31. (valid for US orders only)

Animation Addict In-Store Appearance

2009-05-11T21:58:00.000-07:00

Animation Addict: In-store Signing
Saturday, June 6, 2009
2:00pm - 5:00pm
Ala Moana Center
1450 Ala Moana Blvd. #1107
(808) 946-9141

This is my first time in Hawaii for ALG, but I know I have a huge fan base in Hawaii, so I hope you'll come out for this event and the one below!

Split Obsession- Art Show in Oahu

2009-05-11T21:57:00.001-07:00

Split Obsession Gallery Art Show
Sunday, June 7, 2009
4:00pm - 6:00pm
Koko Marina Shopping Center
7192 Kalanianaole Hwy, D-100
(808)395-3380
http://www.splitobsession.com/

High Five to the High School

2009-05-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

I went to Philips Academy this past Friday. The students invited me to dinner before the presentation and we engaged in a very interesting debate about Asians in media, tokenism and affirmative action. I don't have any definitive answers on those issues, but I can say from my experience, there is tokenism and racism--and one of the ways to climb out of that token slot Asians are relegated to, is to show your support to Hollywood of Asian films, actors and shows. It all comes down to dollars. If Asian American products make money, Hollywood pays attention. And as far as succeeding in any field, make sure you work hard and are better skilled as nothing is handed on a silver platter to an "outsider". I don't like to focus too much on this annoying fact of life, the glass ceiling that a lot of ethnic-Americans face, but I believe you can't use that as an excuse not to fight against it. So, my advice to the students, those issues exist, but YOU CAN CHANGE THAT. Fight the good fight!

VC Film Festival Kick Off Party

2009-04-17T12:14:00.000-07:00

I made it out last night! Woo hoo! Dad hung out with the kid. And mom (me) went out!!!
Here's a picture of me and Denise Okamoto from Visual Communications.

I like to support VC because VC is the preeminent Asian American Film Festival. And more importantly, back in the day, when I was just starting out with ALAG, they let me set up a table by the bathroom at the DGA and sell my first t-shirts. (I've come a long way from those days, and I've got further to go.) Every year for almost 4 years I sold my shirts at the DGA. I never asked permission, I just set up my table and hoped they wouldn't kick me off the premises. Thankfully they didn't! Go see some cool films at the VC FilmFest 2009.

Planning for Warm Weather!

2009-04-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

So the reason I'm not going to be at UCLA book festival is because my husband and I are going on a weekend getaway to celebrate our 6 yr anniversary-which was last month. But we're going this month because we were both busy in March. Now I'm planning a trip to Hawaii in June and hopefully can plan an appearance at a store on Oahu somewhere...details to come. Of course, I plan to be at Comic Con in July. I love warm weather! Check out my facebook page for a coupon code too! The link is on the right hand side.

UCLA book Festival

2009-04-06T06:16:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone,

This year I will not be at the Book Festival April 25th & 26th. But there will be autographed books for sale at the UCLA Bookzone booth. I'm sorry I won't be there this year. But I hope to be there in 2010. Have a great time!

New Vent Area

2009-03-29T13:46:00.000-07:00

Hi Readers! So I have been quietly working behind the scenes to make a new community board. I think it may be ready to launch soon. Hopefully next week... There will be a contest to kick off the launch of the new community forum. Watch for it soon!

Answering Tammy

2009-03-12T10:11:00.000-07:00

Tammy wrote in and asked:

Dear Lela,
Your books are hilaurious!(i hope i spelled that right.) i think my most favoritest character is kim! she is just like me! im asian,and get sooo angry sometimes. how did you think of those five girls? being chinese is sooo tough! even though your books are for teens i still read em! im just a ten years old. sorry to disapoint you im so young to be reading your books. where are u from?

Dear Tammy,
Thanks! Kim is indeed a favorite character for lots of people. I first thought of her in college because I was angry at the world. And yes, being Asian can be tough. It was for me growing up in San Dimas where I was one of a handful of Asians and I got teased a lot for being different. As a ten year old, I don't think you are too young to read my books. I think this means you are advanced for your age. =0)

Thanks for your question!

Lela

UCLA and Washington University

2009-02-24T10:30:00.000-08:00

Here are the pictures form the UCLA Bookzone signing and also my speech at Washington University in St. Louis MO. Thanks for inviting me out and thanks to all who came to the events!

it's good to be home

2009-02-15T22:49:00.000-08:00

I had a fun time going to Washington University in St. Louis, and also signing at the Bookzone at UCLA. But now from all that activity and traveling, I caught a cold! Cough, stuffy nose and general malaise. Argh, I just want to be able to breathe normal. The things I take for granted when breathing is good. People, be thankful for your snot-free breathing! I'll post pictures of this weeks' signings soon...

St. Louis, MO here I come!

2009-02-11T06:03:00.000-08:00

Hi folks in Missouri!
I'm looking forward to meeting you today February 11th at 4:00PM at the Graham Chapel at Washington University. Hope to see you there!

Book Signing

2009-01-18T20:07:00.000-08:00

I'm having a book signing Monday
Feb 9 at 3:00pm at the UCLA Bookzone
308 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024

I'm signing my new book in time for an
anti-Love Valentine's Day. Come get your
copy of the "Angry Little GIrls in Love"
signed by me and rant about how
love makes you angry!

coughing is good for the abs

2009-01-13T12:29:00.000-08:00

So I have been coughing a lot and discovered, coughing is good for the abs.

Laryngitis

2009-01-11T21:30:00.000-08:00

I have laryngitis. It wasn't the flu last week, but a cold that has made my voice hoarse and tired. It sucks. But the good part was I ate ramen noodles from a package! When I'm sick, I crave my comfort foods. I haven't eaten ramen from a package since I can't remember. The sodium, the bloat, ugh! So bad for you, but so yummy! Anyway, I digress. I'm angry that I'm not better and that my voice is hoarse from coughing. I have nothing to say. Sorry I have nothing insightful for my blog. Just be glad you are healthy if you are!

A fresh new start!

2009-01-04T18:58:00.000-08:00

As I write this, I am having chills because I think I am getting the flu. But nonetheless, I am so excited for 2009! I feel that with all the things going on, we are collectively going to be smarter and conscientious about our earth, our politics, our time and our money. I haven't yet made resolutions, but I did clean my house, organized my office and threw out some stuff I didn't need. And I also know one of my resolutions this year is to leave a lot of my outgrown habits and negative thinking behind. It's a fresh new start and I'm starting with cleaning out my house, my office and my brain. I feel so light and clean already. Happy 2009! (I guess I may be channeling a little bit of Wanda this year...!)

I made a facebook page!

2008-12-07T22:27:00.000-08:00

So I made a facebook page. I resisted all this time, because I thought it was like the other annoying social network service myspace, but facebook is so much better! It's really much nicer to use. So if you are on facebook, please look up my facebook page. I posted some old old photos on there. Anyway, I'm really happy it's the holidays. We finally got our first Christmas tree. Previous years we never did because we were too jaded and wanted to save a tree and $, but this year, we got a tree for the little dude. But since he is 2, he doesn't quite appreciate it and if bored, he will stand on the boxes of presents and pull the ornaments off and throw them around the living room floor. =0P Sigh, between him and the cat, I don't think this tree will make it! Anyway, I hope you all are enjoying your holidays!

New Holiday Goodies

2008-11-23T20:15:00.001-08:00

Hi All! The new holiday line is now available. It's available in the online store or you can also pick it up at your neighborhood store. There's some cute stuff for the holidays. An ALAG watch, a Kim coinbank, cellphone charm, a really big plush doll, etc. There's also some new recycle themed bags, and the ever-popular "Shop with a reusable bag b*tch" in both versions of censored and uncensored is back in stock. So take a look at the shop...www.algshop.com. And Happy Thanksgiving!

Music City USA

2008-11-19T09:13:00.000-08:00

So I was in Nashville this past weekend for a speaking event at Vanderbilt University. Nashville is so cool! The Bluebird Cafe is cool and so is Vanderbilt. I took some pictures, take a look!

New beginnings

2008-11-09T19:29:00.001-08:00

Yes, we did it! I never thought I'd see the day that we have a non-white president. I'm so happy and amazed by what that means. There are more of us that judge people by their merit and not race. Congratulations to us! We have a new era of a new kind of power. It's amazing what we did. And it will be amazing what we will do. The job is not over, now we elected a new president. We still have to remain active and involved. This new change is exciting! We can mobilize to change history, imagine what we can do to change our life's direction, for us and for future generations! Go people!

Vote Vote vote!!!

2008-11-02T21:26:00.000-08:00

It's finally here! Election Day! This is soooo exciting!!!! Yay for a new president and some state propositions being defeated-vote no on prop 8 dear Californians. Don't make discrimination a law. That's a backwards slap to all the progress we have made from the days of interracial marriages being against the law. Let's vote prop 8 down!

Fruity!

2008-10-27T11:56:00.000-07:00

This week's comic features Pat saying "I stand for fruit!"
So in CA, prop 8 is setting off a fire storm of controversy.
Hey fruit are people too. (I don't mean fruit in a derogatory way, but in a tongue and cheek way.)
And we need to think about how fair it is for fruits to be stripped of their rights as partners with property rights just like married people have rights with their husband and wife. I really don't think marriage being taught in schools is a valid propaganda for the no side. The commercial showing a little girl coming home with a book about a king marrying a prince, is not something that would happen in a school curriculum. That commercial is just not accurate. anyway, I stand for fruit along with Pat.