#rykaaoki

Hi! I will have a new book coming out in Fall 2021! It’s called Light of Uncommon Stars. It has been a super long journey with this book, but I am making my final edits this summer. The publisher is Tor press. At this moment, the book is coming in at about 96,000 words. I’ve gone through over countless rewrites over the past 4-5 years...with three big revisions this year alone. 

The funny thing is, I was writing and working the entire time. As hard as I could! But I think some of that delay was just my own wonky life. I went through some major personal changes during that time, including probably the darkest period of my life. When one does this, it’s so hard to keep the novel in check--I wrote these heartfelt, difficult scenes---only to take them out later. 

Sometimes I wondered what I was writing--which mirrored my own life, as I adjusted to having my life plans kind of shattered... 

In any case, all I could do was keep working (both on my book and my life), keep believing in my characters, and that they could bring readers something worthwhile. :) I was quiet a lot. I still am quieter than I used to be. But I am laughing a little more with time. 

And, right now, I am very excited. My last novel had a lot of Hawaii stuff in it, but most of the queer content was implied, rather than stated. Here, however, I’m writing queer characters throughout--and weaving their stories has been the most difficult and rewarding task of my writing life.

We have one more planned edit, then line edits, then we might be good to go--yay!!! 

Please know that this book went a long way toward saving my own life--for many, many mornings it was the only thing I felt I had to wake up to. So I treasure this book, and am so eager to share it with those who read it when it is released. I’ll be posting about progress and chat more about the editing as I go. But, in any case--thank you!  <3 

Ryka Aoki'S He Mele A Hilo (A Hilo Song is one of the most delicious books of 2014. If you need convincing, check out Ryka's recipe for Hawaiian Mac Potato Salad!

Buy the book at http://store.topsidepress.com/shop/he-mele-a-hilo . 

Hawaiian Mac Potato Salad

Serves: an extended family

Ingredients

3/4 pounds elbow macaroni

2 russet potatoes, peeled  

8 hard boiled eggs (fresh eggs are best, and try not to overboil)

Best Foods Mayonnaise (the only acceptable brand)

1 cup frozen peas (you can add less peas, but I like peas.)

1 can bay shrimp. Instead of bay shrimp, you can add crab meat if you want to be fancy, or Spam, if you want to be unfancy.

salt and pepper (Johnnie’s or Lawry’s can work here)

Optional

¼ cup grated (not sliced) onion. I don't add this ‘cuz my family is so-so on onions.

1 tbsp cider vinegar, if you must. I think this screws up the taste, but some people like it. I think they must be from O’ahu.

Note: Don't even think of adding Italian dressing or pickle relish.

·       Boil the macaroni. Overcook it a bit so it gets softer. Strain and rinse with cold water.

·       Rinse, boil, and dice the potatoes. It’s okay if the fall apart a little.

·       Peel and dice the eggs. Or just use an egg slicer if you're not too picky.

·       Drain and rinse the shrimp.

·       Combine everything except the salt and pepper into a big mixing bowl. Add 2 cups of  mayonnaise right away, then more until the whole thing sounds sloppy and wet. Mix gently with your hand so as not to crush the potatoes and eggs.  

·       Salt and pepper to just less than taste. As the flavors combine, the seasonings go farther.

·       Cover and put in the fridge. Tastes best if kept overnight. Some people sprinkle paprika over the top before serving. I think it’s kind of pretty that way.

It’s December 2012, and I am terrified. My mother is sick, so I am making the family Christmas dinner. Main dishes? No problem. Veggies? Fine. What is scaring me is the mac salad. Mac salad seems simple, but the way we make it in the islands is special. Get haole mac salad and local mac salad, and from the first bite, you can tell. You have to get it right, otherwise the meal isn't local. Usually one person in the family makes the mac salad.

So I am freakin’ nervous. I know the basics. Overcook the macaroni. Add shrimp. Boil fresh eggs. Use only Best Foods mayonnaise. But still I have no confidence. Then, I start, and the weirdest thing happens. I start to flash back. I see my mother peeling the potatoes. I see my grandmother mixing the mayo. And when I start mixing, I remember that my grandma knew she had added enough, not by a measuring cup, but by the sound.