• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Peeking Between the Pages

Peeking Between the Pages

...escape into the pages of a good book

  • HOME
  • ARCHIVES
  • PAST READS
  • REVIEW POLICY
  • ABOUT ME
  • CONTACT ME

Guest Post & Giveaway with John Shors, author of Dragon House

December 2, 2009 by Darlene


I am so pleased today to have John Shors visiting Peeking Between the Pages. I reviewed Dragon House yesterday and it is definitely a novel that will be one of my favorites of 2009! You can grab a look at my review here if you’d like. So without further delay here is the fantastic guest post from John Shors on How Street Children Inspired Dragon House.

Happy holidays, everyone. I’d like to offer a post on how my new novel, Dragon House, came to be.

I’ve been fortunate enough to do a lot of traveling. A time existed, after I graduated from college, when I taught English in Japan and then backpacked around Asia. I had little money and tended to stay in rooms that cost a few dollars a night. With nothing more than a couple sets of t-shirts and shorts in my backpack, I visited places such as Vietnam, Thailand, Nepal, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Korea. Some of these countries I grew to know quite well. I’d find a cheap room, rent a scooter, and explore as much of an area as possible. Sometimes my future wife or my friends were with me, though I was often alone.

I saw so many beautiful things throughout these adventures, sights such as the Taj Mahal, the Himalayan peaks, and white-sand beaches unspoiled by humanity’s touch. But I think that I witnessed the most beauty within the street children I encountered. These children seemed so similar, country to country. They were out at all times of day and night, selling their postcards, their fans, their flowers. For many nights in Thailand, I played Connect Four with a boy who wasn’t older than seven or eight. We bet a dollar each game. Some travelers told me not to play with him, convinced that his parents were nearby and were sending him out at night to work. But I never saw his parents, and one night I spied him sleeping on a sidewalk, a piece of cardboard his bed. I don’t think I ever beat him in a game.

Throughout these travels I met hundreds, if not thousands, of children who lived on the street. Sometimes they were sick or had a physical deformity. But most of them were simply homeless—abandoned into extreme poverty. Bright, eager, and unafraid to laugh with a stranger, they taught me so much. I owe them so much.

My encounters with street children inspired my new novel, Dragon House. Set in modern-day Vietnam, Dragon House tells the tale of Iris and Noah—two Americans who, as a way of healing their own painful pasts, open a center to house and educate Vietnamese street children.

I’m quite excited about Dragon House. David Oliver Relin, who lived in Vietnam, and is the best-selling author of Three Cups of Tea, let me know that he thought it was “a sprawling, vibrant novel.” Robert Olen Butler, who fought in the Vietnam War, and won a Pulitzer Prize for his collection of short stories about Vietnamese Americans, told me that Dragon House is “a strong, important work from a gifted writer.” Such feedback from two wonderful writers, and two people who spent a significant amount of time in Vietnam, means a great deal to me.

It is my hope that Dragon House will be a success, and out of that success something good can happen. I am donating some of the funds generated from my book to an organization called Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. This group works with children in crisis throughout Vietnam. Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation offers disadvantaged children a wide range of services and support to help them break out of poverty, forever, by getting them back to school and helping them achieve their best. If you would like more information on Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, and what I am doing to help, please visit www.dragonhousebook.com.

What’s especially wonderful is that many readers, after finishing Dragon House, have made direct contributions to Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. To date, we’ve raised enough money to buy complete sets of school books for 400 street children.

I appreciate the support of everyone who reads Dragon House because the success of my novel will allow me to continue to help street children in Vietnam, and to raise the level of awareness of the perils that street children face around the world.

My very best wishes to you.
John Shors
~~~~~~~~~~

John, thanks so much for the wonderful post. I think it’s so important to help children all over the world so I wish you every success with helping these children! I’d also like to thank you for a really terrific novel!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have two copies of Dragon House to share with two of my lucky readers. What can you do to enter…

  • For 1 entry leave me a comment with a way to contact you.
  • For 2 entries follow my blog. If you do already, just let me know and I’ll put you down for an extra entry.
  • For 3 entries blog or tweet this giveaway to spread the word.

This giveaway will be open to US & Canadian residents only for 1 of the copies as it’s coming from the publisher and internationally open for the other copy as it is my review copy that I’ll be putting up for grabs. I will draw for the winners on Saturday, December 19, 2009. Good luck everyone!

Views: 0
Share this post!
Share

Filed Under: Guest Posts

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sandy Nawrot says

    December 2, 2009 at 10:47 am

    What an interesting guy! After that bit of insight, and your wonderful review, I would love to win a copy of this book. I am a follower! rnawrot at cfl dot rr dot com

  2. itsJUSTme-wendy says

    December 2, 2009 at 11:18 am

    Hey Dar,
    Would love to win this book.
    I am a follower.
    I will post about it next Tues.

    forevereading at gmail dot com

  3. KiraR says

    December 2, 2009 at 12:25 pm

    John sounds like a great guy and I appreciate what he is doing for those poor kids. Would love to read his novel so count me in please.

    I follow.

    kiris089 at gmail dot com

  4. mariag says

    December 2, 2009 at 12:54 pm

    I read your review yesterday and knew I had to read this book!!
    Please enter me to win.
    Sounds so interesting.

    I follow

    fmlj94 at yahoo dot com

  5. Marjorie says

    December 2, 2009 at 1:00 pm

    After reading the review I would
    like very much to win this book.

    I follow by google reader.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

  6. Wanda says

    December 2, 2009 at 1:55 pm

    Great guest post! How wonderful to be raising awareness and funds, all through a book.

    I'd like to enter please.
    I follow and will post here.

    wanda_waiting[@]hotmail[.]com

  7. Linda says

    December 2, 2009 at 2:59 pm

    I enjoyed the review yesterday, so found today's guest post esp. interesting. I'd love to win the book.

    I'm a follower.

    lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

  8. Pamela Keener says

    December 2, 2009 at 3:38 pm

    This book sounds very good. I would love to win a copy.
    I am a follower.
    pk4290@comcast.net

  9. carla says

    December 2, 2009 at 4:37 pm

    I caught your enthusiasm yesterday in your review and enjoyed the author's insights from writing it today.
    I would appreciate a chance to win a copy!
    Thanks Dar!

    cjay (at) iavalley (dot) edu

  10. John says

    December 2, 2009 at 4:41 pm

    Thanks, everyone, for your nice comments about my novel, Dragon House. I really appreciate your enthusiasm… The book is generating some goodness in that we're helping these street children. We're sending them to school, getting them clothes, etc. It's wonderful. I wish everyone the best. Happy holidays! – John

  11. Jo-Jo says

    December 2, 2009 at 4:42 pm

    I would love to win this one Dar!
    joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

  12. Jo-Jo says

    December 2, 2009 at 4:42 pm

    I'm also a follower.
    joannelong74 AT gmail Dot com

  13. fredamans says

    December 2, 2009 at 4:43 pm

    I would love to enter, thank you!

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

  14. fredamans says

    December 2, 2009 at 4:43 pm

    I follow via Google connect.

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

  15. fredamans says

    December 2, 2009 at 4:45 pm

    Tweet; http://twitter.com/fredalicious/status/6274145042

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

  16. bermudaonion says

    December 2, 2009 at 5:56 pm

    It just breaks my heart to hear of children living like that, yet I know it goes on all over the world. This sounds like a wonderful book. Please enter me. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

  17. Heidi V says

    December 2, 2009 at 7:14 pm

    Interesting interview!

    Thanks for the chance to read this book.

    heidivargas [at] live dot com

  18. Staci says

    December 2, 2009 at 8:33 pm

    Very interesting. Vietnam is a country that I know so little about!!!

  19. Andrea says

    December 2, 2009 at 8:57 pm

    It sounds like a interesting book and I would love to win a copy of it.
    I am a follower.

    ainfinger@comcast.net

  20. etirv says

    December 2, 2009 at 9:57 pm

    I would like to be entered!!!

    I'm a google reader follower!

    delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

  21. Stacie says

    December 3, 2009 at 12:34 am

    Please count me in.

    simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

  22. Stacie says

    December 3, 2009 at 12:34 am

    I follow

    simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

  23. mindy says

    December 3, 2009 at 12:59 am

    very captivating thanks minsthins at optonline dot net

  24. Alice Teh says

    December 3, 2009 at 1:59 am

    Hi Dar, there's no need to enter me for this giveaway (not eligible), but still, I'd like to say to you and John Shors!

  25. Alice Teh says

    December 3, 2009 at 2:16 am

    Hi Dar, thanks for your email clarification. I'm sorry I didn't read it thoroughly. Ah yes, please enter me for the giveaway!

    I'm already a follower… 🙂

    teh(dot)alice(at)gmail(dot)com

  26. Martha Lawson says

    December 3, 2009 at 2:41 am

    This book sounds really interesting. I'd love to win a copy.

    I am already a follower.

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

  27. Amy says

    December 3, 2009 at 3:06 am

    I heart books amythomas at gmail dot com Thanks for the look at this author and this great opportunity

  28. Amy says

    December 3, 2009 at 3:08 am

    Following your blog #1

  29. Margie says

    December 3, 2009 at 3:27 am

    This looks like a fascinating book. Just signed up to be a follower.
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

  30. Esme says

    December 3, 2009 at 4:32 am

    Thanks for this-I have had this on my wish list for awhile

    chocolate and croissants at yahoo dot com

  31. Esme says

    December 3, 2009 at 4:32 am

    I follow thanks

    chocolate and croissants at yahoo dot com

  32. Esme says

    December 3, 2009 at 4:34 am

    cococroissants

    http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspot.com/2009/12/guest-post-giveaway-with-john-shors.html giveaway for The Dragon House.

    chocolate and croissants at yahoo dot com

  33. Ivana says

    December 3, 2009 at 11:48 am

    Hi, Dar!
    I've heard a lot of great things about this book. Would you mind counting me in for the Int'l copy? I'm your loyal follower 🙂

    ivanaquick at gmail dot com

    Hugs,
    Ivana

  34. Ivana says

    December 3, 2009 at 11:50 am

    oh, and I put the contest in my contest sidebar http://willingtoseeless.blogspot.com/

  35. rhapsodyinbooks says

    December 3, 2009 at 1:55 pm

    I'd love to win! I follow via Google Reader.

    nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

  36. Anonymous says

    December 3, 2009 at 6:46 pm

    Enter me please.
    Thanks!
    nycole
    knycks1@aol.com

  37. Anonymous says

    December 3, 2009 at 7:55 pm

    need some reading for the long winter,,thx for the contest..
    thehighflyer3(at)hotmail(dot)com

  38. Jo-Jo says

    December 3, 2009 at 8:49 pm

    I blogged about the contest here.
    joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

  39. Carol M says

    December 3, 2009 at 9:15 pm

    I would love to read this book! Thank you for the giveaway

    I'm a follower.

    mittens0831 at aol dot com

  40. LittleEagle says

    December 3, 2009 at 10:29 pm

    What a well spoken and well traveled author. sharonaquilino at hotmail dot com

  41. baileythebookworm says

    December 3, 2009 at 10:38 pm

    I follow the blog 🙂 Sounds like an excellent book!
    baileythebookworm at gmail dot com

  42. justpeachy36 says

    December 3, 2009 at 11:00 pm

    justpeachy36@yahoo.com

    This looks like a great book and I would love to win it.

    I am a follower via Google.

    I tweeted the giveaway here:

    http://twitter.com/justpeachy36/status/6318053380

    I posted the giveaway on my blog here:

    http://bookblogs.ning.com/profiles/blogs/peeking-between-the-pages

  43. Wanda says

    December 3, 2009 at 11:38 pm

    I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.

    I am already a follower of your blog.

    wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

  44. Jemima says

    December 3, 2009 at 11:44 pm

    Please enter me: thereadingjourney[at]gmail[dot]com

    I am a follower too.

  45. Madwoman-doing-cartwheels says

    December 4, 2009 at 12:02 am

    I've been watching the book reviews on this book and have it on my "to be read" radar. Thanks for the chance!

    bookcat1010 at gmail dot com

  46. Madwoman-doing-cartwheels says

    December 4, 2009 at 12:03 am

    I'm an "old" follower (at rubymoonstone/gmail) at google friend connect

    bookcat1010 at gmail dot com

  47. mariska says

    December 4, 2009 at 1:22 am

    i've been eye-ing this book too for quite since last week 🙂
    A great book to read !

    i'm a follower !

    uniquas at ymail dot com

  48. kristinemarie7 says

    December 4, 2009 at 2:00 am

    Please enter me. Thanks!

    I also added this to my blog.

    kristinemarie7 at gmail.com

  49. a real librarian says

    December 4, 2009 at 3:47 am

    I'd love to enter! Thanks for the chance!

    areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

  50. a real librarian says

    December 4, 2009 at 3:47 am

    I also follow!!

    areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

  51. Rebecca Graham says

    December 4, 2009 at 5:13 am

    After hearing good things about this book, I would love to win and read it.

    rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

  52. MoziEsmé says

    December 4, 2009 at 9:43 am

    Would love to read this!

    janemaritz at yahoo dot com

  53. MoziEsmé says

    December 4, 2009 at 9:43 am

    I'm a follower!

    janemaritz at yahoo dot com

  54. southernmatrix says

    December 4, 2009 at 2:17 pm

    Would love a copy of this book. I am a new follower, will post tweets…libbysutherland forty-six at gmaidot com

  55. Sweet Kitchen says

    December 5, 2009 at 1:12 am

    I have put this book on my "must read" list after reading your review. Please count me in!

    I am a follower and will tweet about your giveaway.

    the dot sweetkitchen at yahoo dot com

  56. kalynnick says

    December 5, 2009 at 4:26 am

    Enter me in. Thanks!

    kalynnick AT yahoo DOT com

  57. Mia J. says

    December 5, 2009 at 5:14 am

    Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway!

  58. Sandee61 says

    December 5, 2009 at 3:25 pm

    I really enjoyed your interview with John Shors, and would love to be entered in your giveaway for his book. Thank you! I'm also a new follower…enjoying your great blog.

    Sandee

    Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

  59. buddyt says

    December 6, 2009 at 12:03 pm

    It sounds like a book everybody should read to support the childrens charity.

    I am a Follower.

    Please enter me in the drawing.

    Thank you

    Carol

    buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

  60. MarionG says

    December 7, 2009 at 6:03 pm

    I would love to read this. My daughter would to. Good review.
    +1 I'm a follower. polo-puppy-fluffyAThotmail *dot* com

  61. Anonymous says

    December 7, 2009 at 11:04 pm

    Would love a chance to read this
    book. Sounds interesting.
    RJB
    loki304[at]tds[dot]net

  62. Lee P says

    December 8, 2009 at 8:07 pm

    What an admiral cause from a great guy! It's nice to hear that they are getting educated. Of course, I'd love to read this book. Thank you for this giveaway and an excellent review.

    chinook92 at gmail dot com

  63. Lee P says

    December 8, 2009 at 8:08 pm

    I already follow Peeking Between The Pages via Google Friends.

    chinook92 at gmail dot com

  64. Lee P says

    December 8, 2009 at 8:11 pm

    I tweeted:

    http://twitter.com/chinook92/status/6473510545

    chinook92 at gmail dot com

  65. Sassy Brit says

    December 9, 2009 at 11:11 am

    Hi, Dar!

    I can't enter, but I still wanted to say hi, and thank the author for such an interesting post! And for what he is doing. Writing a book is a great way to get the message out there!

    There should be more people like you around!

    Sassy
    Alternative-Read
    🙂

  66. Sahm Lee says

    December 9, 2009 at 10:28 pm

    Would love to win this! Thanks for the contest!
    airalynn@gmail.com

  67. minishoes1 says

    December 12, 2009 at 2:57 am

    i have been wanting to read this! I hope I win! Thanks!

    I already follow.
    jacquecurl1(at)gmail(dot)com

  68. DarcyO says

    December 12, 2009 at 4:22 am

    I would love to read this one. Please include me.

    dlodden at frontiernet dot net

  69. DarcyO says

    December 12, 2009 at 4:22 am

    I'm a follower.

    dlodden at frontiernet dot net

  70. Bethie says

    December 14, 2009 at 2:09 am

    Please count me in. This looks like such an intersting book.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

  71. Alessandra says

    December 14, 2009 at 12:13 pm

    Please enter me, too, for the copy for international readers 🙂 Thanks.

    I'm a follower.
    I tweeted about the giveaway here: http://twitter.com/alessandra83/status/6659767262

    Alessandra
    outofblue1(at)gmail(dot)com

  72. Beleth says

    December 14, 2009 at 12:57 pm

    Please count me in for the international copy!
    +2 Im a follower
    +3 tweeted: http://twitter.com/beleth22/status/6660674737

    Thanks!

    battyaboutbats at gmail.com

  73. g.g. says

    December 14, 2009 at 3:55 pm

    Looks like a good one. …review made me want to read this

    anjamie4 at gmail DOT com

  74. g.g. says

    December 14, 2009 at 3:55 pm

    I follow on google friend connect

    anjamie4 at gmail DOT com

  75. Anonymous says

    December 14, 2009 at 9:22 pm

    I would love to be entered.
    RJB
    loki304[at]tds[dot]net

  76. Josette says

    December 15, 2009 at 5:12 am

    I'm glad to know that 400 children got some school books!

    I just followed your blog too. 🙂

    I also mentioned your giveaway in my blog.

    josettebooks[at]yahoo[dot]com

    Thanks!

  77. christin says

    December 15, 2009 at 7:32 pm

    Thanks for the chance!
    I follow:)
    christinbanda at yahoo dot com

  78. Anonymous says

    December 16, 2009 at 3:47 am

    Sounds fantastic! Please accept this as my entry. Thank you!

    Aliya D.
    aliyadaya(at)shaw(dot)ca

  79. dsandyboy says

    December 16, 2009 at 4:03 am

    Count me in.

    dsandyboy@gmail.com

  80. Milka says

    December 16, 2009 at 9:08 pm

    Please count me in! 🙂
    +2 follower

    milkavainamo@lyseo.edu.ouka.fi

  81. FrankSandy says

    December 17, 2009 at 4:30 am

    Please enter me. walkerd@primus.ca

  82. Alyce says

    December 17, 2009 at 6:30 am

    I would love to win this book!

    I follow your blog.

    akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com

  83. Shweta says

    December 17, 2009 at 2:46 pm

    I would love to read this book.
    I am a follower of ur blog.

    shweta8416[at]yahoo[dot]co[dot]in

  84. Spav says

    December 17, 2009 at 7:23 pm

    I'm international.

    I'm a follower.
    Tweet: http://twitter.com/Sparima/status/6771705461

    spav05@gmail.com

  85. Sarah says

    December 18, 2009 at 10:22 am

    Please enter me in this giveaway!

    saemmerson at yahoo dot com

    Sarah Emmerson

  86. Sarah says

    December 18, 2009 at 10:22 am

    I follow your blog.

    saemmerson at yahoo dot com

    Sarah Emmerson

  87. Sarah says

    December 18, 2009 at 10:24 am

    I tweeted:

    https://twitter.com/saemmerson/status/6792412481

    saemmerson at yahoo dot com

    Sarah Emmerson

  88. gloria says

    December 18, 2009 at 8:49 pm

    contest82[@]gmail[.]com

  89. dsandyboy says

    December 19, 2009 at 12:23 am

    Count me in.

    dsandyboy@gmail.com

  90. FrankSandy says

    December 19, 2009 at 2:58 am

    Enter me please. walkerd@primus.ca

Primary Sidebar

Follow Me!

 

Enter your email address to get my latest reviews sent to your inbox!

Recently Shared

  • The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley (Audiobook)
  • My Darling Husband by Kimberly Belle (Audiobook)
  • The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth (Audiobook)
  • Don’t Look Back by Ben Cheetham (Audiobook)
  • The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (Audiobook)

Archives

Categories

Currently Reading

Orhan's Inheritance
Dear Carolina
The Mapmaker's Children
   

My Reading Pal Sammy

Remembering Buddy

Buddy
• May 25, 2002 - Oct 22, 2010 •
Forever in my heart