Viet Nam News
HCM CITY — Young female writer Duong Thuy’s book collection for children debuted in HCM City on Sunday before 100 young readers and their parents.
The book collection, Susu va Gogo Buoc Ra The Gioi (Susu and Gogo Reach the World), includes three books featuring two characters, named Susu and Gogo, and their adventures to Paris, Singapore and Tokyo.
The works, for children between 6 and 13 years old, include stories of friendship, love and dreams, written with the authors’ typical flair and imagination.
More than 7,000 copies of each book have been printed by the Kim Dong Publishing House, one of the country’s leading printers for children, which signed a copyright deal with the author to republish many of her books.
“I wanted to challenge myself by writing for children. I wrote these books first for my kids and then for young readers, who’ve helped me improve my soul,” said Thuy, 42, who has spent nearly 20 years writing for adults and teenagers.
Thuy is one of several women writers now in the limelight after breaking a series of best-selling records.
Her first book, Dau Lang Trong Diep Khuc (A Silence in the Chorus), is a collection of short stories featuring topics about women and love.
It broke records after being reprinted seven times by different publishers after its first release by the HCM City-based Van Nghe (Literature & Arts) Publishing House in 1997.
Her most popular books, including Oxford Yeu Thuong (Beloved Oxford), Nham Mat Thay Paris (Paris through Closed Eyes) and Tra Lai Nu Hon (The Kiss from the Past), feature stories of young women living in urban areas.
“I was not sure my books would be so successful, but I knew exactly what readers, particularly urban women, wanted,” said Thuy.
According to a report by two bookselling websites, Tikiweb and Vinabook, books by female writers, including Thuy, are among this year’s bestsellers.
“Female writers add something new to a market dominated by traditional writing styles. Young readers, particularly women, can find themselves in their books,” Tran Anh Thu, a fan of Thuy, said. — VNS