On April 30th, a warm book launch event was held at the Barnes & Noble bookstore on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. Abraham Chang, a creative writing master from New York University and a Simon Schuster employee, introduced his new English book “Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers” to the readers.
Abraham Chang, an award-winning poet, has been working in the publishing industry since 2000, starting as an assistant editor and later progressing to sales of publications, including e-books and audiobooks, with outstanding performance. After more than 20 years of hard work in the publishing world, he fulfilled his dream of publishing a book. As a second-generation immigrant born in New York, Chang portrays the struggles of adolescence, the sweetness of love, and stories about immigration in this novel.
Chang’s parents are from Taiwan. His father, Zhang Zhanhua, is an expert in aquatic biology, who has worked at the Environmental Protection Agency and served as the Chairman and President of the Eastern United States Chinese Academic Association. Dozens of Chang’s relatives, classmates, friends, and colleagues attended the book launch event. Following Chang’s presentation, a question and answer session took place.
The novel is set in the 1990s at New York University and tells a love story with a Chinese protagonist, Young Wang. He receives a lot of “life wisdom” from his close uncle, such as not taking life too seriously, seizing the opportunity to travel, and that everyone only has seven true loves in their lifetime. However, when he meets a girl he really likes at New York University, should he follow fate or trust his instincts?
Bestselling author Kevin Wilson praised Chang’s debut work, describing it as “a wonderfully vivid novel full of popular culture. The novel provides a beautiful, warm, and interesting examination of love, identity, and a world that is both grand and tiny.”
Chang said that his desire to write grew stronger after the pandemic began, prompting him to start writing with full force. When writing his favorite parts, he wrote quickly. Being involved in promotion and marketing daily, he understands how challenging writing can be. He poured his heart and soul into this book, believing he might never have another chance to do so.
Chang, who enjoys music, creates a tone and atmosphere for his writing by listening to music.
His father Zhang Zhanhua mentioned that since childhood, his son had a strong interest in writing and music. As parents, they gave him the freedom to develop his hobbies. The novel is actually based on Chang’s growth and life experiences, showcasing the charm of New York and the influences of both Chinese and Western cultures on a second-generation immigrant born and raised in New York while still retaining Confucian traditions.
His aunt Zheng Yicai, the director of the “Oasis Rights Protection Center in the Wilderness,” expressed her pride in Chang’s love conveyed through writing.
Abraham Chang’s new book is available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.