Other Writing

Beyond the Shelf: What I Learned as a First-Time Self-Published Author

By Sanman Thapa

When I first set out to write A Fight for a Cup of Chai, I thought the hardest part would be telling the story—reliving the pain, shaping the truth, and honoring the lives that crossed mine in the factories of Kathmandu. And while writing was certainly emotional, it turned out to be the most grounded part of the journey. Everything that came after—the publishing, the promoting, the endless pitching and...

As my family, friends, and I eagerly anticipated our journey from the San Juan Airport terminal to the Vieques, a small island off mainland Puerto Rico, an older woman approached me, speaking in her native tongue asking how to get to her designated terminal. However, my confusion was evident, and I couldn't respond. Sensing my struggle, a Spanish-speaking friend intervened in to help and gave her the directions. Despite our efforts, the woman gave me a disgusted look, waved her hands, and...