Writing Home: Stories of Place & Belonging

Join us for a special book talk with authors Jennifer Morita (Ghosts of Waikiki) and Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson (Shell Song and The Mochi Makers), in conversation with Susie Kagami of Japantown’s Koho Collective.

Together, they’ll explore their books and the art of writing about place and home. Don’t miss this engaging discussion on storytelling, history, and identity.

ABOUT JENNIFER:

Former newspaper reporter Jennifer K. Morita believes a good story is like good mochi – slightly sweet with a nice chew.

Her debut novel, GHOSTS OF  WAIKĪKĪ (Crooked Lane books) won the 2025 Lefty Award for Best Debut Mystery Novel and has been nominated for both an Agatha Award and Anthony Award. Jennifer was a runner up for the Sisters in Crime Eleanor Taylor Bland Award in 2022.

She is a member of SinC, Crime Writers of Color, Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. Jennifer is also active with her local SinC chapter, Capitol Crimes, where she served as vice president and president.

Jennifer writes for a university in Northern California, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. When she isn’t plotting murder mysteries or pushing Girl Scout cookies, she enjoys reading, experimenting with recipes, leisurely hikes, Zumba and Hot Hula.

You can reach Jennifer at www.jenniferkmorita.com

ABOUT SHARON:

Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson is the author-illustrator of the children’s books THE MOCHI MAKERS and SHELL SONG. A fourth generation Japanese American, Sharon grew up in America and Japan. She now lives in California in a house filled with three generations, two languages, and countless books and art supplies.

In a starred review Kirkus Reviews called THE MOCHI MAKERS “a storytelling treat to be savored.” It was a finalist for the 2025 Golden Poppy Awards and the 2025 Georgia Children’s Book Awards, as well as a selection for the Cooperative Children’s Book Center CHOICES 2025 and the Best Books of 2024 list from the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature.

A review from the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books says of SHELL SONG: “This harrowing picture book manages to capture both the cruelty of humanity and the beauty of nature, emphasizing the idea that the latter will always outweigh the former.” Eric K. Yamamoto (Fred T. Korematsu Professor of Law and Social Justice, emeritus, University of Hawai`i) calls SHELL SONG “a poignant, loving story for children, for us all.”

ABOUT SUSIE:

Susie Kagami is a prominent leader and advocate in the Asian-American nonprofit arts sector, currently serving as the Founding Executive Director of KOHO, a dynamic, multi-disciplinary, cultural nonprofit arts organization dedicated to the preservation, sustainability, and revitalization of San Francisco’s Japantown.Susie’s efforts are deeply rooted in her Japanese/Hawaiian heritage. With 18 years of experience in championing strategic plans and partnerships for Asian-American nonprofit organizations in the Bay Area, Susie has been instrumental in leveraging key opportunities and empowering teams to build thriving cultural communities.