Shaolin Trips by Gene Ching
I'm pleased to announce the debut of my new book.
Shaolin Trips.
For starters, here's the promo blurb:
Quote:
Gene Ching collects over a decade and a half worth of research on Shaolin Temple. Ching documents Shaolin’s convoluted journey from post-Cultural Revolution ruins to the global Buddhist juggernaut it has become today. Along the way, Ching recounts his personal trips to Shaolin, replete with cultural challenges, comic catastrophes and the occasional flash of enlightenment. With dozens of profiles of outstanding Shaolin monks and masters, Shaolin Trips reveals the stories behind the robes from the perspective of a Shaolin disciple and Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine’s Associate Publisher. Fully indexed. 669 pages.
“Fascinating for the general reader, Shaolin Trips is a must for the martial artist.” Meir Shahar, Tel Aviv University, author of The Shaolin Monastery: History, Religion and the Chinese Martial Arts
And if you don't have my documentary, we're offering that with my book as a special discounted package.
Shaolin Trips: Book & DVD Pack
Here's the promo blurb on for this:
Quote:
Shaolin Trips: The First World Traditional Wushu Festival
Gene Ching presents the landmark spectacle of the largest martial arts event the world has ever seen, the First World Traditional Wushu Festival held in Mainland China – Chapter 13 of Gene’s new book. From the monstrous Opening Gala, to the record-breaking 45,000 performer procession to Shaolin Temple, to the thousands of international competitors, this is an unforgettable glimpse into the world of Chinese martial arts. Packed with traditional old masters, authentic Shaolin monks, exotic weapons, rare styles, international wushu champions and rare private footage, here is an extraordinary journey into the cradle of martial arts.
I'll have more info on this later, after I spam the world (well, the world wide web) trying to sell my work.
Thanks for your support, as always, Lucas
I'll bring a few, Skip J. My book is 669 pages, which makes it pretty heavy to carry on an airplane, especially if I bring several. Plus I don't really care to schlep them around the tournament as I'll already be toting the company camera, etc. So I'll check a small piece of luggage with a couple of books, but certainly not that many, and sell them on a first come, first serve basis, preferably all at the workshop.
The War and Peace of the Shaolin Temple
Shoot, now I want to re-title my book, Brian. :rolleyes:
Honestly, my intention was never to make it so long. My original intention was to compile my past research for my own benefit, so I wouldn't have to leaf through back issues all the time. But that idea got away from me. :o There's actually a large portion that was in the original concept that I decided not to pursue, as I could already see it was getting longer than I had intended.
Thanks again for your support, everyone!
My research on Shaolin is ongoing
I already have enough for another book, but I need to sell the first one first.
Beyond the aforementioned omitted portion (which would have added another 18 chapters to the book) none of the material in the 2010 May/June Shaolin Special (which is in the last 'official' week on the newsstand) made it into Shaolin Trips. In upcoming issue, I make a cursory mention of New Shaolin Temple in my publisher's note, but that's a story in development. I'm working on two more Shaolin pieces now for the next issue, one feature article and one short news piece (which may well explode into an ezine article).
But catch up with me first - buy Shaolin Trips book number one.
P.S. sha0lin1, you can promote here if it supports the forum and as this is a TC Media International publication it definitely helps pay the bills.
Thanks for all the orders, everyone!
Our TN office handles MartialArtsMart.com fulfillment and they only received a small initial shipment via mail with the remainder following by truck, presumably today. So they are only out of stock for a very short time. They may be back in stock already.
I'm not sure I'm going to bring that many to TX next month as it weighs in at 669 pages and that gets heavy to carry pretty quickly. The book is basically a paper brick. So I might not have enough for everyone. I'm recommending that people who will see me in TX purchase their copy ahead of time and bring it to Legends of Kung Fu. I'll bring my pen.
Weird about that DVD, Krist
My apologies about that. That's the first I've heard of that problem. The DVD is basically video from Chapter 13, although I poached a little of the intro narrative in the DVD for the background of Shaolin in my book.
As for Rosie, I have this fond memory of Yanming getting her to eat a clove of raw garlic. And RZA, well, I couldn't leave him out now, could I?
Thanks for the endorsements, Krist & iron_leg_dave.
My book will be available on Amazon by the end of the week. Thanks for your support so far everyone.