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Chanrithy Him
Child Survivor, International Speaker, Social Justice Activist, Author & Khmer Classical Dancer.
Winner of the Oregon Book Award
Finalist for the Kiriyama Pacific Rim Book Prize
Finalist for the Pen USA West Literary Award
Hello. Welcome to my website.
I love storytelling, international speaking, and teasing my audiences with my good-natured sense of humor after my talks, especially during Q & A.
I'm glad you're here.
VIDEO CONFERENCES
"Wonderful session for NAFSA. First-person point of view is very important. Everyone was very appreciative and thankful for this session and requested another one next year!"
—56th Annual NAFSA Conference attendees attended the Distinguished Authors Session featuring Chanrithy Him.
Before W.W. Norton internationally released When Broken Glass Floats: Growing Up Under the Khmer Rouge on April 17, 2000, Dr. Amy Cherry, my editor at Norton, informed me that Michael, Norton’s sales representative, wanted to meet me.
I was flattered, needless to say. When we met, Michael fervently said to me, “I was so moved by your memoir that I had to meet you. You are like the girl next door everyone wants to meet….”
That was a special situation arranged by Dr. Cherry. Unfortunately, it was not possible for every reader to meet me, even those who had been profoundly touched by my story.
In October 2000, Dr. Mark Ashwill invited me to speak about my memoir and to perform the “Blessing Dance” at the University at Buffalo. During this visit, he suggested that I should do video conferencing with students from high schools and universities across the U.S. Then they could ask me the burning questions that so many had after reading my book. It was a brilliant idea, which would connect me to so many more people. But I could not do it so soon after the release of my memoir and a major book tour to promote it.
Skype, Zoom, and Google meets video conferences are available to groups, such as a classroom of students and teacher/professor, or a book club.
To book a conference, please download the form below.
Purchase Time for Videoconferencing
60 minutes ...........$1,000.00
90 minutes ...........$1,500.00
Time passes. Since then, I’ve received many letters from readers in America, Australia, Sweden, Vietnam, Norway, and all over the world. So many told me how my family’s experiences had changed their lives and the way they view our world and its leaders. And so many expressed a burning desire to talk to me about it.
One reader from Australia wrote, “Please come and join us for dinner if you ever come to Sydney.”
That was a very sweet thing to say. I was so touched after I read that e-mail, as I was by the many e-mails I've received from readers around the world.
On October 27, 2011, eleven years after Dr. Ashwill’s suggestion, I received an email from a reader, "Dear Chanrithy, In Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield says that a great book makes you want to call the author after you've finished reading it. Given the letters and e-mail you surely receive, there are many out there who feel this way about When Broken Glass Floats.
What an honor to read such kind words that reinforce the responses I’ve already received.
Today, thanks to modern videoconferencing, I can now make discussion sessions available to any group with video communications devices. So many have been so moved by my book; now they can talk to me about it. Discussion sessions are available to students, teachers, professors, book clubs and conference organizers, not just in the US, but around the world.
My life’s mission is to increase worldwide awareness of what happened under the Khmer Rouge. If enough people understand the horror of what it feels like, maybe it will never happen again. I am thrilled to now offer you the opportunity for direct questions and discussion. I look forward to speaking with you.
Best wishes and peace to all,
Chanrithy Him
Video Conference with 8th graders in Japan on March 3, 2020.
