West San Jose Resident

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Bo Caldwell's book is a must-read choice

By Tiffany Carney

As author Bo Caldwell mourned her uncle, she never thought cleaning out his apartment would be the inspiration for her first published novel. But as she uncovered the mystery of his life, the pieces just fit together.

The Distant Land of My Father is Caldwell's debut novel and her first experience writing historical fiction.

The novel, which has gained popularity since it was published in 2001, was chosen for this year's annual Silicon Valley Reads program, which kicked off Jan. 17. The event will continue with activities, discussions and book signings at libraries and bookstores in February.

Each year, the countywide program features a book for the community to read. The book can be fiction or nonfiction, and is written by a living author on a topic that lends itself to discussion and is relevant to the Silicon Valley area. The book must also relate to the geography, culture or situation of the valley.

"I'm very honored that my book was chosen," Caldwell says. "I am really grateful to the readers."

Many people immigrated to this area from China and can relate to the integrated Chinese culture and history featured in the novel, says Jane Light, San Jose Public Libraries director.

"The idea is to get folks thinking reading and talking about the same book in a way that allows us to have fun," Light says.

Daisy Porter, branch manager at the West Valley Branch Library, was happy to see it was a part of this year's program.

"It is something that the whole family can read," says Porter, who recommended the book to her mother.

Porter is looking forward to having her own copy of the book signed when Caldwell visits the library on Feb. 21.

The program encourages families, book groups and high school students to read the book. According to Light, Rotary Club of San Jose also gave a donation allowing several public high schools in the county to receive 20 copies of Caldwell's book.

Caldwell, who now resides in Cupertino, discovered her love for writing in a high school creative writing course in Los Angeles.

After graduating, Caldwell went on to study English with a concentration in creative writing at Stanford University.

In the past, Caldwell's short stories and essays were published in the Washington Post Magazine and O Magazine, but until age 32, she had never published a novel or a work that she was so passionate about.

"I wrote this book based on the life of my uncle who lived in Shanghai and was imprisoned first by the Japanese and then by the Communists," Caldwell says.

Until 1981, she never really knew her uncle, Arnold Kiehn, because of the choices he made. In the last 15 years of his life, the two became close friends.

He died suddenly in 1995 at age 85. As Caldwell cleaned out his apartment, she found tapes he recorded documenting his life in Shanghai.

"I got a glimpse into a part of him that I had never known," Caldwell says. "I just saw this amazing life in front of me and it was really inspiring. I could see a really interesting story of a man who endured a lot and also about a man who changed."

Before deciding to write a fictional account, Caldwell toyed with the idea of a memoir or biography, "where I would tell about his life before I knew him and then tell about his life while I knew him," she says. Instead, she decided to write a historical fiction piece.

The book takes place from 1937 in Shanghai to 1961 in Los Angeles. The story is told through the eyes of Anna, a young girl who struggles to have a close relationship with her distant father.

"In the novel, the character of my uncle is the father, and his name is Joseph," Caldwell says. Joseph's parents are missionaries in China, which is why Joseph returns there, a concept that closely mimics the life of Kiehn.

The story does closely follow the chronological order and facts of Kiehn's life, but Joseph's emotions were fictitious.

"I never did hear firsthand [my uncle's] experiences as far as his emotional life," Caldwell says.

But Anna's feelings were very real. For Caldwell, Anna's closeness and love for her father was almost autobiographical.

Caldwell decided to tell the story from Anna's point of view, even though her uncle had a son, not a daughter. She felt comfortable portraying a character that had the same strong love she feels for her father.

"The book doesn't follow my life as far as facts, but a lot of the emotions are things I've certainly felt," Caldwell says.

Caldwell started the novel in 1997 and finished all writing and revisions over the course of four years.

"I didn't just start yesterday; I've worked at it for a long time," says Caldwell, who does all of her writing in her upstairs study.

She is now embarking on another writing journey, which also takes place in China. She remembers a voice inside of her saying, "Go back to China," and that is exactly what she did.

"It starts in China in 1906, and it follows the lives of my grandparents very closely," Caldwell says.

Her inspiration and the bulk of her information came from a 90-page memoir her grandfather wrote for the family about his experience as a missionary.

When she is not writing, Caldwell enjoys reading. She also loves being at home, where she is surrounded by books, and spending time with her two children, Scotty and Kate Arnold.

Her husband, Ron Hansen, is also a historical fiction novelist who Caldwell says inspired and encouraged her throughout the endeavor.

Caldwell hopes to finish writing her second novel this year and after that, she says, "I have no idea."