Raymond Douglas Chong (Zhang Weiming) was born and raised in Los Angeles, and is sixth generation Chinese American. His family roots in America extend back to California Gold Rush (1849 to 1855), First Transcontinental Railroad (1865 to 1869), Boston Chinatown (1891 to 1926), Imperial Restaurant at Central Square in Cambridge (1923 to 1936), Kubla Khan Theater Restaurant at San Francisco Chinatown (1946 to 1950), Far East Café at Little Tokyo in Los Angeles (1950 to 1974). He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from San Jose State University. His prolific career has transcended the norm and speaks to his many talents, from being a distinguished professor to staff writer for AsAmNews, an Asian American news company. As President of Generations, LLC, in the creative realm, Raymond tells stories, pens poems, composes lyrics, makes films, and drafts articles.

Join us in this book talk that will embody his family history and poetic journey, while celebrating his latest release, PEONY AMOUR: Sultry Ecstasy and Frosty Agony. This poetic tale takes audiences along on an enthusiastic voyage between a Chinese lady, the peony, and an American Chinese gentleman, the dragon, during the Year of Horse. It is an anthology of eighty-eight love poems that vividly describe true amour in the dragon’s mind, soul, and heart. The myriad moods of love range: from the illusion of budding love; through the passion of blooming love; to the delusion of withering love. Among these love poems, Raymond applies love motifs in Chinese culture. He craves the peony as a beautiful flower with sensuality. His love poems are the synthesis of Sun and Moon, East and West, China and America.

Parental advisory: adult themes discussed.