(970) 927-9668
The Ann Korologos Gallery Art & Literature Program proudly presents author Dennis Vaughn for a free author’s talk and book signing on Monday, August 13thfrom 5 to 7PM. The Aspen-Los Angeles based author will be discussing his second book The Longboat, published in 2018. It is a rich cultural story based on historical accuracy, offering the reader the chance to explore the Saffron Rebellion in Myanmar, the immigrant experience, and the relationship of two boys as they navigate a new life.
The Longboat is a family saga following two best friends: impoverished twelve-year-old Burmese boys, Aun San and Nyan Win, one an apprentice blacksmith, the other a novice monk from Inle Lake, Burma, whose parents were on the opposite sides of the 1970s Burmese conflict. Sent to Los Angeles to live with an affluent newspaper publishing family grieving the loss of their own son, a one-year plan turns into two lifetimes. The boys face the challenges of acclimating to a western society, a western family, and the changes of their relationship with each other as their Buddhist traditions from childhood face insecurity, jealousy, greed, dependence and resentment. I
The Longboat is a rare novel that shines light on the Burmese military regime and the immigrant experience from a novel perspective. The story is historically accurate based on extensive research, including interviews with the monks who led the 2007 Saffron Revolution and escaped to exile in a row house turned Buddhist temple in Brooklyn.
The author, Dennis Vaughn, entered the world of creative writing with his retirement from Los Angeles law firm Paul Hastings, where he served as senior partner and Chairman for three years. Vaughn has pursued his “own brand of Master of Fine Arts degree,” through Aspen Summer Words writing workshops, where he developed his first book, The Prince of Revenge, published in 2010, 12 years after his retirement from law. He was eventually invited to the join the board of trustees for Aspen Words and served for a time as its chairman.
In his years as a lawyer, Vaughn’s predominant function was writing in the area of his expertise, employment law representing management. He had legal articles published and spoke extensively on employment subjects. He also served as Managing Editor of the Stanford Law Review. While legal writing and creative writing are two distinctly different endeavors, he draws extensively in his writing from his background and experience in the legal profession.
Vaughn graduated from Stanford University and Stanford Law School. He now lives in Aspen most of the year where, in addition to writing, he skis and hikes. The remainder of the year he lives in Los Angeles. He and his wife travel extensively and he devotes time to several charitable organizations in which he has long been interested. He is President of the Aspen Writers’ Foundation, an officer of the Friends of Marolt Park & Open Space, and is a Life Director of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in New York and the Aspen Music Festival & School in Aspen.
For more information about this free community event, please call 970.927.9668 or visit Ann Korologos Gallery at 211 Midland Ave, Basalt, Colorado 81621
