Home ABOUT ME STORIES & ESSAYS PROJECTS CONTACT ON SALE NOW                    • Books Buy Now Buy Now Buy Now Buy Now Buy Now  • Inspiration ..from a sign posted near the Montezuma Well, Arizona Take time to see the sky Find shapes in the clouds Hear the murmur of the wind And touch the cool water. Walk softly - We are the intruders Tolerated briefly In an infinite universe.  • I recently read...    A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children by Caroline Kennedy A delightful journey for me. This is a book for all generations. I only started to appreciate poetry afer my brother sent me the poetry, A Leaf, by Bronislaw Maj. This book by Caroline Kennedy has become the permanent fixture on my night table. 'Sweet and Low' on page 128 is my favorite. The woman in the picture reminds me of my mother, and I'm the baby in her arms. Sweet dreams usually follow. Welcome to LotusWriting.com My name is Lin Fong O'Neill, and this is my site. In Chinese, “Lin” means “lotus flower,” a beautiful and clean bloom that grows out of mud. It is compared to a person of great virtue for being able to live in muck, without being tainted by it. My father, who believed in Buddhism, named me Lin to symbolize a life of purity, wisdom, and progress to the highest state of consciousness. This has inspired me, as I strive to live up to his expectation. My love of story-telling, art, nature, and family lay behind the creation of my children’s books. Working with the aspiring and dynamic artists adds excitement to each project, and I have gained invaluable insight from them – outstanding alumnus of Parsons School of Design in New York City, Binghamton University of Vestal, New York, School of Visual Arts in New York City, and Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. These artists currently work respectively as interior designer, environmental activist, art teacher and graphic designer while continue to hone their great craft by illustrating children’s books.  • View Events & Activities Books Monkey Mo, Monkey Go! - A boy sacrifices his own pleasure to help a friend to find happiness. Benny Pig to the Rescue - This book shows young children that success is possible for anyone who is willing to keep trying. Tiger! Tiger! Tail on Fire! - This book demonstrates that one doesn't have to be big to take on a bullying tiger. Daddy Why? - This book uses the subject of adoption to show love embraces children regardless of age, gender, race and background. Mommy Why? - This book addresses important questions in young minds regarding differences in people. News • New Jersey's Colts Neck Township profiled Lin as "People On the Move" in their November 2007 issue. Click to view full article. • Lin was featured in Chinese World Journal on July 28th, 2007 for promoting diversity and Chinese Culture. Click to view full article. • ahherald.com: Friends of the Library host local children's author Lin Fong-O'Neill • app.com: Children's book author explores cultural diversity • JPMorgan Chase ~ Diversity Mommy, Why? appears as the first story on JPMorgan Chase internal Diversity website in October 2005. JPMorgan Chase, a leader in creating a workplace where differences are respected, encourages families to use this book as a tool to teach children about appreciating differences. Events & Activities  - Upcoming • Thursday, March 3rd, 2011 ~ Reading - Details: Read my book, Monkey Mo, Monkey Go!. - Location: Lincroft Elementary School (Lincroft, NJ) • Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011 ~ Celebrate Read Across America Day - Details: Read my book, Monkey Mo, Monkey Go!. - Location: Navesink Elementary School (Atlantic Highlands, NJ) • Friday, February 5th, 2010 ~ A Creative Journey: Writing & Drawing        see event photo/s - Event details: 4th and 5th graders learn how a story is created with words and pictures. Lin presents this program with an artist. - Location: Gables Elementary School (Neptune, NJ) - Photo/s:    - Past Events - Click to view all events  - 2010 • December 2010 ~ New Book Release - Monkey Mo, Monkey Go! - Details: This new book reunites Lin with Ray Yuen. The two last worked together on their bestseller, Tiger! Tiger! Tail on Fire!. • Friday & Saturday, December 3 & 4 ~ Signing        see event photo/s - Event details: New Jersey Association of School Librarians, Annual Fall Conference (for librarians only) - Location: Ocean Place Resort & Spa, One Ocean Boulevard (Long Branch, NJ) - Photo/s: Lin with illustrator Doris Ettlinger. Visit Doris at dorisettlinger.com.    - 2009 • Friday - Saturday, November 13 & 14, 2009 ~ Signing - Event details: New Jersey Association of School Librarians, Annual Fall Conference (for librarians only) - Location: Hilton Hotel - New Brunswick, NJ • Thursday, April 23, 2009 ~ Reading - Event details: Read Benny Pig to the Rescue to KG - Second Grade - Location: Middle Road Elementary School, Hazlet, NJ • Thursday, April 22, 2009 ~ Reading - Event details: Read Benny Pig to the Rescue to KG - Third Grade - Location: Holy Cross Elementary School, Rumson, NJ • Friday, March 6 ~ Cultural Diversity Program - Event details: Conduct Chinese Cultural Program First - Third Grade - Location: Taylor Mills School, Manalapan, NJ • Thursday, March 5, 2009 ~ Reading - Event details: Read Benny Pig to The Rescue, First - Third Grade - Location: Newbury School, Howell, NJ • Thursday, January 22, 2009 ~ Reading - Event details: Read Benny Pig to the Rescue to KG - Second Grade - Location: Lincroft Elementary School, Lincroft, NJ    - 2008 • Wednesday, December 10, 2008 ~ Reading - Event details: Read Benny Pig to the Rescue to Third Graders - Location: Spring Lake Heights Elementary School, NJ • Thursday - Saturday, November 13, 14 & 15 ~ Signing - Event details: New Jersey Association of School Librarians, Annual Fall Conference (for librarians only) - Location: Hilton Hotel (New Brunswick, NJ) • Wednesday November 5, 2008 ~ Reading - Event details: Read my book, Benny Pig to the Rescue - Location: Gables Elementary School (Neptune, NJ) • Tuesday, October 21, 2008 ~ Reading - Event details: Read my book, Benny Pig to the Rescue - Location: St. Benedict School (Holmdel, NJ) • Monday September 15, 2008 ~ My Writing Journey - Event details: The Woman's Club of Spring Lake Inc. - Present my journey from banking to writing and discuss the process of publishing. - Location: Spring Lake Library (Spring Lake, NJ) • Saturday, September 13, 2008 (12:00-5pm) ~ Princeton Children’s Book Festival - Event details: Meet authors, enjoy live music, face painting, and other performers. - Location: Princeton Public Library ~ 609.924.9529 (Princeton, NJ) • Friday, May 9 ~ Reading to Second Graders - Event details: Read Tiger! Tiger! Tail On Fire! - Location: Spring Lake, NJ Elementary School • Wednesday, May 7 ~ Let's Learn Chinese - Event details: Brownie Troop (Grade 3) children learn Chinese culture - Location: Colts Neck, NJ Elementary School • Wednesday, April 23 (4:15pm) ~ Reading - Event details: Read Tiger! Tiger! Tail On Fire! - Location: Tinton Falls Library ~ 732.542.3110 (Tinton Falls, NJ) • Thursday, April 3, 2008 ~ Reading - Event details: Read Tiger! Tiger! Tail On Fire! - Location: Spring Lake, NJ Elementary School • Monday, March 10, 2008 ~ Reading - Event details: Read Tiger! Tiger! Tail On Fire! - Location: St. Leo the Great School (Lincroft, NJ) • Thursday, March 6, 2008 ~ Reading - Event details: Celebrate Dr. Seuss Birthday. Read The Cat In The Hat in Chinese - Location: Atlantic Highlands Library (Atlantic Highlands, NJ) • Wednesday, February 5, 2008 (4:30pm) ~ Celebrate Chinese New Year 4706 - Event details: Children learn Chinese characters and zodiac. - Location: Ocean Township Library ~ 732.531.5092 (701 Deal Road, Ocean, NJ 07712)    - 2007 • Wednesday - Friday, November 14, 15 & 16 ~ Signing - Event details: New Jersey Association of School Librarians, Annual Fall Conference (for librarians only) - Location: Ocean Place Resort & Spa, One Ocean Boulevard (Long Branch, NJ) • Saturday, September 15, 2007 (12:00-5pm) ~ Princeton Children’s Book Festival - Event details: Meet authors, enjoy live music, face painting, and other performers. See library website for details: http://www.princeton.lib.nj.us/children/index.html - Location: Princeton Public Library ~ 609.924.9529 (Princeton, NJ) • Tuesday, May 22 (3:30pm & 6pm) ~ Let's Learn Chinese - Event details: Children learn Chinese customs and characters (Open to the public) - Location: Pt. Pleasant Beach Library @ 3:30pm ~ 732.892.4575 (Pt. Pleasant, NJ) - Location: Brick Library @ 6pm ~ 732.477.4513 (Brick, NJ) • Tuesday, February 27 (3:30pm) ~ Celebrate Chinese New Year, the Year of the Pig - Event details: Children learn Chinese calligraphy (Open to the public) - Location: Fair Haven Library ~ 732.747.5031 (Fair Haven, NJ) • Tuesday, February 20 (4:00pm) ~ Celebrate Chinese New Year, the Year of the Pig - Event details: Children learn Chinese characters and zodiac (Open to the public) - Location: Colts Neck Library ~ 732.431.5656 (Colts Neck, NJ) • Thursday, January 25 (3:15pm) ~ Celebrate Chinese New Year, the Year of the Pig - Event details: Children learn Chinese characters and zodiac (Open to the public) - Location: Atlantic Highlands Library ~ 732.291.1956 (Atlantic Highlands, NJ) • Wednesday, January 24 (4:15pm) ~ Celebrate Chinese New Year, the Year of the Pig - Event details: Children learn Chinese characters and zodiac (Open to the public) - Location: Tinton Falls Library ~ 732.542.3110 (Tinton Falls, NJ) • Tuesday, January 23 (3:15pm) ~ Celebrate Chinese New Year, the Year of the Pig - Event details: Children learn Chinese characters and zodiac (Open to the public) - Location: Little Silver Library ~ 732.747.9649 (Little Silver, NJ)    - 2006 • December 11-14, 2006 (4:15pm - 5pm) ~ A Cultural Program - Event details: 2nd to 5th graders learn Chinese customs and characters. - Location: Gables Elementary School (Neptune, NJ) • Wednesday, November 8, 2006 (4:15pm - 5pm) ~ Reading & Signing - Event details: An introduction to Chinese culture and read my book, Mommy, Why? (Open to the public) - Location: Tinton Falls Library ~ 732.542.3110 (Tinton Falls, NJ) • Sunday & Monday, October 29 & 30, 2006 ~ Signing - Event details:New Jersey Association of School Librarians Book Fair. (for librarians only) - Location: Ocean Place Resort & Spa, One Ocean Boulevard (Long Branch, NJ) • Tuesday, October 24, (3:15pm - 4pm) ~ Reading & Signing - Event details: An introduction to Chinese culture and read my book, Mommy, Why? (Open to the public) - Location: Little Silver Library ~ 732.747.9649 (Little Silver, NJ) • Saturday, August 12, 2006 (3:30pm) ~ Cultural Program - Event details: Explore Chinese culture and read Mommy, Why? at FCC (Families with Children from China) Ocean/Monmouth County Chapter. For membership and program info, contact Christine Lachow at clachow@Hotmail.com. - Location: St. Mary's-by-the-Sea. 804 Bay Avenue (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ) • Saturday, June 17, 2006 ~ Panel Speaker - Event details: Speaker at Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, New Jersey Chapter Annual Conference - Location: Caldwell College (Caldwell, NJ) • Saturday, May 20, 2006 ~ Reading - Event details: Read Mommy, Why? at Families with Children from China's Culture Day - Location: Liberty State Park (Jersey City, NJ) • Thursday, May 18, 2006 ~ Reading - Event details: Read Mommy, Why? to Grades K-4 children. - Location: St. Leo the Great School (Lincroft, NJ) • Thursday, May 4, 2006 ~ Signing - Event details: Pennsylvania Association of School Librarians Book Fair - Location: Hershey Hotel Conference Center (Hershey, PA) • Wednesday, April 19, 2006 (10am) ~ A Cultural Diversity Program - Event details: Third and fourth-graders learn Chinese customs, characters and zodiac. - Location: Red Bank Charter School (Red Bank, NJ) • Wednesday, April 5, 2006 (3:15pm) ~ Book Signing        see press release - Event details: Read and sign book, Mommy, Why? - Event sponsored by Friends of Atlantic Highlands Public Library - Location: Atlantic Highlands Elementary School (Atlantic Highlands, NJ) • Monday, April 3, 2006 (4pm-5pm) ~ A Diversity Program - Event details: Children learn Chinese characters and zodiac. - Location: Holmdel Library ~ 732.946.4118 (Holmdel, NJ) • Tuesday, March 28, 2006 ~ Let's Learn Chinese - Event details: Children learn Chinese customs and characters. - Location: Gables Elementary School (Neptune, NJ) • Thursday, March 16, 2006 (4pm-5pm) ~ A Diversity Program - Event details: Children learn Chinese characters and zodiac. - Location: Marlboro Library ~ 732.536.9406 (Marlboro, NJ) • Wednesday, March 8, 2006 ~ Dr. Seuss Birthday Bash        see event photo/s - Event details: A "Read In" night at school, where the children come in PJ's and sleeping bags and have stories read to them. - Location: Navesink Elementary School (Atlantic Highlands, NJ) - Photo/s: • Thursday, March 2, 2006 ~ Celebrate "Read Across America Day"   - Event details: Read my book, Mommy, Why? to 300 children - Grades K-5. - Location: St. Benedict School (Holmdel, NJ) • Tuesday, February 28, 2006 (2pm-3pm) ~ A Writing Journey (To be rescheduled) - Event details: Explore the creation process of an illustrated children's book with a group of fifth-graders. - Location: Colts Neck Elementary School (Colts Neck, NJ) • Monday, February 27, 2006 ~ Let's Visit China - Event details: A kindergarten Enrichment program. - Location: Colts Neck Reformed Church (Colts Neck, NJ) - Photo/s: • Thursday, February 16, 2006 (4pm-5pm) ~ Celebrate Chinese New Year 4704 - Event details: Children learn Chinese characters and zodiac. - Location: Ocean Township Library ~ 732.531.5092 (701 Deal Road, Ocean, NJ 07712) - Photo/s: • Thursday, January 19, 2006 (4pm-5pm) ~ Meet the Author - Event details: A diversity program. Age 5-8 children will have fun seeing traditional Chinese items displayed, learning Chinese characters and Chinese zodiac. I will answer questions and sign my new book, Mommy Why? - Location: Allentown Library ~ 609.259.7565 (Allentown, NJ)  - 2005 • December 13 ~ A Diversity Program        see press release - Event details: Present the "Let's Learn Chinese" program to 90 third graders. - Location: Red Bank Borough School (Red Bank,NJ) - Press release from Atlantic Highlands Herald CHINESE LANGUAGE - A CHARACTER LESSON AT RED BANK PRIMARY SCHOOL RED BANK, NJ – Colts Neck’s Lin Fong-O’Neill, author of “Mommy, Why?” - a book encouraging children to embrace differences in people, has been making her appearance in Monmouth County schools and libraries to speak about Chinese culture and language. “Chinese is a pictorial language, and kids always have fun learning it,” said Fong-O’Neill. And from the recent reaction of the 90 third-graders at Red Bank Primary School, she was perfectly right. Each picture Fong-O’Neill drew on the board, she gave the kids multiple choice to guess what the drawing represented. Little hands likened emerging buds of spring, eager to yell out answers. Fong-O’Neill went on to write the Chinese calligraphy on the board and asked the children to follow the strokes to write on the handouts. Holding up a Chinese dictionary, Fong-O’Neill explained to the kids, “In English, you use the alphabet to find a word in the dictionary, while in Chinese, we count the strokes of the basic word in order to find the character.” Dr. Elizabeth Keshish, assistant superintendent of the Red Bank Public School District, commented that Fong-O’Neill’s program was a very valuable learning opportunity for the students and staff at the school. Published Atlantic Highlands Herald - 5 January 2006 • Sunday, December 11 (1-3pm) ~ Meet the Author        see press release - Event details: Red Bank Woman's Club. Open house with light refreshments. Stop by to get your signed copy of Mommy Why? I will sign the book in Chinese calligraphy and provide a personalized Chinese Horoscope bookmark. - Location: Red Bank Woman's Club, 164 Broad Street ~ (Red Bank, NJ) - Press release from Atlantic Highlands Herald WOMAN'S CLUB OF RED BANK OPEN HOUSE FEATURED AUTHOR LIN FONG-O'NEILL RED BANK , NJ – The Open House of the Woman’s Club of Red Bank on December 11th turned out to be quite an event. Santa Claus, featured by one of the Club’s officer, welcomed the guests at the door. Over 35 kids, their parents, and many adults showed up to enjoy the afternoon. Brilliant decorations and a majestic 8-foot Christmas tree graced the first floor of the historic Anthony Reckless Estate. Swedish meatballs, bacon-wrapped breadsticks, guacamole dip, Chinese dumplings, colorful holiday cookies and pastries filled the table and fed the stomachs. While the adults tapping their feet to the alluring music played by a local Jazz band, the children sat at café tables, having fun with the coloring book and crayons, gifts from Santa. Local author, Lin Fong-O’Neill, signed 25 copies of her new book, “Mommy, Why?”, a book teaching children to respect differences. Lin’s patrons included a Haitian father of two from Red Bank, a Jewish grandmother from the Atlantic Highlands, a MSW from Staten Island and many others from varied backgrounds and origins. It was truly a day of diversity in action. Lin Fong-O’Neill (center) with Officers of the Woman's Club Ellen Davis and Mary Gilligan. Published Atlantic Highlands Herald - 29 December 2005 • Monday & Tuesday, December 5-6 ~ A Diversity Program - Event details: Conduct sessions of the "Let's Learn Chinese" program in a classroom setting. - Location: School for Children (Eatontown,NJ) • Wednesday & Thursday, November 30 - December 1 ~ Book Signing - Event details: JPMorgan Chase Holiday Gift Fair for its employees. All net profit for the books sold will be donated to a non-profit organization. - Location: 270 Park Avenue & 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza (New York City) • Monday & Tuesday, November 28-29 ~ A Diversity Program - Event details: Conduct 7 sessions of the "Let's Learn Chinese" program for students with multiple disabilities and autism. - Location: School for Children (Eatontown,NJ) • Saturday, November 5 (11am-1pm) ~ Book Signing - Event details: Come get your signed copy of Mommy Why? - Location: Fair Haven Books, 759 River Road ~ 732.747.9455 (Fair Haven, NJ) • Friday, November 4 ~ A Children's Program        see press release - Event details: A diversity program. Conduct the "Let's Learn Chinese" program in a classroom setting. - Location: Holy Cross School in Rumson (Rumson,NJ) - Press release from Atlantic Highlands Herald • Saturday, October 22 (10-11am) ~ Meet the Author - Event details: A diversity program. Age 5-8 children will have fun seeing traditional Chinese items displayed, learning Chinese characters and Chinese zodiac. I will answer questions and sign my new book, Mommy Why? - Location: Colts Neck Library ~ 732.431.5656 (Colts Neck, NJ) - Photo/s: • Friday & Saturday, September 16-17 ~ Meet the Author - Event details: Come meet Lin and get your signed copy of Mommy Why? - Location: Colts Neck Library ~ 732.431.5656 (Colts Neck, NJ) - Photo/s: home  -   about me  -   stories & essays  -   projects  -   contact  -   on sale now © Lin Fong-O'Neill. All Rights Reserved.