About Me


       I was born in Washington, D.C., raised mostly in Cincinnati and left my country for permanent residence in Asia in autumn, 1972. I lived in South Korea for four years, then Nepal for eleven years and since the beginning of 1988 my home base has been Chiang Mai. But I don’t stay there all year, for I still make regular research trips to Yunnan, China, Vietnam and other neighboring places.
     While in Nepal I worked with ethnic minorities, specifically Mizos from Northeast India and Newars from Bhaktapur, in vegetable-dyed textile production. In Thailand I have worked with the Akha people in traditional handicrafts production in the northern hills. Besides acquiring new labor skills—I was the dyer and designer—the work gave me valuable insights into the different cultural norms and ways of thinking of traditional societies in this region. 
     My writing and photography reflects my fascination with history, traditional cultures and ethnic minorities, not just in the ethnologies, cultural studies and histories I’ve published, but in my fiction and poetry as well. I have published books in Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, China and Vietnam. Recently I have ventured into publishing e-books and won’t have to wait for publishers to decide whether and when. Considering the great amount of material I have collected over the years, to me this means I can be sure there will be more books to come.

Please visit my Author's Page on Amazon.

13 comments:

  1. Hi Jim, I'm a PhD student studying Newar folktales and literature. I can't track down an e-mail address for you, but I would love to chat sometime about your book, Tales of Old Bhaktapur. You can contact me at amyraye@outlook.com. Many thanks, Amy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Jim,
    I am a PhD student of anthropology who is about to start fieldwork with the Akha in northern Laos. I would like to ask you a couple of questions about Akha language based on your "Meet the Akhas" book. Like the PhD student writing above, I cannot track your email. Could you please contact me at g.ongaro@lse.ac.uk? Many thanks.
    Giulio

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello Jim,
    I am a PhD student off anthropology in France, and I am working about the UNESCO label's impacts on the Hani traditions and way of life in the Ailoa mountains.
    Do their traditions and knowledge will survive to the invasion of tourists in their native area? I would love to have a chat about this topic with you, here is my mail adress: rapha3110@hotmail.fr
    Hope I'll hear from you soon,
    Raphaelle.

    ReplyDelete
  4. i am coming only two weeks next august to do a trip in which i want to enter in touch as most aspossible with minorities there...considering its not enough time at all, which part of yunnan and which the most interesting minorities do you suggest me to try to enter in contact with, and where and how exactly?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry I didn't see this earlier. Hope I'm not too late for you. The part of Yunnan where the traditional look and lifestyle is the strongest is probably Ailaoshan, with the irrigated rice terraces, home to Hani, Yi, Miao, Yao, Dai and Zhuang. Yuanyang and Jinping Counties have the most variety and you can see then at the various market days. You an contact the English teachers at the Middle Schools and they will be ready to assist you.

      Delete
  5. I am an American writer who has published a great deal concerning China. Now I'm working on a book on China's covered bridges. I've traveled extensively throughout China and recently in Tengchong and Dali Prefecture for the book. I've come across several French postcards of the Pont de Posi (Pousi-Hi), which apparently no longer exists. It may be in Boxi in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture (or a couple other locations I've spotted). Do you know of these postcards? I can share them with you if you write to me Ronald Knapp knappr@newpaltz.edu or rknapp2@hvc.rr.com Many thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks, Jim. I went to Yunnan in both April and December 2016. Now I'm off to western Hunan this week. Your books are quite useful.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jim,
    I am a student of history and am curious as to where your information on George Mizo came from and where I might look to research his life. I'd really appreciate an answer at mksheld@gmail.com. Thanks for your time. -Mike

    ReplyDelete
  8. hey jim,
    how to getting touch? lou corbett 2062445895 ravenseye108@hotmail.com looking for adventure jan 10 fish / feb10ish

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jim - hi, just read your article on Zhongdian .... I was there in July 1993 and definitely recognise your words ... and pictures ... it was indeed amazing. I met the head Lama and the head of Kampa Tibetians there at the time.
    Happy travels, Stuart (stuartyounguk@hotmail.com)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Jim, I lived in Kunming for two years in the mid80s and Chiang Mai for a year and a half in the 90s. I am interested in the Tibet-Burman groups in SW China, N Myanmar, and N Thailand. My wife is Lahu Nyi (Red Lahu). Have you found in written materials in your interactions with Lahu?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you mean materials written in Lahu, no, but Paul Lewis devised an alphabet for Lahu. So there are Lahu Christian books in converted villages. About Lahu Nyi, Anthony Walker wrote much.

      Delete