Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 788 Hugo Award

The email was sent by the World Science Fiction Association, which congratulated Fang Minghua on his work being nominated for the best novel of the decade and expressed the sincere hope that he could attend the World Science Fiction Convention to be held in Baltimore, Maryland, USA on July 7, where the final winning work will be announced.

Fang Minghua had certainly heard of the Hugo Award, officially known as the "Science Fiction Achievement Award," which was named in honor of Hugo Gernsback, the founder of modern science fiction in Luxembourg. The Hugo Award and the Nebula Award are the highest international awards in the field of science fiction literature and are known as the "Nobel Prize in science fiction literature."

At the same time Fang Minghua received this email, she also received an email from Demi and Li Li, the president of Ashley Press.

Both of them congratulated Fang Minghua in their respective emails, and Demi was eagerly looking forward to Fang Minghua coming to the United States to attend the awards ceremony.

"Mr. Minghua, this will greatly help the sales and promotion of the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets novels - including the first Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and the third Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban published this year. To this end, the publisher has made a complete promotion plan around the novel's award."

Ah?
Are you sure your novel has won an award?
However, in history, this series of novels did win the Hugo Award, but it was not this one but the fourth one, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire".

Li Li's letter was more subtle. In addition to expressing congratulations, she talked more about her daughter Xinxin.

"Xinxin can walk a long time ago, and now her speech is getting clearer and clearer. Mom and Dad, Minghua, do you want to hear your baby call you daddy?"

Of course I want to listen!

Isn't this asking me to come to the United States as soon as possible?

The little woman's thoughts are fully exposed.

When Song Tangtang returned home in the evening, Fang Minghua told her about this.

Song Tangtang was very supportive.

"Go ahead, see Lili, and bring back a big prize. Also, Jianjun is graduating with a doctorate this year, right?"

"Yes, but I haven't heard from my sister when he can return to China." Fang Minghua replied.

In 94, Liu Jianjun was sent to Stanford University in the United States to pursue a doctorate in electronics. After four years of study, he is now facing graduation.

"Go and visit him, don't forget to come back." Song Tangtang joked.

"how is this possible?"

However, we still have to go, since they are all in San Francisco and not far away.

Having made the decision, Fang Minghua began to go through the procedures for going abroad. It is much more convenient to go abroad now than in the 6s and early 14s. With the help of Liao Yawei from the Yanjing office, the visa to the United States was quickly processed. On June , Fang Minghua carried his suitcase, bid farewell to his wife and children, and embarked on a journey to the United States.

I first took a plane to Yanjing, stayed there for one night, and then took an afternoon flight to the United States. After a long 11-hour flight, I arrived in San Francisco at nine in the morning.

After getting off the plane and going through customs formalities, Fang Minghua arrived at the waiting hall and saw a beautiful young woman in a white dress standing not far away, holding a little girl who was less than two years old.

She has a sky-high braid and a pair of big black eyes that look around, she is very cute.

It was Li Li holding her daughter.

"Lili!" Fang Minghua called.

Li Li also saw Fang Minghua walking towards her, a smile appeared on her face, and she said to the little girl in her arms: "Xinxin, call daddy quickly."

The little girl was a little confused, blinking her big eyes at the strange uncle in front of her, but she still called out "Dad, Daddy"

"Oh, dear." Fang Minghua put down the suitcase, took his daughter in his arms, and kissed her on the cheek. He hadn't shaved all night on the plane, which made his daughter giggle. Seeing that her daughter was not shy about Fang Minghua, Li Li was very happy. She dragged the suitcase with one hand and held her arm with the other, and walked out happily.

Arriving at the parking lot and finding her Mercedes-Benz, Fang Minghua placed her daughter in the child seat in the back seat and subconsciously was about to sit in the driver's seat, but was stopped by Li Li.

"You don't have a temporary driver's license yet, how can you drive?"

"Oh, yes, I almost forgot." Fang Minghua was sitting in the back seat with her daughter. "I might as well get a driver's license this time to save the trouble of applying every time."

The car left the airport and headed towards downtown San Francisco. After crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, it soon arrived at the Seacliff community where Li Li lived.

Arrived at her villa and met Li Li's mother Zhou Yunmei.

Zhou Yunmei has been living here since she came to the United States to take care of Li Li as she gave birth. She is now gradually getting used to life in the United States and is very happy to see Fang Minghua.

Although the relationship between my daughter and Fang Minghua was illegal, the matter is done now and the child is so grown up. What's the point of talking about it anymore?
I am also very pleased that my daughter has the company of her beloved man.

Of course, Fang Minghua is impeccable in terms of wealth and talent. Ordinary people might not think so.

At noon, Zhou Yunmei asked the nanny to prepare a sumptuous lunch to welcome Fang Minghua. While eating, Fang Minghua talked about the things that needed to be done in the United States.

"There's still some time before the World Science Fiction Convention. I'm going to get my driver's license first, and then go to Stanford University to see my brother-in-law. He's about to graduate with a Ph.D."

Zhou Yunmei was secretly surprised when she heard this. What happened to the Fang family?
She heard from her daughter Li Li that Fang Minghua's parents were very ordinary workers, one worked in the security department of a magazine, and the other was a female worker in a textile factory, but their children were more promising than each other.

There is no need to talk about Fang Minghua. I heard that his sister is a master's student at Northwestern Polytechnical University, which is already quite remarkable. Unexpectedly, his son-in-law is even more amazing. He was actually sent to Stanford, a top university in the United States, to pursue a doctorate!

Fang Minghua certainly had no idea what Zhou Yunmei was thinking. That afternoon, Li Li had to go to school, so Fang Minghua took the subway to the San Francisco DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) to apply for a driver's license.

According to the requirements, I filled in the application form, submitted my passport, visa, and documents proving my address, and paid $38. Then I filled in the form, took photos, and prepared for the written test.
I have to sigh that the efficiency of California DMV is surprisingly slow. The written test was scheduled for a month later!

Oh my God
As a last resort, Fang Minghua temporarily applied for a translated driver's license so that he could drive freely in California a week later.

In addition to the driver's license issue, Fang Minghua of course also had to go to Ashley Press. Demi was very happy to see Fang Minghua coming.

"Mr. Fang, we have developed a detailed promotion plan based on your award this time. Please take a look." Demi took out a piece of information and handed it to him.

Oh my God
It was both a reader meeting and a book signing event.

Fang Minghua felt overwhelmed when he saw one of the items.

"Mr. Minghua, we have decided to redesign the cover of the novel to reflect the honor of winning the Hugo Award. Combined with your signed books, sales will surely be very hot!

Ok
From an operator's perspective, there is nothing wrong with Demi's approach.

Just do the hard labor again.

Fortunately, that will be after winning the award.

Maybe I won’t win the award.

Fang Minghua briefly inquired about the situation of the publishing house and then went home. In a few days, he planned to go to Stanford University to visit Liu Jianjun.

(End of this chapter)