Писательница Тесс Герриссен помогает создать первый в Мейне центр для азиатско-американского сообщества

STATEWIDE -- Tess Gerritsen is more than a talented mystery writer. This Camden author is also helping to spread the word about a new Asian American Community Center which is being developed in southern Maine. Our station recently sat down with the author to learn more. Tess Gerristen just released her newest novel Shadow Friends. It's a story about a disease expert that dies mysteriously at a global affairs conference in Maine. "My job is to entertain," said Gerritsen. "Hopefully I'll make you think as well." Gerritsen said her inspiration came from the annual Camden Conference. "For those not familiar with the Camden Conference, it was started here about 40 years ago by retired spies and the state department," explained Gerritsen.  "It is an annual global affairs conference. When I was sitting in the audience a couple years ago, I thought there's a lot of interesting people in here, a lot of speakers from around the world, what if there was a murder? I'm sorry that's the way my mind works as a mystery writer." When Gerritsen isn't researching or writing, she's working with Marpheen Chann and his organization Khmer to help establish the first Maine Asian American Community Center. "We're proud to be American," said Chann. "But we're also missing connection with our heritage and cultural roots, and that's really what got me thinking there really isn't a broad Asian American organization in Maine and what would it take to bring our community together?" "We're a really pretty big minority if you take all of Asia and include India, Pakistan and Southeast Asia," said Gerritsen. "It's been fun finding these people that I didn't even know were here." When the Maine Asian American Community Center is complete it will be open to all. To learn more log onto meaacc.org.