About Us
The authors’ connection to Korea goes back over 35 years. Debbi Kent and Joan Suwalsky are adoptive mothers of Korean-born children. Longtime friend MaryJo Glover’s love for Debbi’s children earned her the title of Honorary Adoptive Mom. Taking a keen interest in learning about the children’s heritage, they became ardent students and teachers of Korean culture. Reading everything they could get their hands on and making more than 50 trips to Korea, they developed a deep affection for the "The Land of the Morning Calm."
They were especially captivated by the symbolic characters that appear over and over in Korean art. Horangi, the powerful yet comical tiger, has long been a favorite. But others, such as the japsang, dragon, phoenix, rabbit, crane, wedding goose, and three-legged crow, each have their own unique personality and special meaning. (A three-legged crow. How cool is that?) As we learned about them, an idea for a series of children’s stories featuring this charming collection of characters began to take shape, and that was the beginning of Ginkgo Tree Tales.
Soon after, the storytellers were joined by Yuleui Lee, who lives in Seoul and serves as business manager, translator, researcher, and communicator. She wears many hats as she helps navigate Ginkgo Tree Tales’ publishing journey in two different countries!
For more about Korean culture, see Debbi and Joan’s book:
100 Thimbles in a Box: The Spirit and Beauty of Korean Handicrafts. (Seoul Selection, 2014) (www.100thimbles.com)
A vibrant, colorful, lively introduction to the exquisite arts and crafts of Korea, this book, with the help of nearly 500 photographs, explains their history, how they are created, and the meaning behind the symbols that have embellished them for thousands of years.
“This thoroughly researched and elegantly photographed book is more than a source of knowledge – it is itself a piece of art.”
Jai-Ok Shim, Executive Director, Fulbright Korea