The writer's craft

At that point, Chung said she decided to try writing on her own without Krasinski's help. "It took me quite awhile," Chung said. "I didn't see [Schiano] again for eight or nine months." When she finally had the requested number of pages completed, Chung met with her new editor. Three months later, Schiano returned the pages with comments and suggestions. In certain chapters Chung said she had comments such as "I need more input . what did they talk about, what were they feeling?" Chung said she had to go back and add the missing material, "which was a lot of work, of course." "I probably have eight manuscripts," Chung said of the revisions Schiano suggested. "She was very tough in what she drew out of me." And Chung said it was a struggle to fill in the gaps in the story that Schiano highlighted. "Sometimes I felt . just forget about it," Chung said. But I kept going back to it." Eventually, she said, the story started to flow. "I felt as though my mother was sitting next to me, talking in my ear," Chung said. "It really was just amazing. I'd never written before and all of this just came pouring out of me." After the final revision was okayed by Schiano, Chung contacted independent publishing house Reed Edwards, which bought her manuscript. Her book, "Far East of the Sun," was published last month, on June 4. "I thought I would be finished in six months with the book," Chung said. "It doesn't happen that way." But when the manuscript was finally finished she said, "I was lost . I lived in that world for four years. It was wonderful." Her book touches hearts Chung said early reaction to the book has been very positive. Herb Segal, a Loomis resident and former attorney gave her book high praise. "He said, 'Janina, that book, it brought tears to my eyes. I wanted more. You should have put in more," Chung said. More praise came from Kathy Krasinski, her first editor. "I got a call from her," Chung said. "she said, Janina, you won't believe me but I am driving and I'm reading at stop signs; I can't put it down.'" She said others who have read the book have told her "this is a movie." "I was so afraid about this book," said Chung of her trepidation over its acceptance. "But I've been so elated with all these comments." Still, Chung hopes what people take away from this story of triumph over trials is the importance of family, and the strength of love. That she said, is why she toiled to write the book. "Family, love and unity. It's the most important thing in your life," Chung said. "It's what you live for."