ABOUT THE BOOK

“An introspective, emotional novel that will draw readers in.” — Kirkus Reviews

The bombing of Pearl Harbor propels America into WWII and two Japanese Americans into chaos. Separated by the Pacific, each embarks on a tumultuous path to survive childhood and live the American dream. Ruby Ishimaru loses her liberty and is uprooted from her Hawaii home to Japanese American incarceration camps on the mainland. Koji Matsuo strains under the menacing clouds of the Japanese war machine and Hiroshima atomic bombing while concealing a dangerous secret—one that threatens his family’s safety.

When destiny brings Ruby and Koji together in California, their chemistry is magnetic, but wounds of trauma run deep and threaten their love as another casualty of war.

Inspired by the true stories of the authors’ family, Of White Ashes crosses oceans and cultures, illuminating the remarkable lives of ordinary people who endure seemingly unbearable hardship with dignity and patience. Their experiences compel us to reflect on the resilience of humanity and the risk of history repeating itself.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Constance Hays Matsumoto

Constance earned her B.A. from Notre Dame of Maryland University and M.S. in Business from Johns Hopkins University. She is a member of the Authors Guild, Eastern Shore Writers’ Association, Historical Novel Society, and Women’s National Book Association, and served on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Writers’ Association as Communications Chair and as President of the Baltimore Chapter. She is a former corporate and interior design devotee who later embraced the art and rigor of creative writing. Inspired by Shakespeare’s “What’s past is prologue,” Constance writes stories about poetry intended to influence positive change in our world. A native Marylander, Constance empty-nests in Greenville, Delaware with her husband Kent and their adorable Westie. 

Kent Matsumoto

Kent, a third-generation Japanese American, was born in Virginia and spent his formative years living in Japan where he attended the American School. He earned his degrees from the University of Virginia and University of Michigan Law School, and has worked in law firms and private and public companies. He currently serves on the boards of a publicly traded community bank and the non-profit Head Start Washington County (Maryland). He has authored articles for professional publications and spoken before numerous professional organizations.

The authors will donate a percentage of royalties to the Japanese American Memorial Pilgrimages organization. www.jampilgrimages.com

TALKING POINTS

• Constance and Kent can discuss the extensive research required to write this book in order to present it with integrity for historical accuracy and respect to their family
• Based on our history and current racial tensions, Constance and Kent can discuss their thoughts on whether incarceration based solely on race could happen again and the consequences they think the world will witness in a future nuclear bombing
• How important was the American Dream to the characters in Of White Ashes?
• If this novel were made into a docuseries, who would the authors choose as the cast?
• Of White Ashes is based on the true stories of Kent’s mother and father. How difficult is it to write about the trials experienced by one’s own family?