On Monday, February 6, Lisa See Tweeted: "The day before Dreams of Joy comes out in paperback. Facial, foot doctor, buy melatonin, think about what to wear. The practicalities."

It's important. Lisa See, the LA author who chronicles the Chinese-American experience, is beginning a nationwide tour in support of the paperback release of "Dreams of Joy," the bestselling historical novel and sequel to "Shanghai Girls."

I interviewed Lisa See about both books on park benches in Chinatown, and in this special Off-Ramp podcast, bring the long versions of the interviews together for the first time.

If you want to meet Lisa, she's doing readings locally before starting the tour:

Tuesday, February 7
12:00 PM
VROMAN'S BOOKSTORE
Literary Lunch
695 East Colorado Boulevard
Pasadena, CA 91101
Store: 626-449-5320

7:00 PM
DIESEL BRENTWOOD
Talk, Q&A, Signing
Brentwood Country Mart
225 26th Street, Ste. 33,
Santa Monica, CA 90402
Store: 310-576-9960

Wednesday, February 8
12:00 PM
PAGES (A Bookstore)
Lunch, talk, signing
904 Manhattan Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Store: 310-318-0900

7:00 PM
Barnes & Noble
Discussion, signing
Amerige Heights Town Center
1923 West Malvern Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92833