Authors bring travel stories to Brett’s Books reading in Pendleton
Published 9:00 am Thursday, October 16, 2025
PENDLETON — Co-authors Stephanie Huffman and Joshua Samuel Brown are bringing a slice of their Taiwan travel adventure to Pendleton with stories from their memoir at Brett’s Books.
Brett’s Books will host a reading at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, at 125 S. Main St. in downtown Pendleton. Huffman and Brown will share stories from “Formosa Moon,” a memoir that blends their personal journey with travel insights about the island.
The memoir follows Brown, a Lonely Planet guidebook writer familiar with Taiwan’s culture and language, and Huffman, a first-time visitor who reluctantly agrees to relocate sight unseen. Together, they explore Taiwan’s rich history, charm and unforgettable people.
After many years working on and off Taiwan from 1994 to 2012, Brown returned to Portland, where he met with Huffman. At one point, he joked that Taiwan would always be “the other woman” in their relationship. “If we continue, I’m going to drag you to Taiwan one day,” he told her, a line that later appeared in the book.
Huffman agreed to the move, but only after graduating from Portland State University. Meanwhile, Brown pitched the idea of a travel memoir about bringing his partner to Taiwan sight unseen to his editor, who immediately embraced the idea.
Part travelogue, part guidebook, “Formosa Moon” encourages readers to explore Taiwan on a deeper level while offering practical information for visiting — and even potentially relocating to — one of Asia’s most under-the-radar destinations.
Brown and Huffman collaborated closely, combining factual content with personal stories. Some chapters are co-written; others penned individually. The book includes travel tips, directions, cultural insights, historical context, and restaurant recommendations — particularly for travelers with dietary restrictions.
Huffman said several aspects of Taiwan stood out during her travels, especially the vibrant colors, ornate temples, rich history and folk art.
“My favorite artist, Rainbow Grandpa, is an older man who started decorating his house. Now his entire village is an art piece,” she said. “The Taiwanese government preserved it because they recognized its value. I really loved that.”
Brown said experiencing Taiwan through Huffman’s eyes added a new perspective to his writing.
“Because I had lived in Taiwan before and knew it well, being able to see it through her eyes, and then put that down on paper, gave a different perspective than anything I could have done alone,” he said.
Brown described his feelings about leaving Taiwan as deeply personal.
“I left Taiwan still in love with the place, but I realized I loved Stephanie more than I loved Taiwan, and that was okay,” he said. “I’m glad we had this experience.”
He reflected on the challenges he faced as a Westerner living in Taiwan.
“I had hit what they call the bamboo ceiling—there’s only so much you can do. I was glad to have that time there and I’ll always want to return.”
Brett’s Books will host the book reading, which is free and open to the public. Community members will have the chance to enjoy a live reading, participate in a Q&A session, and get their books signed. Copies will be available for purchase at the event, or attendees may bring their own.
Complimentary coffee and biscotti will be served, along with a few surprises from the authors.
