Loung began her activism work in 1993 as a Community Educator for a domestic shelter in Maine, and has since been involved in various campaigns, including those against violence towards women, the use of child soldiers, and landmine eradication worldwide. She has made over 40 trips back to Cambodia, dedicating herself to helping her native land recover from the traumas of war. Loung has given keynote addresses at numerous forums in the US and internationally, including at Stanford University, Dartmouth College, Philips Academy, and Women in the World Summit, among others. In 2013, she expanded her activism reach to include screenplay writing and contributed to Girl Rising, a groundbreaking film directed by Academy Award nominee Richard Robbins. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets and documentaries, including The New York Times, CNN, and Fresh Air with Terry Gross. (printable full bio)
UPCOMING EVENTS
First They Killed My Father is becoming a GRAPHIC NOVEL!
I am thrilled to be working with Astra to bring this story to a new generation—and excited to collaborate with the talented illustrator Kat Baumann. This adaptation weaves in Cambodian mythology and folklore, layered with survival, resilience, and the power of stories to heal and transform. Deep gratitude to Astra’s Susan Dobinick and Rebecca Davis, Jason Yarn, my agent George Greenfield at CreativeWell, and everyone at Astra. I can’t wait to share it with you all!
