by anna-carin hart
books
Anna writes memoir in essay, short story and long form.
Betrayal
A Memoir
Betrayal is the story of a grown daughter’s search to uncover the mysteries of her late father’s life. She knows her uncle somehow betrayed him after their escape from Shanghai just before the revolution. She knows he spent 13 years living in exile on the small Portuguese fishing island of Macau, off the coast of Hong Kong and China. She knows that while there, he had a profound experience which led to his conversion from Buddhism to Evangelical Christian. She’s been told that without his faith, he would have killed his brother. But she doesn’t know the details of what happened and the breadth of the story… Yet.
Foreign
A Memoir
Anna lives her life on the periphery looking in. At least that’s her perception. There are occasions, sometimes even years, where she dips her toe, if not her whole being across the line to the inside. Some of her high school years felt like that, as did much of her time in Hong Kong. But even then, the nagging voice in her head was always there to remind her that she is “other” and does not belong. Anna is half Chinese, which is not quite Chinese enough. She is also half Swedish, even though as a young girl the split feels more 70/30 leaning towards Scandinavia. She was born in Seoul, then despite meager means, raised in various rented homes in the wealthy suburbs of Boston. As soon as she graduates from high school she runs away (from what she is not yet sure) towards an adventurous life that lands her at varies times over three decades in Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Africa. In all these places, despite her best efforts, she never completely fits in, often being referred to as “The American Woman,” the irony of which is not lost on her. A part of her permanently feels foreign, even to herself, until one day, after years in exile in South Africa, she learns what it takes to belong.
Short Stories from a Long Life
10-Book Series
Madcap adventures fill the pages of Anna’s colorful life. Rich characters come in and out of her orbit in the various countries and continents she calls home during the many chapters of her life. Some are set in their old-fashioned ways, others are mentors and innovators, guiding her to live her best life. A few unsavoury characters are destructive and need to be purged. Is she able to differentiate the good from the bad? Along her journey she meets them all; a kind shaman, a corrupt immigration lawyer, a validating mechanic, and a misogynistic psychiatrist. Sprinkled throughout are amazing people and life-long friends. Some players only enter her story briefly, others remain main characters to the end. All of them provide valuable life lessons that form the adult Anna becomes.
Drawing from her childhood living as a third-culture kid in America, to her 28 years living as an expatriate, Anna weaves together her experiences and unique viewpoint in this memoir short story book series. Each book in the 10-book series tackles a specific theme from birth to faith, crime to immigration, relocation to patriarchy, identity to loss and much more.
It’s hard to define. You’ll just have to come along for the ride.
podcasts
Podcasts improve our listening and analytical skills, promote conversation and respectful debate. They show us different viewpoints, inspire us, teach us, make us laugh and keep us engaged while helping to pass the time while traveling or doing chores. Mandarin Orange Media currently produces two podcasts hosted by Anna-Carin Hart, a short-form inspirational wellness podcast and a long-form interview podcast.
Foreign
Each week on the Foreign podcast host Anna-Carin Hart welcomes a guest for an in-depth conversation on situations where the guest has felt like the odd one out. The episodes are filled with true stories that will make you laugh, think, and realize that there is more that unites us than divides us.
Long Form Conversation Podcast
Reframe
Using personal stories from everyday life, The Reframe Podcast offers simple suggestions on how to have a more positive outlook on your life, your relationships and your work. Episodes of The Reframe Podcast are short so you can begin your day with a little inspiration and food for thought.
Short Form Inspiration Wellness
television
Mandarin Orange Media writes and produces limited series dramatic and docuseries television. Anna has produced films as well as sports and current affairs television in America and Asia.
Betrayal
Betrayal is the story of a grown daughter’s search to uncover the mysteries of her late father’s life. She knows her uncle somehow betrayed him after their escape from Shanghai just before the revolution. She knows he spent 13 years living on the small Portuguese fishing island of Macau, off the coast of Hong Kong and China. She knows that while there, he had a profound experience which led to his conversion from Buddhism to Evangelical Christian. She’s been told that without his faith, he would have killed his brother. But she doesn’t know the details of what happened and the breadth of the story. Yet.
about anna
Drawing from her childhood living as a third-culture kid in America, to her 28 years living as an expatriate, Anna weaves together her experiences and unique viewpoint into all her creative projects.
Anna was born in Seoul, Korea in 1971 to evangelical Christian missionary parents; a Swedish mother and Shanghainese father. Her family, which at the time included a brother three years older, relocated to the suburbs of Boston following her father’s U.S. speaking tour which was organized by World Vision.
philantropy
Anna was born to missionary parents who instilled their calling to service in their children from a very young age. Anna infuses those same values into Mandarin Orange Media championing causes and non-profit organizations specifically supporting and empowering women and girls in the developing world.
Room to Read
Room to Read believes that world change starts with educated children. The organization focuses on working in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments to improve literacy and gender equality in education in the developing and conflict impacted countries. Anna is the Co-Founder of the Singapore Chapter of Room to Read. She served as the gala Chair and Co-Chair for several of their prestigious Singapore wine galas, raising millions of dollars to support Room to Read’s literacy and girls’ education programs.
U-Go
U-GO helps ambitious and promising young women in low-income countries pursue higher education by providing financial scholarships funded by individuals and corporations in high-income countries. This education will allow women to increase their earnings for the benefit of themselves, their families and their communities.
contact
Please get in touch
Please contact Anna if you have any questions or queries.
- anna@mandarinom.com
- Cape Town, South Africa