PING

2025 | Fiction & Poetry

PING, which was originally conceived in 2016, precedes the current cultural popularity in Ping Pong, exemplified in the upcoming 2025 Christmas movie release of Marty Supreme starring Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Alternating between the pivotal 1971 Ping-Pong Diplomacy - where a simple game of table tennis thawed the icy relations between the U.S. and China during the Cold War - and the present-day struggles of a family weighed down by legacy, Ping is a compelling tale of history, politics, and personal conflict.

Jenny, a modern-day teen, wrestles with her grand-mother Miriam's larger-than-life legacy, rooted in Cold War tensions and the surprising intersection of ping pong, antisemitism, and global diplomacy. As Jenny uncovers Miriam's secret role in shaping history, she confronts her own place in a family bound by expectations and unspoken truths.

Blending family drama with meticulously researched historical events, this gripping story explores the enduring impact of the past on the present. "Ping skillfully blends family drama with political and historical events, particularly through Jenny's modern-day struggles and Miriam's Cold War-era experiences. The use of Ping Pong as both a symbol and a plot device keeps the story engaging, exploring generational expectations and legacies...

Ping effectively combines history, sports, and personal conflict, appealing to readers of both literary fiction and historical drama.

Lisa Lucas (Author)

Steve Landsberg (Author)