Tha Chhay's autobiography features the harrowing escapes that brought him from Cambodia to America. He is a "walking miracle" who survived Khmer Rouge's forced evacuation of the cities, escaped their forced labor camps, and became a boy merchant selling and trading items on the borders of Vietnam and Thailand. At sixteen, Tha was able to save up enough gold to hire a guide to lead him across Cambodia's land-mine infested areas to a refugee camp in Thailand. He persevered in the refugee camp for six long years before he was granted acceptance to immigrate to Seattle, Washington. His story delves into the psychology of survival and offers hope for others who need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, even if their boots have holes and no straps. Tha Chhay's testament to the horrors of the Cambodian genocide offers perspective on the current political turmoil around the world.

"Into the Shadows, I Ran" begins with the Khmer Rouge's forced evacuation of Cambodia's cities immediately after the fall of Phnom Pen and Saigon in April of 1975. The story traces Tha Chhay's attempted escapes from the forced labor camps when he was a boy. After the Khmer Rouge fell from power, he traveled extensively around Cambodia as a boy merchant. After buying and selling goods in different markets across Cambodia, he saved enough gold to hire a guide to take him across the land-mine fields into a refugee camp in Thailand. He persevered in the refugee camp for six long years. In the camp's small library, he saw a picture of Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin place the American flag on the moon. He knew that Cambodia wouldn't get their flag up there in a million years, and decided America was the best country to take him away from the political turmoil of his homeland. In the camp of 28,000 refugees, he was chosen to be sponsored to live in America. He was eventually sent to be settled in Seattle, Washington, where he still lives today. His quest to survive and make a living forced Tha Chhay to harness his inner talents and skills. This book is a window into a rich culture steeped in the history of the Far East, at a time of great upheaval and personal tragedies. Tha Chhay's testament to the horrors of the Cambodian genocide offers perspective into current political turmoil around the world. He hopes countries never experience this type of genocide again.

Tha Chhay is a survivor of the Cambodian holocaust, where nearly half the population lost their lives by the Khmer Rouge. He waited 6 years as a refugee to receive sponsorship in America or France and was eventually granted acceptance to immigrate to America. After many harrowing challenges, he became a part of the Cambodian community in Seattle. His autobiographical book "Into the Shadows, I Ran" details many of his frightening encounters and daring escapes as he made his way to America. Today, he lives in Seattle, Washington and works in industrial textiles, supporting aerospace companies, as well as medical and military contractors. He hopes that his book will invigorate people's lives and help others overcome extreme adversity.

Matthew Raudsepp, co-author, is a creative writer, who helped Tha Chhay, over a 30 year period of friendship to compile and piece together the story of his survival.  After graduating from Gonzaga University in 1990, he taught English in Osaka, Japan for two years.  Upon his return to the United States, he met Tha, and became part of Tha's story, while he worked for a major airline as a flight attendant/purser for over 30 years. Mr. Raudsepp, who focused much of his flying career on travels in the Far East, wanted to help Mr Chhay to bring his story to fruition, particularly the psychology of survival aspects to his story, as well as knowledge about the people and history of Cambodia.  The struggles of so many Cambodians should not be forgotten, particularly Tha's and his family's during a time of great upheaval.  We hope you enjoy the book!