Solpaul, also known as Pong, is a Cambodian survivor and memoirist whose life story bears witness to one of history’s darkest chapters. Born in a rural village in Cambodia, she grew up in poverty and hardship long before war reshaped her country. As a young girl, she experienced profound loss, responsibility beyond her years, and the realities of survival that would later define her resilience.

During the Khmer Rouge era, Solpaul lived through the fear, displacement, and uncertainty that devastated millions of Cambodian families. Her memoir is drawn directly from lived experience, preserving memories of life before the genocide, the struggle to endure it, and the strength required to rebuild afterward.

Today, Solpaul still lives in Grinnell, Iowa. She is the proud mother of five healthy grown children and a loving grandmother to seven grandchildren. Family is the most important part of her life.

She continues to enjoy staying active, helping others succeed, and finding joy in seeing people smile, support one another, and live

with love.