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Do you ever read something and just SWELL with desire and despair all at the same time?
I LOVE IT WHEN IT HAPPENS.
I’m enamored with “She Who Became the Sun” by Shelley Parker-Chan and I just DEVOURED the book and I am doing everything within my power to not start its sequel “He Who Drowned the World” right fucking now because ya girl’s got shit to doooooo. Also, I despair that I can ever write characters as layered and complex as these!
It’s so expansive on gender and I don’t even know who I want to win in this historical fantasy novel of the disintegrating Mongolian rule of China. It is the best book I’ve read year-to-date.
This book is about desire: the denying and subsuming of it, and the grasping and pursuing of it.
I’m obsessed.
As with last week, you will find the following in today’s newsletter (feel free to skip to those parts):
- Personal note
- What brought me joy this week!
- What challenged me
- What else?
- Support and love our community
- Tell me more
Personal note
Slowly, slowly, I think I’m coming out of my funk. Well, I don’t know that I’m out yet, but the slow sloughing off of old skin is happening, and maybe I’ll be through with it by the end of the month.
Mostly, I’m recovering from talking about my book all day this past weekend at the Bay Area Book Festival. I’m working on being better at talking about my book and myself. It’s funny to me how much I love to talk about myself and still hate it.
I MAKE NO SENSE.
What brought me joy
I went on a binge of The Hollywood Reporter’s roundtable series where directors, songwriters, and actors discuss their craft. I find it not only fascinating as a creative, I love it for research for my books.
I suppose my children are a source of joy, and they are even when I’m frustrated and tired. They are truly funny, clever, and sweet kids. They make me think that I have done at least one thing right in the world.
What challenged me
One of the biggest challenges for me is to talk about my books and market them. I actually think I’m a great writer and fun to chat with, but for some reason, I truly feel ridiculous when I talk about myself in this manner.
It’s absolutely ridiculous when you consider how I would literally be screaming about my friends and their books! (Okay, not always literally—sometimes chatting politely on Brazn Azn or Mochi Magazine.)
It’s also incredibly difficult for me to sum up my books—because IF I COULD SUM IT UP I WOULD HAVE WRITTEN THAT INSTEAD OF 400 PAGES OF WORDS.
Here’s my initial shot: I write K-pop inspired women’s fiction about messy women who are emotionally constipated and have a martyr complex. Not only are they incredibly talented and smart, they also make the worst decisions possible in any given situation out of a misguided attempt to shield their loved ones from ruin.
In my Her multiverse series, Katie Wu is a Taiwanese American K-pop singer who befriends a boy band. Every book in the series is a standalone story and follows an alternate timeline where Katie ends up with a different boy band member. Why choose when you can catch them all?
What do you think?
What else
I was at a really tiny concert for three K-hop/K-rnb artists (Tabber, Miso, and Rad Museum) last week and man, I don’t know how they made any money. Theater capacity was 475 people but at most, there were 150 attendees. I loved the intimate feel despite the sound being horrible.
If I can get off my ass, I’ll write up a review and post fancams!
Speaking of articles, here’s my latest feature for Mochi Mag on filmmaker Anthony Ma. If he sounds familiar, that’s because we did a podcast with him!
And finally, come see me and a bunch of local Bay Area authors at the Sports Basement in San Francisco on Saturday, June 7 from 1pm to 4pm. I will have all three of my books for sale, some candy, and can personalize reader messages, too.
Support and love our community
Back in January 2020, right before the pandemic changed the world, I started my YouTube channel and monetized rather quickly thanks to my BTS and K-pop reactions and several amazing blogging friends helping me. I also became internet friends with some frequent commenters and subscribers to the channel. For some reason, they also followed me on my socials, and they became huge supporters of my work—regardless of the topic—and I am truly indebted to them for their kindness and community.
One of these fabulous people, Aleathia, had a stroke a few years ago and has since been recovering even as she was a single parent for her three children. Due to life lifing, she’s needing some help moving, and if you are able to support her GoFundMe, I would truly appreciate it.
She has been an integral part of my community, and I would like to be the same for her and her children.
Tell me more
Thank you, once again, for holding space for me this week. I am so appreciative of folks who reply to this newsletter or reach out via other means to check in on me or respond to what I’ve written.
If I can ever be that person for you, please let me know.
May you have a week full of chaotic joy!
