Category: Books

  • What’s it like to be interviewed on NPR?

    What’s it like to be interviewed on NPR?

    Earlier this week I went to KQED to do an interview with Scott Simon for NPR’s Weekend Edition, to air Feb 9. I am a huge NPR fan and didn’t sleep much the night before (visions of listeners all over the country looking at each other and saying “who is…

  • THE NIGHT TIGER: A Starred Review from Kirkus!

    THE NIGHT TIGER: A Starred Review from Kirkus!

    I woke up to a wonderful surprise the other morning. Mornings are often rushed, anxious affairs in our house, with one kid waking up late after having sworn the night before (while assembling Boba Fett armor out of cardboard and hot glue) that he had absolutely, positively, finished all his…

  • THE NIGHT TIGER – a chocolate-fueled update!

    It’s been a long time coming, but my second book is finally done and we have an official announcement! Hooray!! For those kind and long-suffering readers and friends who’ve been on this journey with me, you’ll know that a few years ago I started saying things like “Oh ya, this…

  • What to Eat If Your Book is Nominated for an Award?

    What to Eat If Your Book is Nominated for an Award?

    I was very surprised and excited to hear that my book, The Ghost Bride, has been nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal and Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Debut and Best Fantasy.

  • Instant Ramen Deluxe – the Lobster Edition

    Instant Ramen Deluxe – the Lobster Edition

    When I was a university student, I once organized a kung fu/ramen party.  This consisted of renting martial arts movies and providing a wide variety of instant noodles to eat along with the action. “What kind of party is this?” said my then boyfriend (now husband).

  • So What Do Authors Wear, Anyway?

    So What Do Authors Wear, Anyway?

    I’m heading off to NYC today for Page Turner, the Asian American Writers Workshop Festival, and one of the things that has stumped me as a newbie author is “what do people wear to these things?”

  • Recording My Audiobook

    Recording My Audiobook

    Happy Publication Day! The Ghost Bride was (finally) published on August 6th!! In a burst of optimism, I auditioned to read my own audiobook and was actually approved. I was very excited about this, as reading aloud is a favourite activity with my kids and brings back happy memories from my…

  • Guest Post: Food for Thought – Immigrant Fiction

    Guest Post: Food for Thought – Immigrant Fiction

    Today’s guest blogger is the talented Alison Klein, who combines a keen eye for literature with an equally discerning palate. Alison lives in Amsterdam and likes to read in the plane or on her roof terrace, or wherever else books happen to be.

  • It’s a Giveaway!!

    It’s a Giveaway!!

    [This giveaway has ended] No, it’s not a special sale on vegetables (although I must confess that I’ve participated in some of those crazy Asian supermarket runs). 

  • Doing Author-Type Things

    Doing Author-Type Things

    As the publication date of my novel looms ever closer (August 2013), one of the things people have asked about is if I am going on a tour. “What sort of tour?” I said, wondering if I could possibly repeat the first and last time I joined a real sight-seeing…