Why I Write
Saturday, 31 July 2010 06:07
Written by JFK Miller

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In 1946, George Orwell wrote an essay entitled Why I Write detailing the reasons why he put pen to paper. In this, our continuing Web series, we talk to China authors about their literary habits and reading preferences, and examine Orwell's question which lies at the heart of being an author – why they write

Lisa Brackmann has worked as an executive at a major motion picture studio, an issues researcher in a presidential campaign, and was the singer/songwriter/bassist in an LA rock band. A southern California native, she lives in Venice, CA and spends a lot of time in Beijing. Her debut novel is the thriller Rock Paper Tiger.

Why I Write
Tuesday, 27 July 2010 08:07
Written by Emma Chi

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George Orwell wrote an essay entitled Why I Write detailing the reasons why he put pen to paper. In this, our continuing Web series, we talk to China authors about their literary habits and reading preferences, and examine Orwell's question which lies at the heart of being an author – why they write

Murong Xuecun is one of China's most famous novelists, celebrated for his poetic explorations of the dark side of contemporary urban China. After his 2002 internet novel Leave Me Alone: A Novel of Chengdu (Chengdu, Jin Ye Qing Jiang Wo Yiwang) took China by storm, Murong gave up his job and devoted himself to writing full time. His most recent novel, Dancing Through Red Dust (Hong Chen Dian Dao), a controversial tale of corruption in legal circles, was published in 2008. Earlier this year Murong ignited a media storm after helping to bust a pyramid scheme in rural Jiangxi province where he had worked under cover for 23 days as research for a new book. Leave Me Alone: A Novel of Chengdu is his first novel to be translated into English.

*His answers were translated from Chinese.

Why do you write?
For many reasons. First as a living; I actually write to feed myself. I also write out of vanity as writing can satisfy my ego. Other times I feel responsible to write down the things and people I observe. But most often it stems from my own desire. Through writing, I am able to create a new fictional world in which everything is controlled by me. It is every enjoyable.

Why I Write
Thursday, 15 July 2010 04:07
Written by JFK Miller

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In 1946, George Orwell wrote an essay entitled Why I Write detailing the reasons why he put pen to paper. In this, our continuing Web series, we talk to China authors about their literary habits and reading preferences, and examine Orwell's question which lies at the heart of being an author – why they write

Mina Hanbury-Tenison is the author of Shanghai Girls Uncensored & Unsentimental: How To Marry Up and Stay There, an irreverent relationships guide based on conversations with her Shanghai girl-friend Lan Lan. Before moving to Shanghai five years ago with her husband and two children, Mina worked in Los Angeles writing screenplays. In addition to her works of fiction, she has written articles and essays about her experiences in China for the South China Morning Post, China International Business, the Financial Times and Oriental Outlook. She graduated from Yale University with a degree in Literature.

Why I Write
Saturday, 03 July 2010 11:07
Written by JFK Miller, Photo by Joseph Mehling

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In 1946, George Orwell wrote an essay entitled Why I Write detailing the reasons why he put pen to paper. In this, our continuing Web series, we talk to China authors about their literary habits and reading preferences, and examine Orwell's question which lies at the heart of being an author – why they write

Professor Pamela Crossley is an historian of modern China, specializing in the Qing Dynasty, at Dartmouth College. Her latest book, The Wobbling Pivot: China since 1800: An Interpretive History, was published in February.

Why I Write
Monday, 28 June 2010 01:06
Written by JFK Miller

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In our continuing Web series we talk to authors writing in or about the Middle Kingdom about their literary habits, preferences and peculiarities and examine the question at the heart of being an author – why they write

Hong Kong-based Norwegian Cecilie Gamst Berg is the author Blonde Lotus which was published in English and Norwegian in 2006. She has written for newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong, Norway and Beijing and currently keeps two blogs. She presently works for RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong) making weekly radio programs about Cantonese and, for the last two years, has been engaged in film making, putting her Cantonese course on YouTube as well as making documentaries about people's daily lives in Hong Kong.