On crossing culture, age and gender barriers
Posted on July 24, 2012 in Thoughts
Check out this essay I wrote for the blog of Weidenfeld & Nicolson, the U.K. publishers for All Woman and Springtime, about the writing of the book:
In my novel, All Woman and Springtime, I explore the lives and friendship of two teenage North Korean orphan girls who are tricked into leaving their country. The story delves into the intricacies of their friendship as they are forced to adapt to their unsettling new circumstances, and how each responds differently to the hardships they endure.
I am often asked how, as a man, I was able to render the mindset of my female characters. Some assume that this must have been one of my greatest challenges when writing the book, but during the process I actually thought little of it.