Peach Blossom Blog Tour: NK chats to Mingmei Yip

Novel Kicks chats to Mingmei Yip.

Mingmei is the author of Skeleton Women and Song of the Silk Road. Originally released in 2008, Peach Blossom Pavilion is due for release on 27th March and we’re happy to be part of Mingmei’s blog tour where we got the opportunity to have a quick chat.

Who are your favourite authors?

I read all of Anchee Min, Lisa See and most of Amy Tan’s books; all these women wrote about Chinese themes but attracted a broad readership. They have been inspirational for me. I like to think that I also have found readers of all sorts of background – my novels have been translated into nine languages so far.

My favourite authors who wrote in Chinese are Eileen Cheung, who lived in China, Hong Kong, and America, and a Taiwanese writer who called herself Echo. I have learned much about writing – and about human nature – from their works.

What is your writing process?

I love to write in my own small room in our New York apartment. The windows face uptown and the East River – giving a perfect balance of yin and yang. Whenever I need to refresh myself after long hours of writing, I just look up from my computer screen and enjoy the view from my window. I am fortune to have read a lot and travelled a lot and so these experiences provide my inspiration. The great Chinese poet, Du Fu (712-770) said, “After you have read 10,000 books and travelled 10,000 miles, your writing will be aided by the gods.” I have more than 10,000 frequent flyer miles, but I am still working on the 10,000 books.

Peach Blossom Pavilion is due for release on 27th March and is being released in Paperback and e book by Avon. The blog tour continues tomorrow where it stops off at Victoria Loves Books.

Mingmei’s website.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.