Ask the Author: Weina Dai Randel
Answered Questions (8)
Weina Dai Randel
My apologies for the lapse of time. I didn't see the question until now. Thank you so much for reading my series. I'm delighted you like them. I do have a new novel -- The Last Rose of Shanghai -- to be released in two months. On December 1! Thank you!
Weina Dai Randel
You're so kind, Nemz! Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm delighted to hear you like my novels. Yes, I do plan to write more books set in Ancient China. It's going to take a while for me to finish as I'm a slow writer, but yes, I'm writing. :)
Many thanks for reading the Empress of Bright Moon duology!
Best,
Weina
Many thanks for reading the Empress of Bright Moon duology!
Best,
Weina
Weina Dai Randel
Hi, Kabo,
Thanks for asking! I haven't watched the drama Empress of China, so I can't say if there are resemblances. When I started to write about Empress Wu's story in 2005, I don't think the drama was in production yet. Also, I don't know when the drama was aired, but my book was completed in 2014. It just took 2 long years to publish, that's all.
However, Empress Wu is a historical figure, so some incidents such as she, at a young age, was summoned to the palace to serve Emperor Taizong and worked in his court, had to come from historical record.
Thank you so much for reading my novel! I'm glad to hear you plan on reading the second one!
Best,
Weina
Thanks for asking! I haven't watched the drama Empress of China, so I can't say if there are resemblances. When I started to write about Empress Wu's story in 2005, I don't think the drama was in production yet. Also, I don't know when the drama was aired, but my book was completed in 2014. It just took 2 long years to publish, that's all.
However, Empress Wu is a historical figure, so some incidents such as she, at a young age, was summoned to the palace to serve Emperor Taizong and worked in his court, had to come from historical record.
Thank you so much for reading my novel! I'm glad to hear you plan on reading the second one!
Best,
Weina
Weina Dai Randel
Hi, Cherie,
My apologies for the late reply. I just saw your question. The Moon in the Palace has a sequel called The Empress of Bright Moon, which continues Mei's journey. I hope you'll have a chance to read that.
I feel giddy that my book has sparked your interest in your heritage! This is wonderful!
Thank you for reading my book! Have a good night.
Warmly,
Weina
My apologies for the late reply. I just saw your question. The Moon in the Palace has a sequel called The Empress of Bright Moon, which continues Mei's journey. I hope you'll have a chance to read that.
I feel giddy that my book has sparked your interest in your heritage! This is wonderful!
Thank you for reading my book! Have a good night.
Warmly,
Weina
Weina Dai Randel
Maybe because I don't watch TV? :)
Seriously, I have to confess that if I had known it would take me ten year to write and publish a book from the very beginning, I would not have started to write at all.
What happened to me was like this: I had a scene in my head so I wrote for a few months and produced fifty or sixty pages. Then I turned to read other authors' books, and then I went back to read my own pages -- they were horrific, to be frank. So I decided to write another scene, repeated the same process.
I finished the first draft in six years, printed it out, and realized most scenes didn't make sense to the story at all: for example, I had 120 pages of Mei travelling to Chang'an, attacked by bandits on the road, and then living under her half-brother's roof and trying to make ends meet by selling herbs in the Western Market, but because the story tells Mei's life in the palace, I had to cut out all the 120 pages, which took me 2 years to write.
Having a routine definitely helped me fixated on writing, knowing that my manuscript needed to be improved was also encouraging, and then of course, the feedback from agents also offered a gleam of hope.
I hope my answer will offer something helpful to you, Emma. Thank you for reading my novel!
Seriously, I have to confess that if I had known it would take me ten year to write and publish a book from the very beginning, I would not have started to write at all.
What happened to me was like this: I had a scene in my head so I wrote for a few months and produced fifty or sixty pages. Then I turned to read other authors' books, and then I went back to read my own pages -- they were horrific, to be frank. So I decided to write another scene, repeated the same process.
I finished the first draft in six years, printed it out, and realized most scenes didn't make sense to the story at all: for example, I had 120 pages of Mei travelling to Chang'an, attacked by bandits on the road, and then living under her half-brother's roof and trying to make ends meet by selling herbs in the Western Market, but because the story tells Mei's life in the palace, I had to cut out all the 120 pages, which took me 2 years to write.
Having a routine definitely helped me fixated on writing, knowing that my manuscript needed to be improved was also encouraging, and then of course, the feedback from agents also offered a gleam of hope.
I hope my answer will offer something helpful to you, Emma. Thank you for reading my novel!
Weina Dai Randel
I do, I do, Lilee! I would not know who I am if I don't write about Chinese women. :)
I'm so happy you enjoyed reading The Moon in the Palace and The Empress of Bright Moon. Thank you so much for your love and support, Lilee!
I'm so happy you enjoyed reading The Moon in the Palace and The Empress of Bright Moon. Thank you so much for your love and support, Lilee!
Weina Dai Randel
Hi, Barbara,
Thank you for your question. I would love to visit Houston. Please have the library or MFA Houston contact me or my publisher lathea.williams@sourcebooks.com if they're interested.
Weina
Thank you for your question. I would love to visit Houston. Please have the library or MFA Houston contact me or my publisher lathea.williams@sourcebooks.com if they're interested.
Weina
Weina Dai Randel
Hello, Meg, thank you so much for your message! I'm so happy to hear you love Empress of Bright Moon duology. I would love to go to New Jersey or New York to sign the books and meet you and other readers, but sadly, I don't have the plan at this moment. Maybe soon? Fingers crossed!
Cheers!
Weina
Cheers!
Weina
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