Ask the Author: Heather Allen
Answered Questions (2)
Heather Allen
As a little girl, I have memories of sitting on my Grandma's green carpet and listening to my aunt Siv Eng tell little snippets of her story of escaping the killing fields in Cambodia. I was just a child, but it made a strong impression on my young self.
The idea for this book started at a family reunion in 2017. My aunt Siv Eng was there and had just returned from a trip to Cambodia. She showed me pictures of the village where she grew up and the prison where she was held captive. I was fascinated that the building was still standing, a relic of dark times. My curiosity was perked, and I immediately went into questioning mode.
At that reunion, I officially decided to record my aunt's story. One month later, I was on a plane to L.A. with a simple recording microphone, my laptop, my mom, and a list of 200 questions. We started that night, talking into the wee hours of the morning.
The idea for this book started at a family reunion in 2017. My aunt Siv Eng was there and had just returned from a trip to Cambodia. She showed me pictures of the village where she grew up and the prison where she was held captive. I was fascinated that the building was still standing, a relic of dark times. My curiosity was perked, and I immediately went into questioning mode.
At that reunion, I officially decided to record my aunt's story. One month later, I was on a plane to L.A. with a simple recording microphone, my laptop, my mom, and a list of 200 questions. We started that night, talking into the wee hours of the morning.
Heather Allen
For this memoir, I did not experience writer's block. I didn't need to create any material as all the chapters flowed from my aunt's memory.
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