Ask the Author: Robert Wang
Answered Questions (9)
Robert Wang
I heard a strange noise in the middle of the night and went downstairs to check it out while my wife was away; I tripped and fell hard and had to crawl into my office to call an ambulance. While reaching for the phone, I accidentally knocked over my laptop, which broke into two pieces; then I remembered I had not backed up my work in two weeks, and had just written three chapters of my new book…
Robert Wang
I’d go back in time to 1840s in China so I could see firsthand how events happened that led to the Opium War.
Robert Wang
The Wine Lover’s Daughter by Anne Fadiman and The Good Women of China by Xinran
Robert Wang
I approach my writing project the same way as I approach a business project: lots of due diligence, research, focus, and work hard every day. Most importantly…be original; don't follow “set formulas” or be afraid of making a mistake, and't worry about what others may think!
Robert Wang
To me, the writing process starts out as a very personal journey; once I am committed to a storyline in my head, it’s just me, my computer, the many books around me, and I dig deep within myself to free myself from what’s going on outside my room without being oblivious to it so as to allow my creativity to surface.
Once the writing is done, the fun part is building a team to help me make my book a better product (a good editor) and a plan to market the book. I work with people who are better and smarter than I am in areas that I am weak and create a working environment that fosters creativity and good teamwork. The team is just as committed to the success of the project. It’s really the same as building a new business and executing a business plan!
Once the writing is done, the fun part is building a team to help me make my book a better product (a good editor) and a plan to market the book. I work with people who are better and smarter than I am in areas that I am weak and create a working environment that fosters creativity and good teamwork. The team is just as committed to the success of the project. It’s really the same as building a new business and executing a business plan!
Robert Wang
I stop writing and leave my desk; I don’t stare at the computer and feel bad or frustrated. I’ll open a bottle of wine, or if the weather is good, go play golf. I allow ideas to come to me, and sometimes it takes a while, but ideas will always come if you are committed to the book!
Robert Wang
If my first book is well received, I will write about the Second Opium War.
Robert Wang
I’ve always been interested in literature. English is my third language and I wanted to improve my proficiency and writing skills, so I minored in English Literature in college, studying Shakespeare and other masters. I fell in love with the artistry of writing and became an avid reader.
Robert Wang
I’ve been thinking about writing this book for decades and finally did it after I retired from business. My experiences growing up in Hong Kong piqued my interest in the topic of the Opium Wars and their effect on China as a whole, so I wanted to explore that in my novel.
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