Karoline
asked
Lisa See:
Lisa, I love all of your books! I can't get enough. What authors have really influenced you in your writing style and subject matter? Where do you get ideas for your new stories?
Lisa See
Thank you for your kind words about my books! I'm so glad you enjoyed them.
My mom, Carolyn See, who is a writer, has been a huge influence on my life as a woman and a writer. I can honestly say I wouldn’t be the writer I am if not for her. Bob Dylan has also been an influence, not that I know him or anything. Lastly, I’d have to say Wallace Stegner. I used a line from Angle of Repose as the epigraph for On Gold Mountain: “Fooling around in the papers my grandparents, especially my grandmother, left behind, I get glimpses of lives close to mine, related to mine in ways I recognize but don’t comprehend. I’d like to live in their clothes a while.” I didn’t realize when I used those lines that the sentiment would continue to influence me and my writing to this day.
And to answer your second question, I would say that I’m inspired by things I don’t know. For example, when I first heard about nu shu I thought, how could this exist and I didn’t know? Then I thought, how could this exist and we all didn’t know. That set me on a journey that at first was a personal interest and then became a passion and an obsession (and later "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan").
My mom, Carolyn See, who is a writer, has been a huge influence on my life as a woman and a writer. I can honestly say I wouldn’t be the writer I am if not for her. Bob Dylan has also been an influence, not that I know him or anything. Lastly, I’d have to say Wallace Stegner. I used a line from Angle of Repose as the epigraph for On Gold Mountain: “Fooling around in the papers my grandparents, especially my grandmother, left behind, I get glimpses of lives close to mine, related to mine in ways I recognize but don’t comprehend. I’d like to live in their clothes a while.” I didn’t realize when I used those lines that the sentiment would continue to influence me and my writing to this day.
And to answer your second question, I would say that I’m inspired by things I don’t know. For example, when I first heard about nu shu I thought, how could this exist and I didn’t know? Then I thought, how could this exist and we all didn’t know. That set me on a journey that at first was a personal interest and then became a passion and an obsession (and later "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan").
More Answered Questions
Robin Watson
asked
Lisa See:
I so enjoy your books! I want to go to China and see what you write about! There is a local church that goes on a yearly basis, to establish a relationship with the Chinese people. I've been unable to go...My dream! Where do you suggest a person go to see the China you remember or write of?
Adriana Terron
asked
Lisa See:
Just finished "Lady Tan" and really enjoyed it. I didn't know anything about this time in Chinese history before, but this book has really piqued my interest and fascination. Also, a friend who practices traditional Chinese medicine miraculously cured my sciatica a few years ago with acupuncture. I'm wondering what interesting things you may have learned about it in your studies or if it's in your other books? Thx!
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