Maybe it’s because my family recently celebrated Lunar New Year or maybe it’s because the older I get, the more nostalgic I am, but I recently got to thinking about what it means to me to be an Asian romance author. But first, a little background about me. My parents and I immigrated from Taiwan to America when I was five. Although I didn’t speak English in the beginning, I picked it up quickly and became more fluent in it than in Mandarin. While I consider myself pretty Americanized, my Chinese culture plays a big part in my life and also influences my writing. So, what does being an Asian romance author mean to me?
- It means standing out in a crowd. Being the sensitive introvert that I am, I hate attention. But being an Asian romance author is like being the pink elephant in a room, and not in a room with regular elephants but with lions. Lol. Among my family and friends (who are mostly Asian), I’m often times the only person who doesn’t work in the medical field or in the corporate world. And among my author friends, I’m usually the only Asian face in the room. It’s pretty exciting when I meet another Asian author (waving hi to Jan Thompson!) because it’s such a rare occurrence.
- It means being able to share about my culture. I don’t profess to be an expert on the Chinese culture (just typing this sentence makes me laugh because it’s so far from the truth!), but I enjoy sharing what I do know through the stories I write. Whether it’s about Chinese food or family traditions, readers have told me how much they appreciate learning about my culture from reading my books that feature Chinese characters.
- It means filling a void. I get to write books with characters and storylines that aren’t as commonly available, ones that I myself and other Asian readers wished there were more of in bookstores. It’s especially meaningful to me when I hear from readers who tell me they can relate to my Asian characters because they are Asian or are married to an Asian spouse. I still remember when a reader mentioned that her kids eat potstickers (skin first, filling second) just like the characters in my book Tropical Kiss and Tell do.
- It means wondering if people like my stories for my writing or for my background. I’ll be honest here, there have been times when I’ve wondered if I was granted an opportunity because I’m an Asian author and not necessarily because of my writing. But at the end of the day, I choose to take every chance that God brings me and use the abilities and passion He’s given me for His glory.
- It means being grateful. Above all, I am grateful to the Lord for how He made me. I may not be a stereotypical Asian who’s good with numbers, but I have a knack for finding the right words to convey a message. I may not have grown up in a touchy-feely family where we express our love through words, but I can write about those kinds of families in my books, even the ones with Asian characters! There may not be the letters PhD after my name, but I like to think of myself as a love doctor who specializes in romance. Lol. Just like every author here at InspyRomance, I have my own unique background and life experiences that God has given me as a source of inspiration for my books. I’m able to write the stories that I write because of who I am.
How does your cultural background and heritage play a role in your life and/or career? I look forward to reading your comments!
Giveaway: I’d like to give away a $5 Amazon gift card. One winner will be randomly chosen from the comments below. The giveaway will remain open until midnight on Sunday, March 6th.
And if you’d like to read a book featuring Asian leads (and their oh-so hilarious moms!), I hope you’ll check out my new release, Joined at the Hip! This story, which was originally part of the Save the Date box set last year, has been expanded to include 4 brand new chapters for your reading pleasure.
A chauffeur and referee by day (AKA a stay at home mom of two), Liwen Y. Ho writes inspirational and sweet romance infused with heart, humor, and a taste of home (her Asian roots).
I am a second generation American on my mom’s side of the family. Both of my grandparents were born in England and met here as adults. I think a lot of customs and food from England have been a big part of my life . Love tea!
Hi Liwen! Best wishes for Lunar New Year. As a German immigrant, I can relate to your blog. Your points are spot on. On March 7, 1955 my parents and I arrived in a ship from Berlin, Germany in New York City harbor. Quite a dramatic journey for a 5 year old, who had only seen the world from the back of her mother’s bicycle. I also embraced my German heritage. My parents attended a German speaking church, I attended Saturday German classes at the local Dank, and for 30 years I taught German. I was one of the first girls in our German church with a college degree. Our family celebrates German Christmas traditions, enjoys German cuisine (Rouladen, Goulash, Red Cabbage and more), and especially the breads, delicious Kuchen (coffee cakes) and Torten (layered cakes). I enjoy interacting with German authors. Thanks for sharing your heritage. Reading, especially as a retiree during Covid times, is an inexpensive way to travel the world and enjoy other cultures. I enjoy reading your stories. Best wishes. In Michigan Spring is in the air.
What a wonderful article. As somebody who seems to be a transplant wherever I go, I relate to every single one of your points, although I’ve rarely sat down to articulate them myself.
Really enjoyed your blog! Thanks for bringing us in on your background and how it influences your writing.
Loved reading this and will be checking out your books! I have Welsh and Irish heritage which stirs me to write poetry every so often, and which tends to come out in my novels when I’m writing scenes where people are passionate about what they believe and are willing to fight anything that threatens what is dear to them! :)
Love this so much and I totally get how you feel on #4. So glad you write and share what God puts on your heart!
I am adopted so I don’t know too much about my heritage but the information I have is basically Welch, German and English decent. It does not play a major role in my life.
Since I lived in Hong Kong for 19 years, I really enjoy your books :-) And I loved “Joined at the Hip.” Keep up the writing!!
Awesome article. Love Liwen Ho’s books
I enjoyed this! My maternal however many great grandfather came over in the 1700’s, before Ellis Island was thought of! I’m not sure about paternal, but they’ve been here for generations, too. Since both of my parents were born and raised in the South, this girl is a Southerner through and through, and as a native Floridian, you can’t get much further south than that! lol!! I do love reading your books!!!
I think remembering your heritage and culture is important. I’m glad that you can use your gifts for writing and sharing about it all.
Thanks for sharing about yourself with us. I really like how you think of yourself “as a love doctor who specializes in romance.”
Hi Lori! I totally agree that food plays a big part in remembering and celebrating our cultures. Thank you so much for sharing!
Hi Renate! I always enjoy hearing about your immigration experience. That is quite a dramatic journey for a 5 year old! What amazing memories you have. Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi Milla! It’s so nice to hear that you can relate! Thanks for reading and commenting!
Hi Laurie! Thanks so much for your encouragement!
This was a great post! I am also Asian American and although I have grown up in America, I still think of my heritage. It is a fine line of balance trying to figure out what it means to be American, Filipino, and Japanese. But I am always excited to find books by Asian authors about Asians. I love when author write of their heritage and culture
Hi Edwina! I love this! Thanks so much for sharing your penchant for writing poetry. And thank you for checking out my books!
Hi Toni! I love that you can relate. Thanks so much for your encouragement!
Hi Cathy! Thank you for sharing your story. I hope you have been able to create some of your own traditions based on your unique life experiences. God bless you!
Hi Margaret! I love that you can relate to Chinese culture. :) Thanks for your encouragement!
Hi Patty! Thanks so much for reading them! :)
Hi Trudy! Wow, what a rich family history you have! Thanks so much for sharing and also for your support!
Hi Megan! Yes, I agree! Thanks for reading and commenting!
Hi Tina! Haha, yes, that’s the only doctorate degree I can claim to have. Lol. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Hi Angeline! I totally know what you mean about figuring out our identity. The process is complex, but the older I get, the more thankful I am for all the “layers”. Thanks so much for reading and commenting!
Loved this post and learning more about you! As an Introvert I can relate to your feelings of how you feel standing out in a crowd. As far as my heritage, my biological Dad’s side of them family is German. My Mom’s side of the family is English, Scottish, Irish and American Indian. So definitely a melting pot of cultures.
Hi Liwen, I love learning about your culture especially with your hilarious take on things. Your Chinese moms and grandmas are so spot on. I love getting an insider’s view on things whether it’s a culture or profession. Embrace your wonderful uniqueness. Everyone knows you because your name is unique ( kind of like mine). Keep on writing because I love your books. I have a very British Isles background, many came over in mid 1800s but we have records of some being here very early like 1600s and also being involved in fighting in American Revolution.
Hi Andrea! Yay, let us introverts unite (but in our separate homes LOL)! Thanks so much for sharing your unique and rich heritage.
Hi Wren! Haha, I do love writing Chinese moms and grandmas! :) And yes, I am embracing who I am more and more as I grow older. I love your name–it is so pretty and unique! And what an amazing heritage you have. I always find it so interesting to hear about people’s ancestors who were involved in building America. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Liwen, I’m so happy to read your post, though my background is definitely white I love learning from other cultures. Love reading about people in occupations, cultures and places new to me. More diversity is so wonderful and I’m always sad when people prefer “whitewashed” over that. Wonderful post, especially point 5. Thank you.
Hi Liwen, I loved your post. My dad was born in Mexico and my mom was born in New Mexico in the USA. So I got the Best of both worlds. My dad became a US citizen when my siblings and I were teenagers. We had a great life growing up , and we learned how to speak both languages as they were both spoken at home, actually we all kind of talk Spanglish. :) Have a great day and stay safe.
Hi Dianne! Thank you for your encouragement and feedback on this post! :)
Hi Alicia! If Spanglish is anything like Chinglish, I can relate! :) Thanks for sharing about your background. I love how you put it, that you got the best of both worlds!
Jcp I don’t think my hertiage played a role in my career. Only ceramic rods at Christmas.
I meant foods not rods
You definitely ask the best questions! And just for the record, to me, your MA trumps a Ph.D. any day. :) As for your question, I think my cultural background influenced my choice for my undergrad, but my love for the English language influenced my (future) career.
Hi Jcp! Oh, I’m glad you explained the typo. I was wondering what ceramic rods are. Actually, do you mean certain foods? Unless ceramic foods are a thing? :) Thanks for reading and commenting!
Mostly British for me. It’s the language and history really.
My husband’s parents immigrated from Taiwan just before he was born. He is also very American but also very influenced by his Taiwanese and Chinese heritage. It’s great to meet you and I’m excited to read your books!
Hi Priscila! Aww, thanks! It’s nice that my MA helps me write romance. Ooh, your future career–is that editing/proofing?! Thanks for reading and answering!
Hi Mary! Language and history are both so important! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Tina! Ooh, how cool! Ni hao, it’s great to meet you too. :) Thanks for checking out my books!
My heritage is complicated. On my father’s side I have ancestors from England as far back as Plymouth. On my mother’s side my Swedish ancestors came to the United States in 1840. But there’s a big mix of ancestry. We have traditions from several places in Europe and Scandinavia, even some Native Americans.
It’s really great! Also wanted to add that, concerning #4, I love your writing because it’s (partly) influenced by your background, and that mix makes it unique. ;) 💕 Hopefully yes!
Thank you for writing a post that put a smile on my face :) I always appreciate and enjoy your posts.
Oh my ceramic foods do exist, lol! My gran was very proud of her ceramic fruits on display in the best dining room. Mum even tried her hand at creating sime after we all left home.
Hi Li Wen,
Loved reading this! As a Half Filipino/part Spanish/Mexican/caucasian I kind of don’t fit any mould. Culturally I identify with being Australian with a very strong Filipino bent except I look more South American. I routinely get stopped by other from South America and they assume I’m one of them.
I really love being mixed race and I identify being Asian/Australian mixed race. I think it’s brings so much more fun to life. And I can’t wait to be published so others can read about my Filipino/American heroines.
I love reading stories with different cultures in it. It makes me understand a bit more than I did before. Fiction can be a great way to learn too!
Ohh! I understand now! ;) LOL What a cool skill to have!
Aww, that made my day! Thanks! :)
That makes me happy to hear. :) I shall be proud to be a pink elephant then. ;)
Hi Joan! That is so cool. I do love hearing about people’s mixed ancestry. I have to admit that I was a little bit disappointed when I found out from a genetic test that I’m 99.5% Chinese. LOL. Thank you for sharing about your heritage!
I can relate on all aspects above (only I moved to US when I was almost 20, so I wouldn’t call myself fully Americanized :)
Hi Jessica! I can’t wait to read about your Filipino/American heroines! I’m sure your stories will be very unique with how your experiences have shaped you as a person and an author.
Fun fact, the way you wrote my name is actually the “correct” way to write it. There was also a hyphen in between Li-Wen once upon a time. I got lazy over the years and just lumped it all together. LOL
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Hi Rebekah! That is so, so true! Fiction can be both entertaining and educational. Thanks for commenting!
Hi Natalya! Oh wow, 20! You were brave to come at that age. I think I “lucked out” by coming when I was still quite young and less Chinese. ;) What a great story you must have. Thanks for sharing!
My ancestry is Irish/Dutch/Scottish/English. Myself I was born American but my relatives weren’t and the culture they lived in and through I find interesting. Maybe that’s why I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland and still want to
Hi Crystal! I do hope you get to visit Ireland one day! Thanks for sharing about your heritage.
Thank you for sharing. I enjoyed reading this. Blessings
Hi Lucy! I’m so glad to hear that. Thanks for reading!
Liwen, I love your style of writing and your background enhances it. My grandparents came from England, Scotland, Ireland and Holland. I like to think my heritage defines me. God bless you.
I’m a mixture of German, Irish, English and Cherokee. I’m an American and enjoy reading about other cultures. Looking forward to reading your books!
My Mom was born and raised in the hills of West Virginia. She was taught in a one room schoolhouse until she went to high school. My Mom and Aunts taught me to read. They also taught me to cook and bake. I learned what a Christian woman should be like by watching my Mom. My parents divorced when I was 18 years old. She tried to keep the marriage together while I was in school, but could not hold on any longer. My Dad is mentally ill as well as abusive. Through it all, my Mom leaned on the Lord as her family took my Dad’s side in the divorce. She held her head up high as the lies were spread. Her faith did not waiver. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
inspiring post
I loved “Joined at the Hip” when it was in the Save the Date box set as “One Vow for September”. I’ve also enjoyed “Retying the Knot” & “Head Over Stilettos”. Such fun Rom-Coms!
I love multi-cultural stories because it gives me a glimpse into another world…..family traditions, new-to-me experiences, (sometimes) food, etc. that I don’t get in my own everyday life. I’m so glad there’s diversity in CCF!
Hi Carol! So good to see you here. :) Thank you for sharing about your heritage. I’m sure it plays a big part in who you are.
Hi Kathleen! What a rich heritage you have. Thanks for sharing! And thank you for checking out my books.
Hi Debra! Your Mom sounds like an amazing woman of God. Thank you so much for sharing so openly and authentically.
Hello! Thank you so much for reading and commenting!
Hi Trixi! Thank you so much for reading all three books! And yes, it’s wonderful to have diversity in CCF. We can learn so much through fiction.
I’m late. I also enjoy Camy Tang’s books and her characters also. I have enjoyed the books I have read so far and its nice having different characters and at times I don’t even think on what race they are. I do like learning new things. Friends have a son who married a girl from Taiwan. She came to Australia to do schooling at around 12 and then went to uni where they meet (yes she was studying to be a dr). I did get the reference you mention as many Asian people seem to be in the medical or business professions. This family also adopted a girl from China who is now doing Graphic art.
I have Save the date (have read one story) but will look at your extended story. (Loved Camy’s extended story)
I’m Canadian Native & I get a lot of questions about how I tan so easy & about my tribe.
I’m French & I blame a lot of things I do on it but people ask me from where due to provinces we have here.
What a great article. We have two children adopted from Asia. I am putting your book in my TBR.
Thanks
Becky
Hi Jenny! I enjoy Camy’s books too and was so honored to have the chance to meet up with her in person last year. Thank you for reading Save the Date and checking out my story!
Hi Amy! What a rich ancestry you have. Thanks for sharing!
Bonjour Sylvain! (I took 5 years of French in school, but that was a long time ago. Lol) Thanks so much for reading this post and sharing about your heritage!
Hi Becky! Oh, how wonderful. Thanks for sharing about your family. And thanks for checking out my book!
Hi Liwen,
I love reading your books because they bring the Asian flair to life. I lived in Japan for a year and fell in love with the culture and people. So when I came back to the US and happened to meet a very nice American/Japanese man who went to my church, I fell head-over-heels in love with him. We’ve been married for 39 1/2 years now.
I love all things Asian . . . well NOT . . . Kimchi! But most everything else. It’s been fun to now watch my children become more interested in their Asian heritage. The funny thing is, my husband really isn’t interested in his Asian heritage as much as his siblings. I’d say, out of his siblings, he’s the least Asian in his interests. He does have MANY traits that he doesn’t realize are Asian, like taking shoes off before entering the house. He just thinks of it as a logical thing to do because of cleanliness. When we were first married I pointed out many of these traits and he was surprised.
I’ve always said – If God hadn’t placed me in Japan for that year – I wouldn’t have fallen in love with the culture, food, and people, AND I wouldn’t have come back home and fallen in love with my husband. God is Good!
Hi Marylin! Aww, I love hearing about your love story! It’s so amazing how God prepared you to meet your hubby like that. And I have to say I agree with you on the kimchi. Lol. I can only eat it in small doses. Thanks so much for reading and commenting!
I enjoyed reading your post and the insights you shared. I like reading books with diverse characters and getting glimpses into other cultures through them.
Hi Jessica! I agree; books with diverse characters are so interesting. Thanks for reading and commenting!
My heritage is heavily German. My great grandparents all immigrated to America in the mid 1800’s. My grandparents could all speak some German and I regret I didn’t learn the language from them. On the other hand, I, also, have a little cultural guilt knowing that my distant German relatives likely participated in the World War I and II and were enemies of United States.
My son-in-law’s parents immigrated to the US in the 1970’s from the Philippines so my grandson is half Asian. I love every part of my grandson and I am hoping he can embrace his Asian culture as he grows up.
I was born in Hong Kong and moved to the U.S. when I was four. I love that the culture that has taught me to honor your elders, to appreciate family, and enjoys food and eating with family and friends.
Hi Jeanna! Thank you so much for sharing about your heritage. I believe there are good and not so good parts to every culture. Thank God for His grace and redemption for us all.
How cool that your grandson is half Asian. Maybe you can learn about that part of his cultural background together. :)
Thank you for commenting!
Hi Denise! How cool. My hubby was born in Hong Kong too (he came when he was a teen). Yes, food is such a big part of Chinese culture! I find it funny that the first words out of a Chinese elder’s mouth is always, “Did you eat yet?” :) Thanks for reading and commenting!
While my heritage is mainly Irish, the part that my siblings, mom, cousins, and I identify with most is our Greek heritage. I think it’s because that’s the most recent part of our heritage that came to America as well as the fact that there are distinctly Greek things my grandma has passed down to us. Her father came to the US from Greece and while he didn’t teach his children the language, he did teach some of them how to cook some Greek dishes and things about his life and culture growing up.
I really enjoy reading your books for many reasons. I grew up in California with several close Asian friends who were first generation Americans and some of the cultural things in your books remind me so much of visiting their houses in late elementary and early middle school. My family moved to rural Kentucky when I was in 9th grade and it didn’t offer the same variety of cultures that Southern California did (although rural Kentucky was its own cultural experience altogether!). I also just love your stories. You do a wonderful job drawing a reader in and allowing us to be part of the story instead of just reading it.
Hi Melynda! Thank you for sharing about your heritage. I’m glad your great-grandfather was able to pass on some of his traditions and stories.
Oh, how cool, I didn’t know you grew up in CA. I love that you can relate to my stories because of that. Thanks so much for letting me know!
I have loved when I read your books and I see how much they are inspired by your background and that it makes your books unique in ways that most don’t show as sometimes it shows that the author only did surface research.