Tell us about Days of Distraction.

It’s a coming-of-adulthood story told from the perspective of a Chinese American woman in her mid-twenties, who at the opening is working as a tech journalist in San Francisco. The book follows her as she makes some life transitions, like moving across the country to upstate New York with her boyfriend. It’s about the precarity of young adulthood, the dynamics of being in an interracial relationship, family, work, and ultimately about finding a sense of self in a society that doesn’t necessarily understand or recognize you.

How are you nesting during this time? 

Spending a lot of time with my dog and cat, eating lots of home cooking (made by my husband), watching TV, going to virtual author events, and trying now and again to read…

Do you have a bird story or favorite feathered friend?

I was obsessed with birds for a few years as a child. At one point my family lived up the street from a pet store that had an African grey parrot and I’d go every day to talk with him. I definitely convinced myself that I taught him how to talk.

What is your most memorable reading experience?

Hard to pick one… many of my most memorable experiences are from childhood. When I read Bridge to Terabithia as a kid, I was so moved and upset at one point (no spoilers!) that I fell out of the chair I was reading in.

What makes you most excited about Days of Distraction?

That it’s out of my hands and in the world :)

To tweet or not to tweet?

I’m terrible at tweeting, and have a lot of anxiety about Twitter in general. It takes me so long to compose a tweet that I usually end up not tweeting at all.

What books do you have in your bag right now?

I have so many books stacked around the house right now. Some recent ones I’ve read and loved: Little Gods by Meng Jin, Lakewood by Megan Giddings, How Much of These Hills is Gold by C Pam Zhang, New Waves by Kevin Nguyen, Burning Province by Michael Prior, and Luster by Raven Leilani (out in August). I’m also looking forward to getting to my TBR stack, which includes Deceit and Other Possibilities by Vanessa Hua, Inheritors by Asako Serizawa and Crooked Hallelujah by Kelli Jo Ford (the latter two both out in July), among many others!

Can you tell us your favorite rejection story?

I submitted a story I really loved to several journals and received form rejections from a few, including a really wonderful one that puts on an annual contest. Months later, having forgotten about that form rejection (I’d collected so many!), I resubmitted that same story to the journal’s contest. And it won! That really taught me that rejections aren’t necessarily indicative of a story’s quality—reading through slush piles is a tough job, and sometimes one needs a bit of luck to get through to a reader. 

What literary journals do you love?

The Offing, Zoetrope: All-Story, Passages North, Guernica, Hyphen, Apogee Journal, 3:AM, McSweeney’s, BOMB, The Rumpus, and lots more.

What shakes your tail feathers?

These days, going on my daily walk/hike with the dog, playing Animal Crossing, watching Terrace House, and sleeping.

What advice do you have for fledgling writers?

Read widely. Write for yourself first.

What other eggs do you have in your basket right now?

I’m working on short stories for a collection set to come out in late 2021/early 2022. I have some ideas for a second novel, but that feels very daunting right now… I’m working up the courage and energy to write it!