Name: Shveta Thakrar

Website: https://www.shvetathakrar.com/

Asian background: Indian

What is it about your experience and upbringing that inspired you the most to write?

I’ve always believed in magic, so that’s part of it, and ties neatly into the other reason, which is that I wanted to see my mythology and heritage and people like me as the focus of a fun, magical story for once. From there, I decided I would write Hindu-inspired fantasy—and did.

Name 3 authors and 3 books

1. Anna-Marie McLemore and When the Moon Was Ours

2. June Hur and The Silence of Bones

3. Ciara Smyth and The Falling in Love Montage

What do you think is the best quality a writer can have?

A deep, compassionate desire to understand the world we live in, so you can then do your best to recreate that truth in your work.

Any last words? (Fun facts, comments, something you’d like to share with the world, etc.)
The background of my website is the absolutely gorgeous illustration Asma Kazi did of the magical Night Market in Star Daughter, and if you look closely, one of the tents says (in Gujarati), “Shveta’s Stories.” So I’m there, too!

Challenge: Write a one-sentence story!

Someone left a pan of freshly baked fudgy brownies on the counter—and then I found it.

Name: Yangsze Choo

Website: https://yschoo.com

Asian background: Originally from Malaysia, I Iived in a number of different countries, including Germany and Japan, while growing up. I now live in California

What is it about your experience and upbringing that inspired you the most to write?

Since we moved so much, I had to adapt to different schools and new people all the time. I always liked to read though, so whenever we got to a new place, I’d make a beeline to the library. Books were my comfort, and I made friends with the librarians and other fellow bookworms.The richness of the library and the sense of a world of stories has always filled me with wonder and excitement.

Name 3 authors and 3 books

Miracle Creek— Angie Kim

Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World — Haruki Murakami

The Housekeeper and the Professor — Yoko Ogawa

What do you think is the best quality a writer can have?

Curiosity and empathy (ok, that’s two qualities!)

Any last words? (Fun facts, comments, something you’d like to share with the world, etc.)

Dark chocolate is my writing companion (I make multiple trips to the fridge to ensure that I haven’t finished all of my stash!).

Challenge: Write a one-sentence story!

New housemate wanted; must love alligators.

Name: I.W. Gregorio

Website: http://www.iwgregorio.com

Asian background:

Chinese diaspora. My mother was born in Taiwan into a Hokkien Taiwanese family, but my father and paternal grandfather were actually born in South Africa, migrated to Malaysia and then ended up in the US. My paternal grandmother was born in the island of Mauritius, which is in the Indian Ocean!

What is it about your experience and upbringing that inspired you the most to write?

When I was growing up in Central New York (imagine Pennsyltucky but in the Empire State) I always felt very much like the other. I never wore the right clothes or knew the “cool” things to do, and I grew up with my grandparents who were quite restrictive. So books were always my friends, and I always wanted to grow up to write books that other people could take solace in, could learn from, and grow by reading.

Name 3 authors and 3 books

Kelly Loy Gilbert, Picture Us In the Light
Kacen Callender, Felix Ever After
Ismee Williams, This Train is Being Held

What do you think is the best quality a writer can have?

Perseverence and faith in your story. The path to publication can be long, and even when it isn’t there are always highs and lows. If you believe in the story you’re telling, you’ll be able to persist, and the world will be better for having your perspective.

Any last words? (Fun facts, comments, something you’d like to share with the world, etc.)

As many of you guys know, i’m a doctor in real life, so I just wanted to thank everyone who’s been staying at home to both #FlattenTheCurve and #KeepTheCurveFlat. I’m so grateful for the virtual ways we’ve been connecting, however, and can’t wait to start seeing readers IRL!

Challenge: Write a one-sentence story!

When the wind howls, I close my eyes, breathe, and bend; still I soldier on.