Haapchou: to be jealous (lit. take a sip of vinegar)In ancient China, there was an emperor who wanted to give one of his female attendants as a concubine to a loyal minister. The minister did not dare accept because his wife was a jealous woman. The emperor called the woman to court and asked her, "I'm going to give your husband a concubine. Will you say yes or no?" "No, Your Majesty," she said. "I would rather die." The emperor said, "Well then, I'll give you a cup of poison." He told his … [Read more...]
The Book Trailer: A Visual Sneak Peek
May 27, 2013 4 Comments
Filed Under: Before I Fall, book trailer, Cantonese, China, Chinese, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, saying, The Night Circus, vinegar, writer, Youtube
How to Get an Author Blurb
May 20, 2013 4 Comments
Gigi Gahtgaht: to stammer or stutterIn The History of the Han Dynasty, there is a story about a man named Jau Cheung who suffered from stammering. The first emperor of the Han dynasty (206-194 B.C.) had already made the son of Queen Leuih the crown prince, but he loved his concubine Lady Chik so much that he changed his mind. He wanted to make her son the new crown prince. Jau Cheung, an old official, challenged the emperor: "I can't talk very well, but as far I know, it would be ve...very wrong … [Read more...]
Filed Under: author blurb, elevator pitch, endorsement, Han dynasty, novel, stammer, stutter, writer, writing
Happy Birthday, Blog!
April 8, 2013 9 Comments
Ngauhyat: birthday Many Chinese characters can be broken into smaller parts. The word "birthday" (??) can be simplified into ngauhyat (??). My blog just turned one! (April 5th marked the anniversary of my first post.) Even though ngauhyat means "cow" and "one" when taken separately, I hope it still proves to be an auspicious occasion.A popular Chinese tradition held at one-year-old parties is to surround the birthday child with different items. These things represent their possible futures. Here … [Read more...]
Filed Under: anniversary, birthday, blog, Cantonese, Chinese, Chinese characters, ritual, writer
The Marshmallow Tree and Other April’s Fool Jokes
April 1, 2013 3 Comments
Jadai: to pretendDuring the last years of the Chin dynasty (around 211 B.C.), people suffered under a tyrannical government. A warrior named Hohng Yuh rose up and rebelled against the emperor. To get more followers to join him, he appointed a noble from the state of Cho as king. Hohng Yuh's army grew stronger and defeated the government. However, Hohng Yuh learned that he had made a poor choice in the noble he had selected. Hohng Yuh drowned him by sinking his ship while he was crossing a river. … [Read more...]
Filed Under: April Fool's, Cantonese, Chin dynasty, Chinese, Chinese saying, Gretchen Rubin, joke, marshmallow, Mouse Tales Press, prank, story, writer, writing
Look Again: Reviewing the Submissions Process
March 4, 2013 4 Comments
Yat Batjouh, Yih Batyau: to do something by hook or by crook; to not stop halfwayYes, that's me hiking in Montserrat, Spain.I'm excited to announce the publication of my flash fiction piece, "Look Again," in the March issue of Foliate Oak Literary Magazine. Part of my enthusiasm comes from finally feeling validated as a writer. Here's a parallel example that explains my thinking: When I did math problems at school, I always double-checked my answers. If I ended up with the same solution twice, I … [Read more...]
Round 2 with Amazon
February 19, 2013 10 Comments
Wan Kaausaan: to find a powerful man to back you upChinese people choose to live in places with the best fengshui. When they build a house, they locate it on the southern slope of a hill, which serves to block off the chilly north wind. Having a hill also provides a sense of security; by extension, a powerful person that backs you up is known as a kaausaan.What more powerful person company exists than Amazon? I'm excited to announce that I made it to the second rounds of the Amazon Breakthrough … [Read more...]
Lunar New Year Feasting
February 12, 2013 4 Comments
Sihk Gau Daaih Gwai: to have a rich meal like a kingIn Ancient China, the number of dishes served to a person during a meal signified their social ranking. The emperor received nine, while feudal kings got seven dishes. A nobleman ate five dishes, officials three, and ordinary people only two. In those days, people also used vessels called gwai to hold their food; most of these containers were made of wood, although some were created from bronze or bamboo. Happy lunar new year! Yesterday was … [Read more...]
Filed Under: ancient China, Cantonese, Chinese New Year, Chinese sayings, dim sum, egg tart, food, Gus Lee. China Boy, lunar new year, Malaysia, reader, The Writer, writer, writing
Application Denied
January 28, 2013 11 Comments
Wahtdaht: ugly, awful in appearanceOriginally the wonton dumpling was called "wahtdaht" or "wahn deuhn." There is a mythical story about the youngest son of the emperor in heaven. He was called Wahn Deuhn and had no eyes, ears, mouth, or nose. Two of his friends decided to erase his ugliness by digging holes in his face. They finished in seven days, and Wahn Deuhn finally had the face of a human being. Unfortunately, he also suddenly died. The xiaolongbao dumpling. Not ugly and extremely … [Read more...]
Filed Under: Cantonese, Chinese saying, credit card, dumpling, REDcard, Target, wonton, writer, writing salary, xiaolongbao
Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award
January 21, 2013 4 Comments
Msai Mahn A-Gwai: no need to ask about it, a known secretPak Gwai was a leader who ruled Gwongdung province in the last years of the Ching dynasty. There was one official above him, the governor of both Gwongdung and Gwongsai province. Whenever inferiors wanted instruction, they went above A-Gwai's head and asked the governor of the two provinces for help.Known secrets.Everyone has heard of Amazon.com, and most people (especially writers) know about the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award (ABNA). … [Read more...]
Filed Under: Amazon breakthrough novel award, Amazon.com, Cantonese, Chinese saying, Ching dynasty, contest, novel, Publishing, secret, writer, writing
When Do You Call Yourself a Writer?
January 15, 2013 6 Comments
Louhcheut Mahgeuk: to reveal one's secret or fault (lit. to expose Mah's feet)The queen of the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1328-1399) was surnamed Mah. Once, she was riding by on her sedan chair when a gust of wind blew aside the carriage's curtain. Everyone on the street could see that her feet were not bound, a daring break in the typical foot binding tradition for rich women.Sometimes I'm afraid of exposing my own faults. When confronted with a blank line for my occupation on a … [Read more...]
Filed Under: Cantonese, Chinese saying, flash fiction, foot binding, IdeaGems, identity, magazine, Ming dynasty, rejection, short story, writer
