Recent History of Asians in Publishing
ConversazioniAsian Fiction & Non-Fiction
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1belleyang
I am an Asian fiction and nonfiction writer fo adult and children. I also illustrate my own work. I checked the list of authors who librarything, and it looks like I may be the only Asian writer so far :( I am was surprised to find there are so many people in this group.
When Harcourt first published my work, my editor told me, half jokingly, it had been the African-American's turn in the 90's, now it looks like it was my turn. It's still not easy to publish in America for a Chinese, because publisher want only a certain number of China-related books, which is my area of focus. I remember when my publicist wanted to place me on an npr program, the host said she'd already had two Chinese authors earlier (even if we were as vastly different as a Cantonese is to a Manchurian is to a Shanghainese). I am not complaining. I feel lucky to be among the relatively few Asians to have managed to publish, thanks to Amy Tan who kicked down the door with her block-buster Joy Luck Club.
It's quite a bit easier in children's publishing for Asian authors, because educators in the public schools genuinely want to teach kids about foreign cultures. Hooray for librarians and school teachers!! My second language is Japanese, so I am branching out into this nation's mythology.
My family was the beneficiary of the 1965 Hart-Celler Act, signed into law by Lyndon Johnson,(initiated by JFK). The law did away with discrimination in immigration law, allowing a 20,000 quota for each country outside of the Americas. We are writing, publishing, reading Asian writers largely because of the change in demographics allowed by this law. 42 years have brought vast changes :)
BTW--prior to 1965, only 105 Chinese were allowed entry into the United States per year. I assume it was a similarly miniscule quota for other Asian nations.
When Harcourt first published my work, my editor told me, half jokingly, it had been the African-American's turn in the 90's, now it looks like it was my turn. It's still not easy to publish in America for a Chinese, because publisher want only a certain number of China-related books, which is my area of focus. I remember when my publicist wanted to place me on an npr program, the host said she'd already had two Chinese authors earlier (even if we were as vastly different as a Cantonese is to a Manchurian is to a Shanghainese). I am not complaining. I feel lucky to be among the relatively few Asians to have managed to publish, thanks to Amy Tan who kicked down the door with her block-buster Joy Luck Club.
It's quite a bit easier in children's publishing for Asian authors, because educators in the public schools genuinely want to teach kids about foreign cultures. Hooray for librarians and school teachers!! My second language is Japanese, so I am branching out into this nation's mythology.
My family was the beneficiary of the 1965 Hart-Celler Act, signed into law by Lyndon Johnson,(initiated by JFK). The law did away with discrimination in immigration law, allowing a 20,000 quota for each country outside of the Americas. We are writing, publishing, reading Asian writers largely because of the change in demographics allowed by this law. 42 years have brought vast changes :)
BTW--prior to 1965, only 105 Chinese were allowed entry into the United States per year. I assume it was a similarly miniscule quota for other Asian nations.
2aluvalibri
Thank you, Belle, that was very interesting. I have not read as much Asian literature as I would like, but I am working on it.
:-))
:-))
3Airycat
I didn't realize the limitations in publishing. I'm always looking for both fiction and non-fiction relating to China. My husband tells me I must have been Chinese in a previous life. :^D It's sad that the publishers (and perhaps readers, as a whole) do not see that we would benefit by the differences in Chinese/Chinese-American writing as we do in more traditional American writing.
I just finished reading Baba: A Return to China Upon My Father's Shoulders and I loved it! I look forward to reading The Odyssey of a Manchurian, which is also on my bookshelf, now.
I just finished reading Baba: A Return to China Upon My Father's Shoulders and I loved it! I look forward to reading The Odyssey of a Manchurian, which is also on my bookshelf, now.
5belleyang
Sonshi--
Come join Redroom.com as a published writer. This is a post about what I read and my translation of "The Art of Warfare." The latter is only an exercise for me.
http://www.redroom.com/blog/belle-yang/guilt-manifesto
Congratulations on the publication of your new book!
Come join Redroom.com as a published writer. This is a post about what I read and my translation of "The Art of Warfare." The latter is only an exercise for me.
http://www.redroom.com/blog/belle-yang/guilt-manifesto
Congratulations on the publication of your new book!
7slickdpdx
Its a pretty shameful history - http://www.capaa.wa.gov/community/ImmigrationLawsSummary.shtml - but I think that quota was specific to people from China. People from Japan may have had it even worse. Filipinos were not affected. Also there were many people from China (about 10k) admitted legally each year by other means.
8sungene
Greetings,
How could it be that there are so few Asian American authors who LibraryThing? I have published a number of stories and essays, most recently in Electric Grace, and have a debut novel forthcoming from Holt in July 2008. I've been to Redroom, but will wait until the book is published to join as an author. Belle, have enjoyed your postings and youtubes.
After a VERY unscientific and fairly prejudicial review of the list of authors who LibraryThing, there are, I think, several Asian descent authors, including: Aimee Liu, Oliver Chin, Joseph Lee, Tammy Yee. Wendy Tokunaga, Yang-May Ooi, A. Ahad, Carmen Yuen, Abhay K, M., Kei, Living_Tantra_Books. By no means a comprehensive or even accurate list!
With regards to the Oriental Exclusion Act, the rigid quotas extended to all peoples of Asian descent, including Korean. The laws were abolished by the Hart-Cellar Act of 1964 (thank you, Ted Kennedy). Enter the dragon!
Eugenia SunHee Kim
How could it be that there are so few Asian American authors who LibraryThing? I have published a number of stories and essays, most recently in Electric Grace, and have a debut novel forthcoming from Holt in July 2008. I've been to Redroom, but will wait until the book is published to join as an author. Belle, have enjoyed your postings and youtubes.
After a VERY unscientific and fairly prejudicial review of the list of authors who LibraryThing, there are, I think, several Asian descent authors, including: Aimee Liu, Oliver Chin, Joseph Lee, Tammy Yee. Wendy Tokunaga, Yang-May Ooi, A. Ahad, Carmen Yuen, Abhay K, M., Kei, Living_Tantra_Books. By no means a comprehensive or even accurate list!
With regards to the Oriental Exclusion Act, the rigid quotas extended to all peoples of Asian descent, including Korean. The laws were abolished by the Hart-Cellar Act of 1964 (thank you, Ted Kennedy). Enter the dragon!
Eugenia SunHee Kim
9T42
Hi Belle,
I'm hoping that things will take a turn for the better as far as publishing and carrying China-related books, with the U.S. public's current and increasing awareness of and interest in China. When I took a Mandarin course (my family language is Cantonese), most of the students were non-Chinese business majors. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!
I'm hoping that things will take a turn for the better as far as publishing and carrying China-related books, with the U.S. public's current and increasing awareness of and interest in China. When I took a Mandarin course (my family language is Cantonese), most of the students were non-Chinese business majors. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!
