An accidental author

Di An didn't plan to follow her parents' footsteps to become a writer. But fate had different plans for the rich-list novelist, Wang Ru reports.

Di An (pen name) says she was "surprised" to receive the People's Literature Award for her recently published book, Jingheng Street.

"I searched the web to learn about the award immediately after I heard I won it," she recalls. "I saw the names of famous writers on the list and felt a little tense. I didn't expect such a recognition."