Chinese girl's flights of fantasy wow world of children's literature
To write a 1,000-word essay in one's mother tongue can challenge any young teenager. But to write a full book in a foreign language is a challenge that is in a totally different league.
That is why many Chinese cannot help but admire 13-year-old Fang Yi. Fang moved to the United States five years ago, but is now back in Shanghai to promote her book, a fairy tale for children.
Her first English fairy tale, Sword Birds, was published in the US earlier last month. One week after its release, the book was on the New York Times bestseller list.
Fang moved from Beijing to New York with her parents at the age of seven. During the first year of her relocation, Fang, like her parents, had to work hard in order to overcome cultural differences and language barriers. However, she mastered English language and two years later began writing her first book in it.
Fang has had a great interest in birds since her early childhood. Her passion for birds intensified after the family moved to her New York home, which was located near a forest, and was home to a rich and varied bird life. Everyday after school, Fang went to the forest to listen to the birds and enjoy the pleasant surroundings. It was during the time she spent there that a fairy tale began to take shape in her mind.
One night, Fang dreamt that a group of vicious birds stirred up a war in the bird world, and a sword bird a kind of holy bird in Chinese legend helped end the war and return peace to the forest.
Inspired by this vivid dream, Fang decided to develop a fairy tale series about birds.
To describe the different birds accurately, Fang had to research meticulously on the Internet and in local libraries on the different species. A library worker even looked at her with wide-eyed surprise as she filled a handcart with hardback academic writings and then requested to borrow them all.
Fang finished the first draft in just a few months and sent it to several publishing houses. She soon received a response from Harper Collins, the second-largest publishing company in the world, who later signed a contract with Fang to publish her story.
Currently, Fang is working on her second book, Exploration. This book on birds will be published next year, if everything goes smoothly with current sales.
Besides her books, Fang also does interviews for TV and newspapers.
The 13-year-old writer plans to spend the money she will earn from her publishing deal on university studies. Fang hopes to make it into Harvard.
Although writing has brought her fame, Fang says she might not specialize in writing in the future.
She wishes to work as a teacher, instructing Chinese students in the English language and in creative writing. She would also like to become a professional translator in order to help foreign readers access more Chinese novels, both the classics and contemporary works.
Fang is looking forward to the 2008 Olympic Games, to be held in her hometown of Beijing. She hopes she can help out as an interpreter at the games.
China Daily
(China Daily 04/13/2007 page6)
