Author Spotlight: Cang Wu Bin Bai
Golden Terrace is coming out in English this November 15th! To gain more insight into the person and process behind the story, we invited author Cang Wu Bin Bai to answer some questions for us. Read on to see what she had to say.
How did you start writing, and what are your favorite things about being an author?
My “writing career” can be traced back to middle school. I was engrossed in romance novel magazines back then and was inspired to write my own stories. Since then, I’ve maintained my habit of writing. I don’t dare to call myself a published author; I can only say that I’ve been fortunate enough to catch the eyes of publishers and generous readers who allowed my work to be shared in print form. As for my favorite part about being an author, it would have to be that being published gave me a bigger platform and opened up more opportunities to share my stories with a wider audience.
How did you first come about the idea for writing Golden Terrace?
The inspiration came from a very specific scene that appeared in my head once: a general donned in red kneeling before a grand palace, and behind him stood a man in black, holding an umbrella over his head. I’ve always been a fan of ancient history, so I tried crafting a story based around a typical war general in ancient China.
Were there any challenges you faced while writing Golden Terrace?
My biggest challenge in writing the story was narrative expression; I had to constantly rephrase and rewrite parts to maintain a tone befitting of a historical setting. I had to ensure that the vocabulary was appropriate for the time period, maintain the flow of the words, and avoid using too much internet slang.
The cast of Golden Terrace is quite extensive. Do you have a favorite side character?
My favorites are Prince Su and Uncle Fu Tingxin. Both men carried heavy weights on their shoulders, but despite it all, they remained deeply devoted to each other. Additionally, they both have the demeanor of dependable elders who can protect their juniors, a trait the main characters lack.
Can you share with the readers something about Fu Shen or Yan Xiaohan that we wouldn’t know just from reading the book?
Yan Xiaohan and Fu Shen’s birthdays are only several days apart, but Yan Xiaohan doesn’t like celebrating his birthdays. Later, Fu Shen would always share half of his longevity noodles* on his own birthday with his partner.
*Longevity noodles, also known as birthday noodles, are a traditional Chinese dish eaten on someone’s birthday or another celebratory event to promote long and prosperous life.
What kind of character or story would you like to write about but haven’t yet?
I’d love to write a Wuxia story, especially one featuring a morally ambiguous but sexy bad lad.
Do you have anything you’d like to say to your international audience?
Writing has a unique power that transcends time and space, allowing strangers from different parts of the world to resonate through a common medium. I sincerely hope this novel can lead every reader down a wonderful and curious journey. Thank you all so much.
Thank ewe to Cang Wu Bin Bai for taking the time to answer our questions!
Preorders for Golden Terrace are open now at the PFH shop. Click on the links below to reserve your copy today!
