Reading Ankhesen

For those of you just tuning in, I'm an author.  I majored in the social and clinical sciences in college, rather than literature and creative writing (and yes...that was deliberate).  Anyhoo, I'm Ambazonian-American (or Cameroonian-American; whichever side you're on), so I don't dig heavily on the Hemingway, Whitman, or Thoreau. No, no...in my library you'll find the scribblings of Achebe, Darko, Oyono, Mama, Aidoo, Bebey, Thiong'o, Soyinka, the late great Jumbam, and the immortal Diop.  If these names don't ring a bell for you, that's okay.  *shrug*  To each her own.

So, yeah...I'm female; it's steady work.  In the rare instances I find myself being chatted about in some forum somewhere, I notice a person or two might be shocked that I'm a woman.  And there's a tiny reason for that.  Now, I'm by no means popular or famous; I've only got two books out.  However, my last book got some attention.  While reading social commentary and analyses of race and gender in America, I came across the notion that African-American women and Asian-American men tend to have similar experiences, and tend to be perceived in a similar manner.  Both groups currently have the lowest marriage rates in America.  Both have counterparts who are rapidly marrying outside their races, notably to whites.  Both are often either ignored or less than positively portrayed in creative media.  African-American women are perceived to be the least feminine and attractive of women, while Asian-American men are perceived to be the least masculine and attractive of men.

I know...morbidly fascinating, right?

So anyway, I decided to test this notion.  I penned Folklore, and Other Stories, and released an (unfortunately) abridged version in February, 2008.  Published on a tight budget and an even tighter editing schedule, it still some garnered positive attention.  You could say it was because I employed an Old World storytelling style, or because there's some non-mushy romance in each of the three stories.  Or...you could raise an eyebrow that a woman such as Moi featured an Asian-American protagonist in all three stories...alongside black women.

Ms. Mié has taken on the ambitious task of writing from an Asian perspective. Many of the stories read like old-fashioned tall tales with the flow of poetry in short story form.  The stories in this collection offer a new look at age old situations such as marital relationships. The stories are at once true to life, yet mystical and filled with fantasy...In this day and age when many feel there is nothing new under the sun, along comes a writer like Ms. Mié proving that is not necessarily so.

~ Angelia Menchan, APOOO BookClub

"Folklore," the first story, is about leaving stereotypes behind.  Kazuya Kurosaki is leader of an upscale gang--cliche.  Amisi Ryan is a tough cop--cliche.  Their meeting causes them to leave their current lives in search something--anything--different from what they've known.  "Echo," the second story, is faintly inspired by the mythic tragedy of Narcissus.  Rory Zheng, a bored young traveler, moves to Silver Wood Manor on a whim where he slowly starts to fall for his landlady.  Unfortunately, she's a somber, long-suffering wife to an absent husband, a disappointment to her late father, and a weary mother to a hyper, chatty child.  In "The Collection," I revisit the meaning of wedding vows when Jason Rang is finally about to divorce his wife and marry his new love...until he makes the mistake of actually going to see his eccentric little wife in person.

Mié's collection of short stories is an interesting mix with different plots, but the same underlying theme of falling or staying in love. The stories are well-written, even though some of the cultural references may distract the reader.  Overall, if you want a book with a different flavor, good writing and interesting plots, this is a good choice.

~ Criss Coles, The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

I'm now trying to get my third book out in 2011.  It was originally supposed to be Tales from a Velvet Hall, my darkest and most edited work to date (thank you, Lady de Pompei of myth).  However, The Midnight Bride is progressing far more quickly, perhaps because its events preceed those in Velvet Hall.

Thanks for stopping by; you'll find I'm a delightfully odd person to get to know.