Carol Van Den Hende
It’s Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.
Who are some AANHPI characters or authors you admire?
I grew up loving Amy Tan, and now as an adult, have adored Charles Yu’s “Interior Chinatown,” Kevin Kwan, Jean Kwok, Lauren Lee Ho, Michiko Aoyama, Michelle Zauner’s “Crying in H Mart,” Lisa See, RF Kuang, Jamie Ford, and many more.
My character Orchid Paige is half Asian, just like my twins. The Goodbye Orchid series encapsulates Orchid’s AAPI experiences, weaving together themes of identity, family, and resilience. Through the eyes of its characters, we explore the complexities of navigating cultural traditions while embracing individuality and forging new paths. In my newest novel Always Orchid, she comes to learn the history of her name. I’m honored that my books have won Multicultural Fiction awards from the American Fiction Award, Independent Author Network, Outstanding Creator Awards and more.
If you’re interested in history, you may enjoy the memoir Remembering Shanghai. In it, Claire Chao writes about her mother’s life in 1940’s Shanghai. Claire has helped provide pointers for my research into Chinese history that will inform my next novel.
Learn more at carolvandenhende.com