Interview with Author Virginia Duan
- Kaleidoscope Romance
- Aug 7
- 4 min read
Romance Sub-genre(s): Cozy Fantasy Romance
Steam Level: Open Door
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Describe yourself in three words.
Weird, Funny, Absurd
What are three facts about you?
1) I have 5 children (aged 2-15) that I homeschool(ed) in Chinese and English
2) I am a huge BTS (K-pop boy band) stan
3) I co-host the Brazn Azn podcast, where we broaden what it means to be Asian American
What is your favorite book from childhood?
The Dark Is Rising series by Susan Cooper
When you read, which authors are your go-to authors?
Orson Scott Card, RF Kuang, Brandon Sanderson, Julia Quinn
What book has made the biggest impact on your life?
Till We Have Faces by CS Lewis
Do you have any book related tattoos?
No
What is your favorite TV show or movie?
Everything Everywhere All At Once
What subject could you talk about all day?
BTS
What is your dream vacation destination?
Staying home
What do you do for fun when you aren’t writing?
Hang out and connect with my friends (preferably over food)
Are there any causes you support or which are important to you?
I support liberation for all. We are not free until all of us are free.
How did you discover writing as a possible career?
I was a blogger, which transitioned to journalism, and then eventually fiction.
How did you choose your pen name?
It's my name.
Where do you find inspiration for your stories?
I write what I wish to read. I want to see myself in the books I read.
What is the weirdest fact you've found when researching for a book?
My problem is that once I don't need information, it disappears from my brain. Did I mention I have 5 children?
What trope is your favorite to write?
Slow burn/friends to lovers
What is your favorite thing about being an author?
When readers feel seen in the characters and stories I write.
What is your writing process?
Chat a lot, internet a lot, get distracted a lot, then SUPER FOCUS WRITE A LOT AT THE EXPENSE OF EVERYTHING IN LIFE. Rinse, repeat.
What time of day are you most creative?
Evening/late night
What is your ideal writing environment?
I love writing in cafes or boba shops. I like the ambient noise (though I am usually listening to music), the feeling of being with people but NOT WITH PEOPLE, and the close proximity to beverages, food, and a bathroom.
As an author, what challenges do you face?
The main challenges I face are how to reach the people who would love my books. I do write some romances, but most of my books feel really genre-less with a side of steamy romance.
What is your least favorite part of being an author?
My least favorite part is the business side of publishing. I don't enjoy it, and I don't know that I'm very good at it.
If there was one thing you could change about the writing/publishing industry, what would it be?
I would like more marginalized voices front and center. That instead of being a DEI initiative, we are front and center and celebrated instead of relegated to certain months and categories.
What advice would you give aspiring authors?
Just write. The rest will sort itself out.
What is something you’d like to write, but haven’t yet?
I have a novel that is a cross between 13 Going on 30 x Big x Freaky Friday. (The premise is WHAT IF my 38yo pregnant self-swapped bodies with my 17yo college freshman self.)
Which parts of yourself are reflected in your characters?
Most likely my humor, pragmatism, and sense of the ridiculous.
Which of your characters have special meaning to you?
Katie Wu in my Her Multiverse series is particularly meaningful.
How do you come up with character names?
I do a lot of searching and cycling through until I find one that hits. (This is especially because I use a lot of Asian names.)
What is something you love to hear from your readers?
I love when they cite a particular line, or phrase, or scene and then go into detail why.
Where can readers find you online?
Author Site: https://virginiaduan.com
General Writing/Creative site: https://mandarinmama.com
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/MandarinMama
Brazn Azn podcast: https://mandarinmama.com/brazn-azn-podcast
Newsletter sign up: http://eepurl.com/dkuba9
Do you have any current ARCs or free downloads readers might be interested in?
Not at the moment!
What is your latest/upcoming release?
My latest release is Love As Soft As a Distant Star (a cozy, steamy fantasy novella):
Closing Thoughts
Virginia Duan is an Asian American author who writes K-pop inspired women's fiction and fantasy. Her new cozy fantasy novella series, The Witches’ Council, follows several small love stories in a world where magic is real, marriage is a job, consummation rituals are mandatory, and love is with whom they least expect: their spouse!
She is also the creator of the ongoing Her Multiverse series, where the novels explore how Asian American singer Katie Wu’s choices in love, friends, and family impact her journey of self-discovery, healing from trauma, and choosing the life she wants for herself. Peek behind the glamour of the K-pop industry and discover how Katie learns to love herself and a different band member of global K-pop sensation DOYEN in every timeline.
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Virginia lives with her husband and five children. (Yes, five.) She spends most of her days plotting her next book or article, shuttling her children about, participating in more group chats than humanly possible, and daydreaming about BTS a totally normal amount.
