In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we are highlighting stories written by Asian and Pacific Islander authors. Today's interview is with AllyCwrites, whose story was a Wattys 2022 Shortlister. 

About the Author: AllyCWrites is a 30-something mommy who drafts legal documents by day and writes Asian fantasy while tucked in bed at night. Like many Southeast Asians, she grew up appreciating a wealth of different cultures and legends from the region, as well as kungfu action movies, Western movies, K-dramas, and anime. A self-professed 'banana' (yellow on the outside, white on the inside), she especially loves seeing more Asian representation in published works, and East meets West stories.

About 'Princess Snow and the Empress': Princess Snow and the Empress is a Snow White fairytale retelling that features a rebellious princess, mythical creatures, East Asian myths and ghost stories. Oh, not forgetting, a tall and handsome, bow-wielding prince with a glorious mane.

Snow has to save herself from a huntsman, bring herself back to life, and discover the magical powers she inherited from her mother, in order to be reunited with her love. All that, whilst avoiding the clutches of Empress Hu, who may not be quite human. 

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself!

When I was a teen in the 90s' (oh no, I'm showing my age), I kept a folder of plot ideas and character sheets for stories I aspired to publish one day. It was a dream of mine to be a traditionally published author; I studied English literature in high school and loved the classics, but I never had the time to write a full-length novel, until I broke my foot in 2021, haha! That was how I started on Wattpad, where I met other Asian fantasy writers like @Moyun_ZJ and @TL_Nonoke, and my mentor @AM-Prabeswar through @Bootcampmentors.

I was really active on Wattpad last year while on a career break, but since going back to a full-time job, time is precious. Whenever I can, I try to read and support Asian works and new authors – fellow Southeast Asian @MizarCaph being the latest addition. If I'm not busy working, writing, or being a mommy, I enjoy dancing to Kpop in my kitchen and hitting the weights at the gym. 

2. How do you identify within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and how has your heritage shaped the person you are today?

I'm of East Asian descent, living in a multi-racial democracy, very similar to the USA. As much as I'd like to think I'm a modern woman with Western ideals, I realized that my heritage has made me conservative by nature, and shaped my views on life goals and family. For example, before I got married, I was all about my career and freedom but once I tied the knot, I became deferential to my spouse. It dawned on me that concepts like 'saving face' are deeply ingrained in me, and that on a subconscious level, I was trying to conform to the ideals of a good Asian wife, sometimes to my own detriment. On a happier note, my heritage has definitely influenced my taste buds. Give me congee and hot soy milk with deep-fried youtiao any day!

3. Does your family have any traditions that are important to you? Feel free to share at least one experience here!

One tradition dear to me, is the tradition of everyone coming together for reunion dinner on Lunar New Year Eve. No matter where we are in the world, we will make the journey home to have a sumptuous feast and welcome the new year with family.

4. If you could introduce something from your culture to someone else, what would it be and why? It can be a tradition/custom, food, music, or anything else that comes to mind!

I'm a foodie, so the answer is Chinese food in all its glory. In Princess Snow and the Empress, I introduced to my readers egg tarts, mooncakes, and tangyuan, which are glutinous rice balls in a sweet soup that we eat during Winter Solstice.

5. What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

To me, AAPI Heritage Month is recognition that there are Asian and Pacific Islander voices that need to be heard, and an opportunity to share with the world our narratives. I am grateful that Wattpad is promoting these amazing stories and mine to millions of readers. 

6. How do your experiences as an AAPI author shape your stories? Do you take inspiration from your culture to tell your story? You may talk about 1-2 stories here.

Though I've always loved Chinese culture, history and action movies, my grasp of the language was rudimentary, and I had preferred Western authors whose English works featured mostly Caucasian characters. As a result, the characters in my early scribbles had blond hair and English names. I had struggled with that, because I was not writing from experience and my stories felt inauthentic.

I was heartened to later find Asian American writers like Amy Tan, Lisa See, and Anchee Min, whose works featured Asian characters and culture. I am also thankful that Asian fantasy authors such as Sue Lynn Tan and Elizabeth Lim have shown that there is a market for such books, hence my attempt at coming up with a fantasy story where East meets West.

Whilst writing Princess Snow, I not only took inspiration from Chinese history, culture and folklore, but I also seized the opportunity to showcase different festivals like Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival. In other words, I threw everything I knew about my Chinese heritage into this story, plus the kitchen sink! 

7. What is your favorite myth or legend? Why?

My favorite is the tale of the Cowherd Boy and Weaver Girl, because although the cow herder was a bit of a pervert when he peeped at the bathing fairies, he undertook the insurmountable task of traveling to the heavens to find his wife. Plus, he brought their two children along, like the devoted husband and father that he is.

Although they are separated by the Milky Way for all eternity, once a year, he and the Weaver Girl are reunited when a flock of magpies form a bridge across the summer night sky. It's such a romantic tale with a bittersweet ending.

8. If you could have the same powers as a creature and/or deity from mythology or legends, what would it be? Why?

There are so many that I like, it's hard to choose! If I were to be a deity, I'd want to be Qiwangmu, the Queen Mother of the West, because she's the most powerful goddess in the Chinese pantheon, having complete control over life, death, creation, and destruction.

I also adore the benevolent Qilin – it floats over the ground so as not to harm a single blade of grass, yet, when defending the innocent, it incinerates evil-doers. On some days I wish I could turn into a Qilin (or like my kid says, Bowser from Super Mario) and go rawr!

9. What is your advice for other writers who want to use mythology in their story?

Do your research and find out as much as possible about the source material in that country and its neighbors.

In doing my research for Princess Snow, what I've learnt about nine-tailed foxes or huli jing (known as kitsune and gumiho in Japanese and Korean mythology respectively), is that although the core myth is the same across the region, people's perception of them vary. For example, in Korea, they are considered malignant liver-eating demons, whereas in China and Japan, they can be benevolent, mischievous, or neutral. I also came across sources that cited the kitsune as having many abilities, including the power to summon lightning or fire, but did not find the same for their Chinese and Korean counterparts. This made me change the origin of one character in the ongoing sequel, The Fox Princess and Her White Dog, in order to be true to the source.

Secondly, be respectful of the mythology, but don't be afraid to put a fresh perspective on it, in terms of character motivation or personality.

And of course, check out other writers' mythology retellings on Wattpad and make friends! I've had eye-opening discussions about Asian myths with fellow writers here like @ericalaurie and @lesliefloreswrites, and it's mind-blowing when we discover our myths and legends share similar themes, even though they may originate from different parts of the world.

Finally, profiles like @mythandlegend and @WattpadAsianFantasy have a treasure trove of myths to refer to.

That's it for the month, it was fun getting to know about AllyCwrites. You can check her stories featured in our reading list as well as her other works. If you're interested in learning more about other AAPI authors, check out Myth & Legend's AAPIHM reading list here.