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 polaroidcolours, whose story was featured. 

About the Author: A.W. Zhou (or just Arlene) is an author who enjoys writing stories filled with paranormal activities and romance.

About 'Lips Red As Blood': After Cora Li goes through a heartbreaking break-up, she gets drunk and accidentally summons a devil who makes a deal with Cora. She must allow Asher the devil to live in her house until she falls in love with someone new - or else her soul will belong to him. But meeting a dangerous creature like Asher also invites more trouble and as Cora spends more time with Asher, she must manage to escape demons hell-bent on killing her, rescue her sister from Hell, and fall in love once more.

About 'Of the Twisted and the Lost': Sera Chang's life has been shaky ever since her parent's divorce - and things have taken a turn for the worse when she comes face-to-face with a merman.Determined to prove that she's not hallucinating, Sera makes a plan: a) find the merman b) kidnap them, and c) reveal to the world that merpeople do exist.With the help of teenage detective Junjie Williams, they join forces to try and bring the truth to the light. Only, with so many secrets and dangers lurking in every corner, things don't go exactly as planned.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Hi, I'm Arlene and I'm a romance writer who loves incorporating a dash of paranormal into my writing! A few of my hobbies are writing, studying psychology, and playing the viola. 

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 identify within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community because although both my parents are Asian, I was born and raised in America. This heritage has shaped the person I am today because I have many traditions and virtues that follow along with my heritage. 

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

Every year, my family would typically follow the Qingming festival and visit our deceased ancestors to clean their graves and offer new food for them. This tradition is important to me and my culture because honoring and remembering our ancestors is one the most important virtue in my culture. 

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 would introduce zongzi to people, which is basically sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves with fillings that typically include sausage and egg yolk. I would introduce this food because it not only tastes delicious, there's also an interesting story behind the food. 

5. What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

AAPI Heritage Month is very meaningful to me, since it has allowed me to embrace my culture and being proud of who I am. 

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.

My experience as an AAPI shapes my stories because like me, my main characters are usually of Asian descents. Moreover, I have taken lots of inspiration from my cultures written into my stories. A few years ago, I was obsessed with Chinese mythology, so I would make stories filled with huli jing, nian shou, reincarnations of Chang'E and so much more.

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

My experience as an AAPI shapes my stories because like me, my main characters are usually of Asian descents. Moreover, I have taken lots of inspiration from my cultures written into my stories. A few years ago, I was obsessed with Chinese mythology, so I would make stories filled with huli jing, nian shou, reincarnations of Chang'E and so much more.

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

If I could, I would have the same powers as a huli jing, which are basically Chinese fox spirits. They have so much cool powers, like shapeshifting and taking human essence which I find very interesting. 

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

If I could, I would have the same powers as a huli jing, which are basically Chinese fox spirits. They have so much cool powers, like shapeshifting and taking human essence which I find very interesting. 

That's it for the month, it was fun getting to know about polaroidcolours. 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.