In honour of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we've got the amazing opportunity to highlight Asian and Pacific Islander voices on Wattpad through a conversation with Wattys winning author and Wattpad Creator, nyxiekitsune

Join Karlie in learning more about AAPI Heritage Month, what it means to identify as a writer within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, and get hold on some tips for improving English grammar and vocabulary.

Plus, here's a small glimpse into her 2021 Wattys winning, Wattpad Editor's Choice Story, The Sable Spy 

Cassalyn Diao, Saian spy and exile, has made a dangerous, faceless enemy, and the only people in the world who could help her are the same ones she had abandoned six years ago. But she doesn't have a choice. Her sister is missing, her family doesn't care, and her adversary is too much for even her to take down alone. 

 Marcus, Earl of Farnsworth, had lost his heart to the dark-haired spy years ago and still hadn't gotten it back. When she arrives at his doorstep half-dead and bleeding, he decides that he'd do anything to return her back into his arms. Whatever it takes.

But they'll have to outwit their lethal opponent first, and as the clock ticks forward and the people closest to them are thrust into jeopardy, Marcus and Cassalyn find themselves in danger of losing much more than just their hearts in this game of cat-and-mouse.

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1. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself! What are the language(s) you're fluent in? (Introduce yourself to our community here and include any comments about what genre(s) you write in, fun hobbies or interests, and any interesting fun facts!) 

Hello! My name is Karlie, and I'm Hong Kong Chinese. I'm currently sixteen years old, and I mainly write historical fantasy and YA. I'm currently studying at a boarding school in the UK, and some of my hobbies include fencing, badminton, gaming and writing! I speak fluent English, Cantonese and Mandarin, and also understand Shanghainese. 

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 was raised wholly in Hong Kong, but came to England two years ago to pursue my education. My upbringing has led me to share a lot of traditional Chinese values and opinions, but early exposure to Western culture and media has also led to me adopting some mindsets that are different from those of my family and friends. Thus, I'm often quite conflicted as a person.

3. 

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

 Sunday morning yum cha! I think a lot of Hong Kong kids will know this. A lot of families would often meet up on Sunday mornings (though this isn't the only time, of course) at a cha lou and enjoy some dimsum and tea over a long conversation. It's one of the rare times I see most of my family present, from my grandparents to my numerous uncles and their respective children. I used to hate it as a little child, but I've learnt to appreciate it a lot more in the recent years, being away from home for most of the year.

 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! 

Chinese food, definitely! I'm already doing my best to get my UK friends to try as many Chinese food as possible. There's so many different types that there's bound to be one that you like. Sichuan food is spicy, Cantonese cuisine focuses on the original flavour of the ingredients, Zhejiang cuisine favours a fresh and soft flavour, and so on. I think it's definitely worth trying some authentic Chinese food at least a couple times in your lifetime.

 5. 

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

AAPI Heritage Month is something I greatly treasure, because I get to see some of my friends and fellow AAPI peers slowly learn to accept and embrace their heritage. I know many people who are second or third-generation immigrants, who struggle to balance their background and some end up rejecting their ethnic background all together. It is something I have struggled with as well, having to balance my traditional Chinese values with the ideas I have been exposed to from the West.

 I'm also grateful for AAPI Heritage Month because it allows people to fully explore the depth of influence and impact that AAPI people have had on the world's development and history.

6. 

How do your experiences as an AAPI author shape your stories? Do you take inspiration from your culture to tell your story? 

My stories are heavily influenced by Chinese culture and my own personal experiences. My Silk and Steel Chronicles series focuses heavily on Chinese history. Most of the main characters are Chinese, and a few of the books, such as Hawk & Sable, are set in the S&S's equivalent of Imperial China. I often put in Chinese phrases and quotes into the characters' dialogue to make it more authentic.

Meanwhile, my modern-day series Bridewater College features Honoria Song, who, alike me, travels from Hong Kong to England to study at a boarding school, and the story documents her struggles with fitting in and adjusting to a new environment—with a little dose of magic, of course. 

7. 

As an ESL writer, what are some of your tried and tested tips to our fellow ESL community on improving English grammar and vocabulary? 

Reading, reading, reading and reading! I cannot stress enough how important this is to improving English grammar and vocabulary. I also suggest keeping a list of useful and difficult words you may not have used before and looking through them every once in a while, all while attempting to integrate it into your day-to-day life. I also suggest finding a writer whose writing style you really like and analysing why precisely you like it, and then learning from your findings. 

 8. 

How do you approach the editing process? Are there any particular challenges you face as an ESL writer on Wattpad?

 Funny enough, I actually rarely do much editing. I usually post my first and raw draft straight onto Wattpad, which is why you can quite easily spot typos throughout my novels. The only novel of mine that I've properly edited is Hexes for Exes, and that's more of a rewrite of a rewrite than just editing. 

As an ESL writer on Wattpad, I sometimes struggle to translate some nouns and rarely used words into English that I know in Chinese. This is especially evident with things such as flowers, plants, food, illnesses, and, with my historical work, culturally significant objects. 

9. 

One quote that never fails to inspire you?

From a G.E.M. song: "你卻又感覺束縛 唯一的安撫 是知道世界之大 這一刻和你一樣 感到孤獨的無數". 

It roughly translates to, "yet you feel constrained, and your only comfort is that in this wide, wide world, there are numerous feeling as lonely as you." It's quite a depressing line, but also reminds me that while I'm going through difficulties, I'm never alone in them and can always turn to family and friends for help.

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That's all folks!

Thank you for chatting with us, Karlie! We wish you all the best for your future works!

Until then, happy reading!