Hong Kong Culture: Kathryn Tse-Durham
Interview with K.T. Durham and Her Latest Book: 'Ellanor and the Curse on the Nine-Tailed Fox'
Christopher KL Lau
What began as a labour of love and passion for K.T. Durham has blossomed and grown in ways that were beyond her wildest imagination! Her first book, Ellanor and the Search for Organoth Blue Amber which she wrote in her spare time whilst working in education in Hong Kong has become a critically acclaimed publication around the world with her number of readers and fan base growing exponentially through word of mouth and glowing reviews!
Libraries in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the United States have stocked up on her debut title while online retailers such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Goodreads have also caught the wave and have sold her books to enthusiastic teenagers and adults around the world. It is fair to say that K.T. Durham has exceeded her own expectations and gone on to become a rising star in the frenetic world of global publishing. A notable achievement for her was becoming an award-winning Finalist for her first book in the "Fiction: Fantasy" category of the 2015 International Book Awards hosted by USA Book News.
K.T. Durham has now given talks, school visits and also had a booth at the Hong Kong Book Fair as interest in her writing has skyrocketed. Her book's success lies in the sense of empathy that her character conveys and many people can relate to her struggles, joys and triumphs. K.T. Durham has struck a chord with her messages about growing up, friendships and struggles which cut across the generations as many of her readers are teenagers and young adults though her themes are universal and appeal to all people regardless of their background.
In lieu of the immense and positive feedback, she set about writing another book and has since completed Ellanor and the Curse on the Nine-Tailed Fox. This story also touches close to home as it was inspired by her Korean born husband and the story is set in Korea. The protagonist, Ellanor is now maturing and navigating the perils of her teenage years and young adulthood whilst encountering epic adventures and a mixture of both unique and bizarre characters. The buzz and reviews for Ellanor and the Curse on the Nine-Tailed Fox has justified the hype and it is also set to be another blockbuster and win both 'Ellanor' and K.T. Durham a whole new set of fans!
What are you waiting for? By reading her book, you will be taken off to a whole new world!
K.T. Durham kindly took time out from her busy schedule to discuss her new book and her new found success.
Interview
What is or was the inspiration behind your second book? Who is your muse?
A great portion of my second book was inspired by the early childhood of my husband, Sam, who was born in Seoul, Korea and adopted by an Australian woman when he was seven. The character of Kim Jong Min is based on Sam. I marvel at how Sam thrived and grew into such a good, spiritual man despite, or perhaps because of, his turbulent childhood. Much of the credit goes to his mother who raised him, of course. The issue of adoption and the fact that family can be much more than just biology is one that I wanted to highlight. Adoption can be a beautiful thing.
Is the book a sequel to the original story or a totally new book?
The second book, Ellanor and the Curse on the Nine-Tailed Fox is a sequel to the first book, Ellanor and the Search for Organoth Blue Amber, though several new and important characters are introduced in the sequel. The plot really thickens in this second book, which takes place in Korea and I had fun highlighting certain aspects of that wonderful, interesting culture which is close to my husband's heart, and therefore my heart.
This is your second book in a short period of time? Where do you find the time and energy to write and produce a book so quickly?
It took me just over a year to write and publish the second book. I'm not sure I would say that is a 'short' period of time, as some prolific authors churn out several books in a year! But I was really driven, and I pushed myself to write everyday even though I have a day job as a Speech and Language Therapist. Somehow, I just made time for writing, whenever I could - in between lessons, on lunch breaks, after work, late at night before bed. It really helped that I wasn't preoccupied with kids, but that's soon to change! Also, seeing how my story was unfolding and growing spurred me on, and the enthusiastic response I got from readers for my first book was also a huge driving force, as many readers told me they were eagerly awaiting the sequel. I am really thankful to those supportive readers, and thankful to my family and friends for cheering me on.
What are the general themes and underlying concepts of the second book?
Some important themes in the second book centre on the issue of family and adoption, and how one defines family. I do believe that family is more than just biology, though this may be a difficult concept to grasp in cultures that place huge emphasis on the preservation of blood lines - such as in the Chinese and Korean cultures. Another theme relates to the concept that when we only look for beauty that is only skin deep and we covet all that glitters, we often do so at the expense of our moral character.
You recently had a stand at the Hong Kong Book Fair, how was this experience for you and would you do it again?
Yes, I promoted my two books at the Hong Kong Book Fair in July this year. I had my own author booth designed by my talented husband, the booth was so eye-catching that as new an indie author that I am, many strangers approached my booth because they were attracted to the striking design. The fair lasted a week and it was an intense, exhausting, but truly wonderful experience! I was probably the only author booth there promoting only two books, surrounded by big commercial booths selling hundreds of mainstream fiction, textbooks, and fashion magazines that you see at your everyday bookstore. I was really touched when complete strangers showed interest in the Ellanor Chronicles, and quite a number bought my books because they thought I had something different to offer. One lady who bought both my books told me that I had redeemed the book fair experience for her, as she was getting ready to leave the fair feeling utterly disappointed that nearly all the booths sold the same old books, offering nothing unique or special. "Finally, your books are something I have never come across!" Now, that really made my day!
And would I do it again? Yes, perhaps one day!
Do you think Hong Kong has a 'reading' culture?
Sadly, not so much. And it doesn't help that many wonderful bookstores in Hong Kong have had to close down due to sky-rocketing rents, to be replaced by luxury brand stores that this city doesn't really need more of. Due to the hectic pace of city life in Hong Kong, especially long and gruelling work hours of adults and the demanding school lives of students, many people in Hong Kong simply don't have the luxury to read for leisure. When they do make time to read, it's either work documents or textbooks. When they want to take a break, many would prefer to watch TV or watch YouTube videos instead. So it is always encouraging to see the odd person reading for leisure on the MTR or tucked away in a cafe. There are book lovers in Hong Kong who make time to read for leisure, but we're a relative minority.
Do you think children still love to read as much as they did a generation ago?
Times have changed, and with gains there is always something that is lost. Many children in developed societies nowadays have access to so much more entertainment, but quantity doesn't equate with quality. Video games and other high-tech activities are much loved and indulged in these days, but I feel that they don't offer the same type of quality social interaction and stimulation that activities of old offer - including reading. In the past, children would eagerly ask for story-time and engage in imaginative pretend play, re-enacting scenes from beloved stories, dress up as their favorite characters and play out dialogue, and so forth. Children by nature love stories, much like many adults do, but these days instead of reading many like to resort to visual story-telling such as gaming, movies, and comics. I acknowledge that these activities offer their respective benefits, but I still believe that old-fashioned reading offers wonderful benefits that cannot be replaced by technology. So people, do visit your local bookstore or library and read! If not you, then encourage your children to do so. It doesn't cost much, and reading good books can help them grow in attentiveness, character, and intelligence. What's there to lose?
You can find the book here -Ellanor and the Curse on the Nine-Tailed Fox
Thank you
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