Mariella
asked
Lisa See:
I am thrilled that your next novel includes one of the ethnic minorities of China. I understand there are many different ethnic minorities within China that are rarely spoken of or written about in the Western world. Can you speak a little about your research process into the Akha culture and why you were drawn to them? Thanks so much!
Lisa See
Great question! It's easy to think of China as having just one big group of people, but there are 56 different ethnic minorities. Even within those catagories, there are smaller sub-groups. For my next book, I'm writing about puer tea in Yunnan province. There are many different ethnic minorities involved in tea growing and processing there. As I did the research, I kept being drawn to the Akha, which are catagorized as part of the Hani. Then, when I went to China, I met an incredible and inspiring young woman who was Akha. She told such wonderful stories that I decided then and there that I would write about the Akha.
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Lisa
asked
Lisa See:
Good Spring morning to you from Maine! I just wanted to tell you how incredible your book, TIOSW is!!! I am on page 250, and already want to re-read it. It's a hard read at times, but so very important. I had no idea what these people went through. Was it heartbreaking doing the research? THANK YOU for your work, and this story. Hugs from Maine.
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