Selene asked Eugenia Kim:

When you are writing a historical fiction book, how do you plan/conduct your research? And how do you balance between the truth, and fiction? Lastly how do you plan your novel/how long does this take you? I'm a South Korean student living in China with great interest in Korean history (especially since I don't get to learn it at school). I've added your book to my to-read list; can't wait to start! (: Thank you.

Eugenia Kim Hello. Thanks for writing. It took ten years to research The Calligrapher's Daughter. Mostly I read memoirs written about and from the era, and history books. I also interviewed elders, visited Korea, and found primary sources such as maps, photographs, and artwork from the era. The critical issue with incorporating research into fiction is to never let the research take over the story or the character. It must be seamless, embedded in character and setting, not imposed by the writer. Good luck with your work. Cheers.

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