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Goodreads asked Chanrithy Him:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Chanrithy Him While growing up in Cambodia, I was captivated by the romance and mystery of famous ancient Khmer temples, the Asian vampire mythology, Khmer stories of reincarnation and incantation.

JD Bophatip, the main character in "Rise Of The Golden Aura" is inspired by the legend of the first Cambodian ruler, Queen Soma, also known to the Cambodian people as Neang Neak (Naga (dragon) Princess).

JD is also inspired by Bella, the main character in the Twilight series. I read "Twilight" and didn't like how weak Bella is, so I was determined to create a Cambodian-American character that is strong and intelligent.

"Rise Of The Golden Aura" is set in Cambodia and America. It is a young adult vampire-romance fantasy with a cross-cultural theme. The concept of Asian vampire myth and folklore is a fresh take on the recent portrayals of vampire culture. It will resonate with people around the world, especially young girls and women in any culture. It will appeal to fans of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series as well as fans of P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast’s House of Night series, just to name a few.

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