shangai girls and peony in love

[Soma]

I loved both your books "Shangai Girls" and "Peony in Love". How did you come up with ideas?

[Lisa]

I had heard about the lovesick maidens and had become intrigued. Then when I read that three lovesick maidens wrote the first book of its kind ever to be written and published by women, I knew I had to write Peony in Love.

Shanghai Girls was very different. There were several things I wanted to write about: Shanghai at its last moment as the Paris of Asia, Arranged marriages in this country, Angel Island from a women's perspective, China City, the Confession Program, and sisters.

All of my books have come to me in different ways. And inspiration takes different forms. What matters most to me are the emotions and the relationships.