Taiwanese author Jimmy Liao and Chinese author Tian Er discussed their origins at Taipei’s recently wrapped 2019 book fair.
The News Lens
Date: 2019/02/18
By: Daphne K. Lee, 破土 New Bloom
Credit: 台北書展基金會 / Facebook
The 2019 Taipei International Book Exhibition kicked off on Tuesday with an author’s award ceremony presented by Eslite Bookstore. Three authors from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China respectively – Albert Leung, Jimmy Liao, and Tian Er – were awarded The Most Anticipated Authors of the Year.
After the ceremony, Liao and Tian discussed their creative journeys in an author’s forum moderated by Zhao Yahng, a Taiwanese novelist. Liao, 60, and Tian, 43, both have 20 years of prolific work under their belts, but living a creative life often proves to be challenging.
“I became a bestselling author once Turn Left, Turn Right was published,” Liao said. “But I felt tremendous stress at the time – was I only a coincidence?”
Originally an illustrator at an advertising company, Liao had quit his job to fight against leukemia in 1995. According to Liao, he only became an author when an editor at Locus Publishing invited him to compile his illustrations into a book. He created the first book as a commemorative album, thinking it would be his last creative project. [FULL STORY]
