Author Q&A with X.H. Collins

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X. H. Collins was born in Hechuan, Sichuan Province, China, and grew up in Kangding, on the East Tibet Plateau. She has a Ph.D. in nutrition and is a biology professor at a community college. She lives in Iowa with her husband and son. Flowing Water, Falling Flowers is her first novel. To learn more about the author and her work, visit her website at https://xhcollins.com/, and follow her on Twitter @xixuan_c, Facebook @xhcollins, and Instagram xixuan_c.

1. Tells us about your writing/ published book(s)

I began writing in English in the summer of 2015 (Mandarin is my first language). The second short story I had ever written in English placed third in the 2016 Iron Pen Contest, a 24-hour writing contest organized by the Midwest Writing Center in Moline, IL. A flash fiction piece earned the honor of “editor’s favorite” in the River City Readers’ Flash Fiction Contest in 2016, and another placed second in 2017. A short story has appeared in the MOON Magazine and its anthology Out of this World: The Best Short Stories from The MOON. An essay appeared in the PastTen magazine.

My debut multiple-period historical novel will be published by MWC Press, Moline, IL on October 15, 2020.

2. Have you always wanted to write?

Yes, I have. But instead of pursuing a writing-related major, I studied biology and have a M.S. in cell biology and Ph.D. in nutrition. I had published some poems in Mandarin but did not start writing seriously until 2015.

3. What advice would you give to someone wanting to write their first book?

Since I’m about to publish my first book, I can share what I have learned in the process. It took me more than three years and nine drafts to have the book published, but I couldn’t be happier with the result. So persistence is the key! Writing a book is such a long process, and it’s easy to give up. You just have to keep at it! It’s also important to have the right support. I highly recommend joining a writing critic group with writers who give honest and constructive feedback, and who support each other. I’m lucky to have my own small group. Editing is also very important. Having a good editor will help polish your book from an uncut rough diamond into a piece of true jewel.

4. Do you do research for your books? If so, what kind of research?

Yes, extensively. I visited the city on which my novel is based on. I was born there but never lived there. I read books related to the places and major events in the novel, and I interviewed people who have knowledge about the time period. I have a lot of files in my research folder.

5. How do you fit writing into your everyday life?

I try my best! I have a full-time biology teaching job and a child with special needs, so at times it can be challenging. Having a supportive partner is so important. I write mostly in the night and on the weekends after I finish lecture preps and grading, and when my child is in bed or out doing something with his dad. I also write a lot in the summer. I don’t watch TV, almost never go shopping. But the process can still be very slow. I keep a log of my writing progress and I notice sometimes I go for several months without writing anything. Just do the best I can, and pick up whenever I have time.

6. Would you want your book made into a film?

Oh, I would love to! I think it will be a good film, too! It’s got two timelines, family secrets, and unbearable losses…It’ll also add some much-needed diversity to the film industry─an all-Asian cast! I hope Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, etc. are listening!

Author Q&A with X.H. Collins