News flash: I’m not taking a break from The Spark after all. I am, however, streamlining the format slightly. There will be one reading recommendation every month and I’m dropping the writing tips and resources. Updates on my moseying will continue, as will the mainstay of the podcast: the author interviews.

On my US book tour for Staring into the Sun, a friend from primary school suggested that I be the next interview subject. The first conversation partner I thought of was Jason Buchholz, author of A Paper Son and The Cartographer of Sands, and the co-founder and co-owner of writing consultancy Collaborist. I hope that you enjoy the interview as much as I did!

📚 Recommendation for ravenous readers

Interior Chinatown: A Novel by Charles Yu (Pantheon, 2020)

Willis Wu doesn’t perceive himself as the protagonist in his own life: he’s merely Generic Asian Man. Sometimes he gets to be Background Oriental Making a Weird Face or even Disgraced Son, but always he is relegated to a prop. Yet every day, he leaves his tiny room in a Chinatown SRO (single-room occupancy) and enters the Golden Palace restaurant, where Black and White, a procedural cop show, is in perpetual production. He’s a bit player here, too, but he dreams of being Kung Fu Guy—the most respected role that anyone who looks like him can attain. Or is it?

After stumbling into the spotlight, Willis finds himself launched into a wider world than he’s ever known, discovering not only the secret history of Chinatown, but the buried legacy of his own family.

👣 My moseying

As of today, I’ve had nine Staring into the Sun events between the UK and the US. These have been incredible, each one unique and special. I’ve discovered that I can talk endlessly about my book, which is not a surprise to anyone I’ve come across in the last decade.

It’s been fun as the events have progressed to have more and more people attending who have read the book. Their questions are consequently much more specific, either about writing process or particular people.

Huge thanks to the people and organizations who have helped put together these magical events, and to everyone who attended. The next reading is on Saturday, June 20, 11am-12:30pm at my local Amersham Library.

If you would like to get your hands on a copy, see the links below.

🇺🇸 US Buy paperback | ebook (published by Ten16 Press)

🇬🇧 UK Buy paperback | ebook (published by Ten16 Press)

🎧 Audiobook on all platforms (produced by Mercury Calling)

🎙️ Interview with Madelyn Postman

In conversation with Jason Buchholz. Please listen to the audio for the full interview.

Books mentioned:

Fifth Chinese Daughter by Jade Snow Wong

If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino

The Overstory by Richard Powers

Also mentioned:

Shoong Family Chinese Cultural Center in Oakland, California

Museum of Chinese in America, New York City

Share The Spark

📙 Where to find my writing

Staring into the Sun

🇺🇸 US Buy paperback | ebook (published by Ten16 Press)

🇬🇧 UK Buy paperback | ebook (published by Ten16 Press)

🎧 Audiobook on all platforms (produced by Mercury Calling)

“Things My Dad Told Me” in Tomorrow There Will Be Sun, The Hope Prize anthology published by Simon & Schuster Australia.Buy in US | Buy in UK

“Gold Mountain Diggers” in Issue 10 of Livina Press.Buy in US | Buy in UK

“His Bones” in Transformations, the Oxford Flash Fiction Prize anthology.Buy in US | Buy in UK

Find out more about me and my writing, including press coverage, on my website: madelynpostman.com.

Most book links go to my Bookshop.org page, where sales are win-win-win, benefiting the authors, local bookstores, and my own writing—unlike using A-you-know-who.

You can listen to The Spark on your favorite