Episode Summary: "Emma Pei Yin, WHEN SLEEPING WOMEN WAKE: A Novel"
Totally Booked with Zibby welcomes Emma Pei Yin, a UK-born and raised Hong Kong Chinese writer residing in Australia, to discuss her debut novel, When Sleeping Women Wake. Released on July 23, 2025, this historical fiction explores the tumultuous period of Japanese-occupied Hong Kong during World War II through the lives of three remarkable women.
Book Overview
Emma Pei Yin's When Sleeping Women Wake is a sweeping historical fiction novel set in Japanese-occupied Hong Kong. Spanning three years and eight months, the narrative follows a mother, her daughter, and their maid as they navigate the devastation of war and strive to reunite amidst chaos.
Zibby Owens introduces the book:
"It's set in Japanese occupied Hong Kong during World War II... they’re trying to find their way back to one another." [03:47]
Inspiration and Personal Connection
Emma draws deeply from her family history and personal experiences. Growing up, she frequently visited her grandparents in Hong Kong, where her grandfather shared poignant stories about the Japanese occupation filled with anger and despair. These narratives ignited Emma's passion to uncover her grandmother's silent experiences during the war.
Emma shares her inspiration:
"I wanted to know why she wasn't willing to talk about things or what her story was." [04:28]
Family Dynamics and Personal Journey
The author delves into her own family dynamics, revealing a 15-year estrangement from her grandmother due to familial issues. This separation partially influenced the strained relationships depicted in her novel.
When discussing her family:
"When I stopped talking to my grandparents, I was only 17, 18 at the time... I was just teaching English, and the plan was to actually move back to London." [07:35]
Emma also touches upon reconnecting with her grandmother, expressing relief and joy over their renewed relationship:
"She's really happy about the book. So that's good." [07:29]
Writing Process and Research
Emma emphasizes the extensive research involved in crafting her novel. With limited access to Hong Kong due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she relied on the National Archives and scholarly articles to piece together authentic historical details. Her dedication is evident as she states:
"It's years of research... certain characters started to come alive." [10:44]
She began writing her novel during the pandemic lockdown:
"I can actually... write." [12:08]
Literary Scene in Australia and Representation
Residing in Canberra, Emma observes that while Australia's literary scene is culturally rich, it lacks the diversity seen in places like the U.S. She highlights the underrepresentation of Chinese and women of color authors:
"When it comes to stories from Chinese authors or even women of color authors, we're quite far behind compared to the U.S." [20:53]
Advice for Aspiring Authors
Emma offers heartfelt advice to budding writers, encouraging consistency and dedication:
"Just sit down each day, even for half an hour, and write something. That's all you need." [20:56]
Future Projects and Ongoing Work
Currently, Emma is working on her next book, influenced by recently declassified government documents related to Chinese migrant stories—a subject she found surprisingly underreported. She reveals:
"I came across some declassified documents... something really great in there. So I'm working on that." [17:38]
Personal Inspirations and Literary Preferences
Emma's love for historical fiction is rooted in her childhood experiences watching historical dramas with her grandmother and visiting historical sites like Hever Castle. She appreciates how historical events and relationships remain timeless and relatable:
"The relationships that people have with one another, that's timeless." [16:30]
Support Systems and Overcoming Challenges
Facing loneliness and the absence of immediate family support in Australia, Emma leans on her aunt and partner for emotional support:
"I do tend to talk to my aunt a lot. And then there's my partner as well, Mark, who... he's just incredible." [15:38]
Conclusion
Zibby Owens wraps up the episode by expressing admiration for Emma's candidness and the emotional depth of her book. Emma responds with gratitude, highlighting the healing aspect the writing process provided her.
Zibby concludes:
"Congratulations. I can't wait to read about the ins and outs of your family, all of your hidden secrets." [21:26]
Emma responds:
"Thank you so much, Zibby." [21:41]
When Sleeping Women Wake not only offers a gripping narrative set against a backdrop of historical turmoil but also provides a window into the author's personal journey of discovery and reconciliation. Emma Pei Yin's debut is poised to resonate with readers who appreciate well-researched historical fiction interwoven with heartfelt personal stories.
Connect with Emma Pei Yin:
- Author's Website: www.emmapei.yin (Hypothetical URL for illustration)
- Publications: Mekong Review, Being Asian Australian, Her Canberra Annie Ko Press, Hong Kong Review, and Books and Publishing Australia.
Follow Totally Booked with Zibby on Instagram: @zibbyowens