Hong Kong Lit Club

In this episode of Hong Kong Lit Club, Julia welcomes acclaimed author Xu Xi to discuss her short story collection, Horizon Hong Kong. Spanning six decades of Hong Kong's history from the 1960s to the present, the collection examines the city's drastic transformation through the intimate lives of diverse, memorable characters. Xu Xi reflects on the unique artistic demands of short fiction, her process of shaping narrative scope, and how storytelling captures the complex realities beneath Hong Kong's public reputation as an Asian financial hub.

Xu Xi also opens up about her personal journey as a transnational writer living between New York, Hong Kong, and beyond. She shares insights on writing through the eyes of children versus adults, navigating colonial social divides, and exploring the dark undercurrents of urban life. The conversation offers a compelling look at how literature preserves disappearing landscapes and gives voice to marginalized stories amidst historical shifts.

Useful Links

• Follow Xu Xi: Website | Instagram
• Click here to read an excerpt of TST, the short story discussed in this episode.
• Cha: An Asian Literary Journal has published reviews of Horizon hong Kong by four different critics; you can read them here.
• Do you enjoy the Hong Kong Lit Club podcast? Follow for more episodes: Website | Instagram

"Julie Chan has nothing. Her twin has everything. Except a pulse."

That's the hook of Julie Chan is Dead — and this book is absolutely unhinged. I devoured this darkly hilarious satire about a young woman who steps into her deceased twin sister's influencer life. Think of Yellowface meets Bunny - an immersive, fast-pace thriller with a dash of horror exploring the ins and outs of influencer culture and what it does to your head. I could not put it down.

When I found out Liann Zhang was coming to Hong Kong for the International Literary Festival in March 2026, I had to get her on the show. Despite a packed schedule, she squeezed in time to chat—and she was exactly what I hoped: approachable, funny, warm, and oddly sane for someone who wrote a book this chaotic. As well as going into depth about how she landed her book deal, we talk about the importance of finding a critique group, being on the cusp of Gen-Z and millenial, Liann's real-life stint as a "skinfluencer" and what is next for her.

About Liann Zhang: Second-generation Chinese Canadian author, former skincare content creator, and debut novelist. Julie Chan Is Dead is an instant international bestseller and was longlisted for Canada Reads 2026.

Website | Instagram @theliannz

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In this episode, Julia and Emma Pei Yin continue their conversation about Emma's debut historical novel, When Sleeping Women Wake.

Emma reflects on how readers in Hong Kong have connected with the book's themes in a way that feels different from her Australian audience, and how writing the novel lead her to rediscover a side of the city she'd missed growing up.

She also opens up about her editorial agency, Yinfluence, which she founded to support underrepresented writers, including Asian Australian and queer voices. The conversation explores who gets to tell which stories in fiction, and what happens when the industry leans toward familiar narratives.

On the craft side, Emma shares her writing habits, her unexpected relationship with writer's block (or rather, "option overload"), and what she's learned from working on her second book.

A thoughtful conversation about storytelling, representation, and the stories worth telling.

Follow Emma Pei Yin on Instagram | Website

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When Sleeping Women Wake by Emma Pei Yin follows Mingzhu, Qiang, and Biyu in Japanese-occupied Hong Kong, 1941. Not generals, not politicians, but women fighting to reunite while the world collapses around them. This novels shows the quiet heroism of everyday people. This books tells the stories that History books do not. This book matters.

Emma launched this novel at Bookazine Social in November 2025. I was deeply honoured when she invited me to host.

I recorded the night—you will hear Emma answering my questions with wit and charm, the audience discovering something beautiful, and the kind of conversation that happens when people actually feel a book.

This is that episode. Enjoy, and don't forget to listen to Part 2, where Emma talks even further about her writing process and reads the opening chapter of When Sleeping Women Wake.

Guest: Emma Pei Yin - Find on her Website | Instagram

About her: Emma Pei Yin is an Australian-Chinese writer and editor. Her debut novel, When Sleeping Women Wake, has been published globally, translated into multiple languages, and awarded many prizes.

She is the founder of yinfluence editorial, and also co-hosts Served With Rice Poddy

Host: Julia Besnard

Follow Hong Kong Lit Club: Website | Instagram

Join Julia for a captivating interview with Siobhan McDermott, author of the enchanting middle-grade fantasy series, Paper Dragons. We dive deep into the wellspring of her creativity: the rich tapestry of her dual Irish-Chinese heritage. Siobhan shares how the myths and legends told by her parents not only shaped her childhood, but also built the very foundations of her magical worlds.

In this episode, Siobhan traces her writing journey from its earliest spark, recalling how her imagination first took flight during the regular ferry trips from Lantau Island to Hong Kong. She opens up about her creative process, the profound influence of cultural stories, and her powerful message that it is never too late to become a writer.

Whether you're a writer seeking inspiration, a lover of myths, or someone fascinated by the beautiful collision of cultures, this conversation is filled with warmth, wisdom, and a tangible sense of magic.

Find Siobhan McDermott on Instagram @siobhanmcd91 and on her website.

Want to explore more works by Hong Kong writers? Subscribe to Hong Kong Lit Club wherever you get your podcasts!

Follow us on Instagram @hongkonglitclub and Threads.

A follow-up to Episode #7, this is our most personal episode yet. It’s not an interview; it’s a kitchen recording. Inspired by her previous conversation with James Beard-nominated author Christine Wong, our host, Julia — a Frenchwoman living in Hong Kong — decides to put the celebrated cookbook The Vibrant Hong Kong Table to the ultimate test.

Armed with two of Christine’s iconic veganised recipes (“Jing Seui Daan” steamed eggs, with no eggs, and “Yu Heung Ke Ji” fish-fragrant eggplant — with no fish!), she embarks on a culinary experiment that becomes a beautiful family affair. Joining her is her valiant mother-in-law, Mama, a brilliant Cantonese cook who navigates the kitchen with awe-inspiring skill despite being visually impaired, and Archie, their patient and gifted domestic helper.

What follows is an amusing, heartfelt, and sometimes chaotic odyssey. Listen in as three women, bridging generations and cultures, communicate across a whirlwind of Cantonese, English, and later, French (when a toddler returns from playgroup). It’s a story about more than just recipes — it’s about translation in every sense, the joy of collaborative creation, and what happens when you try to reinvent a home kitchen, one vegan dish at a time.

In This Episode You’ll Hear:

• The sizzle, the steam, and the very real sounds of a home kitchen experiment.
• The challenge (and comedy) of cooking from a recipe that redefines classics, guided only by Christine Wong’s book.
• Mama’s incredible expertise and intuition, challenging the notion of disability in the kitchen.
• Archie’s graceful support, acting as photographer, translator, and calm centre.
• The linguistic tango of coordinating in Cantonese, English, and French.
• The final, hopeful taste test of our plant-based creations.

Featured Cookbook & Recipes:

• Cookbook: The Vibrant Hong Kong Table: 88 iconic dishes from dim sum to late-night snacks by Christine Wong (Chronicle Books). A James Beard Award-nominated cookbook that lovingly veganises 88 iconic Hong Kong dishes.
• Recipes Attempted:
  1. Jing Seui Daan 蒸水蛋 (Steamed “Eggs”): The ultimate comfort food custard, made without a single egg.
  2. Yu Heung Ke Ji 魚香茄子 (“Fish Fragrant” Eggplant): The iconic, savoury-sweet sauce clinging to soft eggplant, with zero fish.

Listen to the Inspiration: Want to hear the interview that started it all? Check out Episode 7: Macaroni Soup, Minus the Ham: Christine Wong on Reimagining Hong Kong's Iconic Foods, Plant-Based, for the fascinating conversation on heritage, sustainability, and the art of veganising Hong Kong’s food memories.

Where to Find Our Podcast: Subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RSS, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Follow Us: Instagram @hongkonglitclub

Support the Show: If this chaotic, heartfelt kitchen journey resonated with you, please leave us a 5-star review.

Guest: Christine Wong – James Beard Award-nominated author, plant-based cook, food photographer, and sustainability advocate.

In this episode, we chat with Christine Wong in a bustling Hong Kong cha chaan teng about her culinary journey, the art of veganizing iconic comfort foods, and how our food choices connect to culture, family, and the planet’s health.

• Key Topics & Discussion Points:
• The Spark of the Journey: How making baby food for her toddlers ignited a path to culinary authorship and plant-based advocacy.
• The Vibrant Hong Kong Table: The story behind her James Beard-nominated cookbook; a mission to preserve culinary nostalgia and disappearing food traditions with a future-forward, plant-based twist.
• The Gutsy Vegan Makeover: The creative challenges of reimagining meat- fish- and dairy-heavy classics like wonton noodle soup, steamed eggs, and beef brisket noodles without relying on processed mock meats. (Spoiler: Cabbage steaks and sweet potato puree are heroes!).
• Nostalgia vs. Innovation: Balancing deep respect for tradition with the desire to innovate, and why visual appeal and "eating with your eyes" are so important in her recipes.Cooking Philosophy & Tips:
  • Beginner-friendly recipes from her book (steamed "egg," sautéed veggies).
  • Essential tools for a small kitchen (steamer rack, long chopsticks, a good pan).
  • The importance of time, planning, and making cooking a communal, family activity.
• Family & Food Memory: The influence of her grandmothers ("Mama"), early food memories of Lunar New Year, and passing on cultural heritage to her children raised in New York.
• The Hong Kong Food Scene: The stark contrast (and surprising harmony) between street food stalls and fine dining, and the growing but gradual shift toward plant-based options in the city.
• Sustainability & Conscious Cooking: How her work, including co-authoring Living Without Plastic, ties together personal health, cultural representation, and eco-friendly kitchen choices.

Resources & Links:

• Christine's New Cookbook: The Vibrant Hong Kong Table (Chronicle Books)
• Christine's Website: https://www.consciouscooking.studio/copy-of-home
• Follow Christine on Instagram: @thevibrantveggietable and Substack: @thevibrantveggietable

Support the Show: If you enjoy Hong Kong Lit Club, leave us a 5-star review and share this episode with a friend who loves food, culture, or just a great story! Instagram: @hongkonglitclub

Award-winning author Ritu Hemnani joins us for a powerful conversation on writing as a tool for empathy and social change.

We begin with her poem, "Mind the Gap," which hijacks the London Underground's warning to frame the xenophobia faced by Asian communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ritu reveals how this mundane phrase becomes a metaphor for prejudice, bystander silence, and the fear of being targeted.

We explore her cinematic craft, moving from nostalgic Chinatown memories to a tense tube car confrontation, and how her drama background fuels her character-driven empathy.

The discussion expands to her mission as a children's author. She shares her journey to publication with the Partition-inspired verse novel Lion of the Sky and picture book Gope and Meera, driven by her belief that every child deserves to see themselves in a book.

Ritu also offers practical advice for writers and a sneak peek at her upcoming narrative non-fiction picture book, 'Their Story is Our Story.'

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Ritu’s live reading of “Mind the Gap.”
• How a TEDx Talk secured her HarperCollins book deal.
• Why writing for children is her toughest and most important audience.
• Writing tips, from daily habits to breaking through blocks.
• Our Local Linguo segment on the Cantonese phrase 「請留意月台空隙」.

Featured in this episode:

• Ritu Hemnani: Website | Instagram
• Books Mentioned: Lion of the Sky | Gope and Meera: A Migration Story
• Publication: Imprint by The Women in Publishing Society (Hong Kong)

Episode Credits:

• Host & Producer: Julia Besnard
• Guest: Ritu Hemnani
• Audio clips: "President Trump Calls Coronavirus 'Kung Flu'" BBC clip; "Coronavirus: Racism towards Chinese people in the UK on the rise" video by The Telegraphh UK.
• Hong Kong Lit Club is a production dedicated to promoting the writers of Hong Kong. Follow us on Instagram.

Subscribe now on your favourite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. If this conversation moved you, please share it with a friend and leave us a rating and review!

In this heartfelt episode, we explore Jennifer Wong’s short story "Burden", a poignant tale of family tension, cultural identity, and the silent struggles of aging in Hong Kong. Through the eyes of a child narrator, the story unveils the fractured relationship between a grandfather deemed a "fu lui" (burden) and his family, set against the cramped flats of Mei Foo and fleeting trips to Shenzhen. Writer Jennifer Wong joins us to discuss the autobiographical echoes in her work, the power of child narrators, and how Hong Kong’s spatial and economic pressures shape familial bonds.

In the Deep Dive segment, we explore the symbolic meaning of the black line drawn by the mother to exclude Grandpa from family life, how materialism and scarcity fuel tensions and mirror Hong Kong's economic strains, and why a child's voice captures family dynamics with raw honesty and inadvertent humour. We also discuss Shenzhen asa means to escape Hong Kong's cramped flats - which leads us to the "Local Linguo" segment, where Aidan and Julia unpack the meaning of "北上 (bei soeng)" – "Heading North" This phrase was inspired by Grandpa’s monthly Shenzhen trips, which echo Hong Kongers’ cross-border adventures—cheap haircuts, 24-hour hotpot, and the unspoken rivalry with mainland China. "It’s not just a direction; it’s a lifestyle!"

Where to Find Jennifer Wong

• Website/Linktree
• Instagram: @jenniferwswong
• Current Projects: A new poetry collection.

Subscribe & Follow: Hong Kong Lit Club is available on Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Spotify, etc. Join the conversation with #HongKongLitClub!

In this episode, we explore A Personal History of Hong Kong as 39 Everyday Objects, a visually striking poem by Dr. Antony Huen that transforms mundane items—from bamboo scaffolding to Octopus cards—into a curated museum of collective memory. Blending personal nostalgia with cultural commentary, the poem invites readers to reconsider Hong Kong’s identity through the lens of the ordinary.

Dr. Huen joins Julia in the Deep Dive segment to discuss:

• Why objects, not people or places, became his framework for Hong Kong’s story.
• The tension between local, colonial, and global influences in the poem.
• How language choices (English, Cantonese, Japanese) reflect Hong Kong’s hybridity.
• Which object he’d preserve for future generations—and why.

We also hear from two Hong Kongers in their 60s about the iconic objects that define their city. Finally, in Local Lingo, we unpack the surprising global journey of the red-white-blue bag.

Featured Work & Further Reading

📜 Poem: A Personal History of Hong Kong as 39 Everyday Objects (original English version)

📚 Essay: Cosmopolitan Hybridity, Cultural Memory, and Curation in Hong Kong Poetry by Antony Huen and Felix Chow

👜 The Red-White-Blue Bag: Read journalist Christopher DeWolf’s article on how this humble tarp became a global icon.

🌐 Author’s Website: Visit here

📱Social Media: Follow Dr. Huen on Twitter/X or Instagram

Credits

🎙️ Voice Contributors: Moon, Biu, Sybil, and Jim

🏨 Recording Space: Special thanks to the Eaton Hotel in Hong Kong.

📸 Cover Photo: Wiki Commons

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