Author Jenny Tinghui Zhang joins Sparkle On to talk about fandom, following obsessions, and the small, stubborn joys that pull us back to art. Jenny discusses her latest novel, Superfan — a coming‑of‑age story about a lonely freshman who finds belonging in a K‑pop–style fandom. We explore how obsessions, artist cities (hello, Austin, TX), and the bravery to consistently show up fuel creativity. Expect thoughtful riffs on community, limerence, male figure skating, and practical wisdom for turning yearning into art without losing the love that started it.

Read Superfan: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250369666/superfan/

Read Four Treasures In The Sky: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250811783/fourtreasuresofthesky/

Follow Jenny: https://www.instagram.com/sunspotletters

Chapters

• 00:00:00 Introduction and Welcome
• 00:01:23 Falling Down the BTS Rabbit Hole
• 00:03:48 The Psychology of Obsession and Limerence
• 00:05:22 Middle School Obsessions and Lord of the Rings
• 00:07:54 Understanding Young Women and Fandom
• 00:13:46 The Power and Dark Side of Fandom
• 00:19:22 Post-Debut Depression and Losing Love for Writing
• 00:23:27 Finding the Way Back Through Figure Skating
• 00:28:02 The Magic of Old Notebooks and Past Selves
• 00:33:14 Austin's Creative Community and What's Next
• 00:39:43 Re-Romanticizing the Writing Process