Peeking Between the Pages

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Interview & Giveaway with Mingmei Yip, author of Song of the Silk Road

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Today I have an interview with Mingmei Yip, author of Song of the Silk Road, to share with you all. I love the cover of this book, it’s just beautiful. I haven’t been able to fit in reading Song of the Silk Road this month but I hope to have a review for you all in early May. I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about this book which makes me anxious to experience it for myself. In the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy this interview (pre-prepared) with Mingmei Yip…

1. Can you tell us something about yourself that not a lot of your readers don’t know?

Besides my hectic writing schedule, that I still manage to take time to perform the Chinese zither (guqin) professionally – last year I was invited by Carnegie Hall to play at its Chinese Music Festival — and teach calligraphy workshops.

2. Are you working on anything else at the moment?

Yes, my fourth novel set in the 20ies Shanghai about a woman spy working for a gangster. I am also writing and illustrating my second children’s book.

3. Which part of SONG OF THE SILK ROAD was the most enjoyable to write?

There are a few. First, the love-making scene in the desert, imagining golden singing sand dunes, the unrelieved heat, the passion…all aphrodiasical.

Another sequence I particularly enjoyed is the protagonist Lily Lin’s platonic love with one of her admirers – an Ughur healer who loves and protects her without asking anything back from her. Later, upon learning his tragic story she discovers she can open her yin eye to see beings from the realm of the dead.

4. What are you currently reading?

A collection of ancient Chinese poems called Songs of the South. Many of the poems tell of legendary beings and their otherworldly sojourns, some are frankly erotic.

I’m also reading The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and awed by his ability to create magic with words, something I also aspire to.

5. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

No. I work on each until it is as good as I know how to make it. Then I move on to the next one.
__________

Thank you so much for joining us today with this wonderful interview Mingmei! I’m really looking forward to reading and enjoying your novel!
__________

About the Book (from Kensington Publishing)

In this richly imaginative novel, Mingmei Yip—author of Peach Blossom Pavilion and Petals From the Sky—follows one woman’s daunting journey along China’s fabled Silk Road.

As a girl growing up in Hong Kong, Lily Lin was captivated by photographs of the desert – its long, lonely vistas and shifting sand dunes. Now living in New York, Lily is struggling to finish her graduate degree when she receives an astonishing offer. An aunt she never knew existed will pay Lily a huge sum to travel across China’s desolate Taklamakan Desert – and carry out a series of tasks along the way.

Intrigued, Lily accepts. Her assignments range from the dangerous to the bizarre. Lily must seduce a monk. She must scrape a piece of clay from the famous Terracotta Warriors, and climb the Mountains of Heaven to gather a rare herb. At Xian, her first stop, Lily meets Alex, a young American with whom she forms a powerful connection. And soon, she faces revelations that will redefine her past, her destiny, and the shocking truth behind her aunt’s motivations.

Powerful and eloquent, “Song of the Silk Road” is a captivating story of self-discovery, resonant with the mysteries of its haunting, exotic landscape.

Check out the Book Trailer…

About the Author (from Kensington Publishing)


Mingmei Yip was born in China, received her Ph.D. from the University of Paris, Sorbonne, and held faculty appointments at the Chinese University and Baptist University in Hong Kong. She’s published five books in Chinese, written several columns for seven major Hong Kong newspapers, and has appeared on over forty TV and radio programs in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, and the U.S. She immigrated to the United States in 1992, where she now lives in New York City.

Visit Mingmei Yip’s website
Find Mingmei Yip on Facebook

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have one copy of Song of the Silk Road to share with my readers. To enter…

  • For 1 entry leave me a comment with an email address to contact you (no email, no entry).
  • For 2 entries, follow my blog. If you already do, thank you and please let me know in your comment so I can pass the extra entry on to you.
  • For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway to spread the word!

This giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents (no PO boxes) and I will be drawing for the winner on Saturday, May 7/11. Good luck to you all!

© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

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Comments

  1. I'd love to read more books about life in China–sounds great. Thanks for the giveaway.

    bibliophilebythesea AT gmail DOT com

  3. This sounds very interesting, and I love the beautiful cover. Thanks for the giveaway.
    lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

    extra entry – Google follower

  4. So very cool that she also plays the Chinese zither! I would love to hear that! This was a great interview, and I would love the chance to read the book, so please do enter me in your wonderful giveaway!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

    I also follow your blog through google reader

  7. Thanks for this great giveaway and the interesting interview. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

  10. This sounds like a great read. PLease enter me in the contest. Already a follower

    heatherdpear at hotmail dot com

  12. Talk about talented – I wonder if Yip ever sleeps.

    I subscribe in Google Reader.

    kathy(at)bermudaonion.net

  15. I'd love to be entered to win this one. Sounds great.

    Old follower on gfc

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

  18. Love the cover of this book. And the author is rather interesting also.
    pboylecharley(at)hotmail(dot)com

  25. I absolutely loved Shanghai Girls by Lisa See! So, naturally when I saw this book, I knew I have to read it soon! Thank you for the opportunity to try and win this and pls know that if I do win, it will be passed forward so someone else can enjoy it as well (as all my books are!).
    sweepingnews(at)gmail(dot)com

  28. I so enjoy reading books about China since it's a country I do not know much about. It's history is fascinating.
    Thanks for the contest!
    jennygirl73[at]gmail[dot]com

  31. The Cover of this book is beautiful and makes me want to read it.
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

  36. I'm a sucker for Chinese setting and the whole story sounds like it will be an amazing read!!

  38. Thanks for the giveaway! What I've heard about this book makes it sound very interesting. I'm a new GFC follower.

    susanna dot pyatt at student dot rcsnc dot org

  44. I've seen this book now on a few blogs and every time I get even more excited about it.

    frellathon(at)gmail(Dot)com

  46. Thank you so much for this wonderful giveaway! I am huge on Asian Literature and I would definitely LOVE to read this book :)

    I am your old GFC follower!

    evie(at)gmail(dot)com

    THANK YOU!!

  52. Looks interesting…thanks for the giveaway.
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

    +1 follower via GFC

  54. Excellent interview. The book sounds wonderful! Thank you for posting this, Darlene.

    I am a faithful follower, and I've posted this in my blog's sidebar. :)

    suko95(at)gmail(dot)com

  56. I follow on GFC as Melanie L and I subscribe by email.

    peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

  57. Sounds like a very interesting book. I'd really like to read it. Please enter me. Thanks!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

  62. I enjoy reading books set in Asia

    thank you

    chocolate and croissants at yahoo . com