My childhood books have been foundational in determining how I view the world. Sometimes I find myself feeling nostalgia for moments I’ve only ever read about.

Amidst the rise in anti-Asian violence, I started connecting more with fictional characters who shared my upbringing and represented pride in our Asian-American heritage. I started Promised Protagonists with the belief that every child should find themselves reflected as the “main character” of a story. We’ve been able to publish a children’s lit mag, host workshops for over 200+ kids, and collaborate with several other national organizations.

My interviews in Teachers & Writers and Words Without Borders have been some of my favorite conversations.