So here’s a little tease about what I’m working on: my new book has an Asian American main character. I don’t want to spill too many details yet, but I will say this feels important to me. Growing up, I didn’t see many Asian Americans at the center of the stories I loved. Even now, it still feels rare. So putting an Asian American voice at the heart of my story feels personal and long overdue.
Thinking about this has made me reflect on how important it is for Asian Americans to support each other, especially in storytelling and media. Over the years, I’ve seen Asian American creators break barriers on different platforms, and honestly, it’s inspiring.
On YouTube, Ryan Higa showed the world that people did want to watch Asian Americans. Wong Fu Productions created short films and series that captured love and friendship in ways Hollywood wasn’t giving us at the time. Jubilee came along and built a whole platform where people from all walks of life, including Asian Americans, could debate and share perspectives. Those creators made space for voices like mine.
When I think about movies and books, The Joy Luck Club and Crazy Rich Asians stand out because both were based on novels and both featured all–Asian American casts that broke barriers in Hollywood. Then there’s Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, which gave us an Asian American teen lead in a rom-com that reached global audiences, and Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko, a family saga that shows the depth and resilience of Korean history. Now with projects like K-Pop: Demon Hunters on the horizon, it feels like Asian American stories are branching out into new genres and proving again and again that we belong everywhere.
All of this ties into something I think we should keep raising awareness about: AAPI Heritage Month. It’s more than a celebration. It’s a reminder to notice the voices, stories, and creators who have often been overlooked. It’s a chance to say, “We’re here, and our stories matter.” For me, writing this book is part of that. It’s a way of adding one more voice, one more character, one more story into the mix.
So here’s to Asian American creators in every space. Whether you’re making YouTube videos, writing novels, producing films, or just beginning your creative journey, your work matters. And if you’re supporting by reading, watching, and sharing, that matters just as much. We need each other.
I’ll share more about my book in the future, but for now I’ll just say this: I’m proud to be adding another Asian American character to the shelves, and I can’t wait for you to meet them.