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.

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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

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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.

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