Monica Fernandez talks with Marivi Soliven about bringing Filipino culture to life in her new novel, Taxi Dancer. Marivi looks past the usual stereotypes of Filipino Americans to show what the early Filipino immigrants to America were really like. She also explains how she wove Tagalog into the book’s dialogue without translating it, and how she did it in a way that still welcomes readers who aren’t Filipino. Marivi is an author and teacher who loves sharing her culture through her writing.

Taxi Dancer is out now and available to order. - https://bit.ly/46NCvlI

Learn more about Red Hen Press

Join our substack - https://bit.ly/4AKIhCv

Find a Red Hen book you'll love! - https://bit.ly/4hvZJD3

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction

02:24 – The True Story Behind Taxi Dancer

05:08 – Shaping the Novel

12:40 – Research and Historical Accuracy

16:35 – Filipino History and Identity

19:38 – Culture, Language, and Code-Switching

25:07 – Advice for Writers

26:29 – Where to Find Marivi

KEYWORDS

Marivi Soliven, Taxi Dancer, Red Hen Radio, Red Hen Press, Monica Fernandez, historical fiction, Filipino American history, Filipino literature, taxi dance halls, manongs, 1930s California, Depression era, anti-miscegenation laws, interracial marriage, San Diego history, Stingaree District, murder mystery, courtroom drama, historical romance, Tagalog, code-switching, immigrant stories, Filipino heritage, writing about your culture, writing advice, author interview