Title: Chasing
Dragons
Author: Douglas
A. Jaffe
Synopsis: Sebastian is the owner of a bookstore café in Hong Kong who
provides informal counseling services to an array of offbeat characters. His
quiet life is suddenly upended when he meets Chloe, and their relationship
takes a startling turn, as it begins to parallel the relationship of a pair of
mythical dragons from Chinese history. The lovers struggle with questions of
mortality and immortality, before a choice is made that pulls them apart.
Chasing Dragons is a fast-paced, insightful urban fantasy
novel set in the booming metropolis of Hong Kong. When Chinese history and
mythology collide with the realities of modern day society, you can be sure
that no one will escape unscathed.
From the Author: As a long-time Asia resident and fiction reader, it was
always a little distressing to see how little Hong Kong featured in modern
novels. When it did, it would appear as the backdrop of some ridiculous
thriller where the author clearly knew little about the place or its culture.
Hong Kong would be portrayed, as a dangerous, violent town where foreigners could
be attacked or abducted at will, and gunfights were common occurrences.
In Chasing Dragons, I wanted to give a more realistic
depiction of Hong Kong, but I also wanted to incorporate fantasy elements from
Chinese history and mythology. I’d never seen a book that combined these
themes, and while it meant the book would not neatly fit into a marketable genre,
it was the story I wanted to write.
In many ways, combining a vision of modern, chaotic Hong
Kong with the ancient China of lore is really the only way to show the depths
and conflicts that riddle Chinese society as it rapidly embraces economic
prosperity. This process of growth often has the unfortunate side effect of pushing
aside unique cultural memories and traditions in the mad rush for progress. In
this way, I thought it only proper to blend the modern and the old and I hope
I’ve managed to successfully convey this sense of place to my readers.
Author Bio: Doug has been in Asia for most of the last two decades and
originally came to the region from New York as a graduate student, studying in
China and Taiwan. He has a dual Masters in Chinese Studies and International
Affairs and speaks passable Chinese on a good day.
In recent years, Douglas has pursued his interest in writing
fiction and has published his first novel, Chasing Dragons. A second book is
currently in the works.
Links:
Barnes&Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chasing-dragons-douglas-a-jaffe/1113934417?ean=9781624883729
No comments:
Post a Comment