We chat with author E.L. Shen about Foreigners, which is a propulsive, tender novel follows an immigrant family across generations as they navigate love, belonging, and the great fictions we must weave to preserve a legacy.
Hi, E.L.! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Yes! I am a proud Chinese American author whose first book came out in 2021; Foreigners is my fourth novel. I am also an executive editor at Penguin Random House.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I think I came out of the womb with a love for writing and reading! I wrote my first story in first grade and it went into my first grade reading bin. That love has only grown over time.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: I truly cannot remember, but I do remember loving The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle and Milkweed in elementary school.
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Your latest novel, Foreigners, is out September 22nd! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Generational secrets have great ramifications.
What can readers expect?
A sweeping, historical mystery with love triangles galore, and a major twist at the end!
Where did the inspiration for Foreigners come from?
After much prodding, my grandma agreed to tell me her life story. I always found her immigration from Taiwan to America equal parts harrowing and beautiful—especially her whirlwind summer romance with my grandfather that led to their marriage! Her story provided the bones for Foreigners, though it quickly spiraled into fiction.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing everything from Yi’s perspective; she was a real joy to get to know as she navigated life in New York, romance, and finding herself along the way. I also loved writing Samuel, Patty, Beverley, and of course, Dawn! Can I pick them all?
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Funny enough, Dawn’s present day storyline was the hardest one to write though I thought it would be the easiest. Yi’s story came to me first so I had to work hard to make sure that Dawn felt as real and alive of a character as her counterpart. Really, I couldn’t have done this without the help of my brilliant editor, Jen Ung, and many, many revisions!
What’s next for you?
I’m working on my next middle grade novel which is going to be a fun challenge in its own right! It’s funny and sarcastic—kind of a genre that’s new to me—so I’m really excited.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
I can’t wait to read American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee! And I recently read and really enjoyed The Wrong Way Home by Kate O’Shaughnessy.
