Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
Hello, I am Xiaolong Huang, born and raised in a small factory town situated along the Yangtze River in China. My upbringing exposed me to the complexities of life, where I witnessed firsthand the struggles encountered by my father, who was gay, and the hardships endured by my mother fulfilling her traditional role in a broken family. Additionally, I witnessed the significant life changes experienced by factory workers during China’s shift from a centrally planned economy to a market-oriented one. After obtaining my degree in Electrical Engineering, I relocated to California in the United States, where I pursued further education and established myself in an engineering career.
My passion for improving human conditions stems from witnessing the discrimination and societal dogmas that affected my father and mother. After leaving their home at the age of fifteen, I witnessed the challenges faced by the LGBTQ community, immigrants, African Americans, and working-class Americans. Those exposures drive me to promote intellectual pursuit and humanity. My commitment to social change partly stems from experiencing the deterioration of America’s economic and political environment, as well as the threat to democracy posed by the rise of authoritarianism.
Aside from advocating for social change, I enjoy reading about science and technology. I am delighted to connect with your readers and share my experiences and my book that have shaped me both as an author and as a person.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “JOURNEY To The HEARTLAND”?
Writing Journey to the Heartland was an emotionally challenging process for me. The book is based on my real-life encounters, so revisiting those experiences and confronting my own traumas was emotionally difficult at times. While writing, there were moments when I found myself breaking down and crying in my office.
Another challenge was finding the right threads to balance authenticity with crafting a thought-provoking story that would encourage readers to contemplate key aspects of human life and contemporary societal issues, ultimately inspiring them to chart their own journey towards their heartland.
Writing the book in English, which is not my first language, was also challenging. I had to make sure my writing expressed the feelings and experiences I wanted to share, while also keeping the story’s unique cultural context.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
That would be The Life of Pi by Yann Martel, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, and Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils by Jin Yong.
The Life of Pi showed me how the power of storytelling can inspire readers and evoke empathy. I was inspired by the protagonist’s journey of self-discovery and resilience in the face of adversity.
The Kite Runner’s exploration of themes such as friendship, betrayal, and complex human relationships deeply resonated with my own experiences. The novel’s exploration of cultural and societal issues inspired me to tackle similarly challenging subjects in my own work with sensitivity and nuance.
Finally, Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils has had a significant impact on my writing due to its engaging storytelling, memorable characters, and the values it conveys. The epic tale delved into themes such as loyalty, defiance, morality, and the complexities of human nature. The values it conveyed, such as the importance of integrity, compassion, and personal growth, have also inspired me to create a narrative that invites readers to reflect on these timeless values and contemplate the deeper themes that unite us all as human beings.
Q4. What’s your favorite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
As someone who grew up in Chongqing, my favorite spot to visit in my home country, China, is this vibrant city. It’s a cool city known as the “Mountain City”, because it has a unique blend of urban life and natural complex terrains. The hills are steep, there are winding rivers, and the skyline at night is amazing. The city’s complex terrain has created an interesting street culture and social customs that are tough yet straightforward.
The city is also known for its delicious and spicy cuisine, particularly the famous hotpot. The communal experience of sharing a hotpot with family and friends has always filled me with a sense of warmth and joy.
Whenever I return to Chongqing, I feel a deep sense of connection to my roots. This connection to my hometown has influenced my writing, shaping the themes and values I explore in my book, Journey to the Heartland.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?
Indeed, I did a lot of planning before I started writing Journey to the Heartland. It was important to lay a solid foundation for the story.
I first made a list of important values that I wanted to encourage people to think and talk about through my writing. That included the complex and fluid nature of sexuality, supporting human rights, exploring interracial and multicultural relationships, discussing democracy and authoritarianism, valuing intellectual pursuits, and appreciating the challenges and rewards of human connections.
After that, I made a list of important characters for the story, outlining their own subplots and how their paths would cross one another. Additionally, I wrote down some of the important lines of dialogue they’d deliver.
Afterwards, I planned a series of epochs that could carry the evolution of Hanwei, the protagonist, as he navigates through various experiences and interacts with other characters, so he could possibly defy odds, challenge the limitations of his previous generation, and hopefully reach his heartland.
To maintain accuracy and authenticity, I also researched articles, news, and historical records to ensure the details I included in my writing were correct, including scientific theories, engineering disciplines, African American history, the 2008 financial crisis, pop cultures, the 2016 and 2020 elections, as well as geographic locations.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘JOURNEY To The HEARTLAND’?
Three years. That includes not only the actual writing but also the journey to publication that involved working with editors, proofreaders, and cover designers, as well as marketing and promoting the book to reach its intended audience.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your book?
Journey to the Heartland is accessible to individual readers in both eBook and paperback formats on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and various other retailers. For wholesale customers, such as libraries, the book can be obtained through Ingram distribution.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘JOURNEY To The HEARTLAND’?
‘Journey to the Heartland’ immediately came to mind when I was thinking about the title for the book. It embodies Hanwei’s story and the multitude of life experiences he goes through, leading him to a profound understanding of life, love, and humanity.
The story behind the book cover of my novel is an interesting one. The designer of the book cover is the illustrator of the “Life of Pi”, Andy Bridge. Initially, I reached out to him with a synopsis of the story and some excerpts, and to my delight, he agreed to take on the project. As a big fan of “Life of Pi” and its cover, you can imagine how thrilled I was to have him on board. However, we had different visions for the book cover at the start. I imagined a mountain range and rough terrain leading to a bright, far-off destination. In contrast, Andy proposed two birds with brushes and flowers around them, which wasn’t to my liking initially. We went back and forth, debating our ideas until he convinced me to trust his vision and expertise. When Andy presented the final book cover, I was blown away by its beauty and allegorical meaning. It depicted the struggle of a young bird on the dark side who had to overcome thorns and traps to reach the bright side, where vibrant flowers, leaves, and warmth awaited, with other birds accompanying and witnessing the journey.
Q9. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
Sure. Without giving away too much, here are a few secrets from Journey to the Heartland that readers may find intriguing.
In one scene, little Hanwei’s mother revealed to him that rumors about his father’s homosexual behavior with younger men were circulating around the factory town. As she looked into the abyss of their uncertain future, standing beside a cliff, the weight of her duty as a mother pulled her back to reality when Hanwei asked if she could help keep an encyclopedia calendar book that belonged to his father in case they had to divorce.
In another scene, during a phone call with his mother in China, Hanwei discovered that his father had a male companion by his side during his hospital stay. At the same time, news of gay marriage legalization in America played on his TV in California. However, due to their estranged relationship, Hanwei couldn’t find the courage to share the news or offer any comfort to his father. His mother became the only means of communication with his father, while she was helping the father in the hospital, unwillingly witnessing the care and support between the two men whose gay affair had brought shame and hardship into her life.
One favorite scene for me is, Hanwei was hanging out with his African American boyfriend at a US marine camp. And the soldiers in the military dorm were completely comfortable around the couple. However, “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was still in place. It showed how out of touch the politicians were with everyday young Americans.
Readers who identify as progressive may enjoy a scene in the story where Hanwei volunteered for the Bernie Sanders campaign during the 2020 election, where he hoped to sow the seeds of the social change he believed in.
In an elaborate scene, Hanwei learned about Einstein’s theory of special relativity in his University class. This revelation led him to question how common sense can be a prejudice, which enlightened in his intellectual pursuit for a fundamental understanding of life, love, and the world.
In the last Chapter, Hanwei followed his therapist’s advice to write a poem to reflect his beliefs to help deal with his depression. However, he was interrupted by an unexpected phone message. The poem is eventually revealed at the end of the novel.
Overall, Journey to the Heartland is a deeply emotional and thought-provoking book that tackles important social issues with sensitivity and nuance. It challenges readers to confront their own biases and assumptions, while also offering a powerful and uplifting message of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
Buy Journey to the Heartland on Amazon
Sassy Reviews 