A Deep Dive Into The Themes And Creative Process Behind Her Critically Acclaimed Historical Fantasy
Ann Liang shares her inspiration for A Song to Drown Rivers, her research process, and the challenges of portraying Xishi’s complexity while exploring themes of love, sacrifice, and resilience.
Ann Liang is a literary force whose storytelling transcends boundaries, captivating readers across genres and age groups. With her critically acclaimed young adult novels and adult fiction, she has earned her place as a New York Times, USA Today, and Indie bestselling author. Her works, celebrated for their emotional depth and cultural richness, have been translated into over twenty languages and featured on platforms like Good Morning America, The Today Show, and Cosmopolitan. Liang’s ability to weave compelling narratives with complex characters has solidified her reputation as one of the most exciting voices in contemporary fiction. Whether exploring the intricacies of identity, love, or history, her stories resonate deeply, leaving an indelible mark on readers worldwide.
In this exclusive interview with Reader’s House, Ann Liang takes us behind the scenes of her latest novel, A Song to Drown Rivers, a historical fantasy inspired by the legend of Xishi. With her signature blend of meticulous research and vivid imagination, Liang brings to life a tale of beauty, sacrifice, and resilience set against the backdrop of Ancient China. From her creative process to the challenges of balancing historical accuracy with narrative freedom, Liang offers fascinating insights into her craft and the themes that drive her work. This conversation is a testament to her passion for storytelling and her dedication to honoring the cultural and historical elements that shape her stories.
“Ann Liang is a masterful storyteller whose vivid imagination and cultural insight create unforgettable, emotionally resonant narratives across genres.”
EDITOR, READER’S HOUSE
What inspired you to write a novel based on the legend of Xishi, and what kind of research did you undertake to bring this historical fantasy to life?
I’d first heard about the legend of Xishi from my mom when I was a child, and I’d always been fascinated by her story—how her beauty was so extraordinary it could make fish sink and bring a kingdom to its knees. But it was only later, when I’d just graduated college, that I stumbled upon a documentary about her life and was immediately drawn to her dynamic with the military advisor, Fanli. From there on, I basically went to download every article I could find about her on JSTOR. I also had the opportunity to visit her hometown when I was travelling in China, and that really helped me immerse myself in her world and imagine the kind of young woman she was when she was first discovered by Fanli.
Xishi is portrayed as both a weapon and a woman with her own agency. How did you approach developing her character, and what challenges did you face in balancing these aspects?
It was definitely challenging at times to balance these aspects in the narrative, but I feel like many of the questions here in regards to beauty as empowerment versus beauty as performance are timeless. My main concern was not over-simplifying or reducing Xishi to just one thing: legendary beauty or calculating concubine, spy or pawn, villain or victim, powerful or powerless. With Xishi, and all my main characters, really, I never want to start writing the book with this mentality of: okay, I’m going to craft a female character. Rather, I just try to conceive of the characters as real people, and people are contradictory and complex, and all those nuances and gray areas, whilst difficult to write about, are also precisely what I find most compelling as a writer.
The novel explores themes of sacrifice and love against the backdrop of war. How did you weave these themes into the narrative, and what message do you hope readers take away from them?
I feel like these themes of sacrifice and love arise naturally when you’re writing about anything against the backdrop of war—what makes war so cruel and terrifying is that it threatens and destroys everything you hold close to your heart. It forces you to make impossible choices and give up things and people you can’t bear to live without. At the same time, there’s something to be said about the strength and beauty of a love that can persevere through the ugliness of war, and so that’s one of the messages I’d hope readers would take away from this story.
How did you ensure that the cultural and historical elements of Ancient China were accurately and respectfully represented in the story?
It was vitally important to me to be as respectful as possible in my portrayal of these characters and this period in history, especially as a Chinese diaspora writer. I suppose the first step, for me, was coming to terms with the fact that as someone who’s split their time between Australia and China and has been shaped by both cultures, I wouldn’t be able to write the story the same way that someone who’s spent their entire lives in China would.
In some ways, my approach to the book wasn’t so dissimilar to how I’d approach my research while I was studying History and Chinese Literature at university—compiling and analysing primary and secondary sources, approaching experts for feedback. I also consider myself very lucky in that the book has been released at a time where we’re seeing more historical fiction and historical fantasy set in Ancient China, and it’s always inspiring and deeply valuable to study how other authors portray these elements in their works.
Ultimately, while writing A Song to Drown Rivers, I hoped that my interpretation of the legend would maybe spark interest for readers less familiar with it, and that they might then seek out the original legend and the numerous adaptations that exist.
Can you share some insights into your writing process for this book? Did you encounter any unexpected challenges or breakthroughs while writing?
This was my first time writing a historical novel, so in comparison to my previous contemporary books, I definitely spent longer preparing to write the book—doing research, watching dramas and documentaries, creating a chapter outline so I would know exactly where the story needed to go and what was driving the characters and plot forward in each scene. I wouldn’t call this a breakthrough, exactly, as I always had a vision for the ending, but the final chapter was surprisingly easy and enjoyable to write, and it was by far the most memorable part of the writing process for me.
Given the book’s selection as a Good Morning America Book Club Pick and other accolades, how do you feel about the reception it has received, and what has been the most surprising feedback from readers so far?
It’s been surreal. I never would have even dared dream of this happening—there’s so much that’s outside your control in publishing, and all you can really hope for is that your story finds readers. To say that I’m honoured and wholeheartedly grateful doesn’t begin to cover it. I was especially nervous about the reception for this book since it’s very different to anything I’ve published before, so one of the most wonderful surprises has been receiving positive feedback from readers who’ve been here since my young adult debut, and who have followed me across genres and age categories.
