An Interview with Tina Wu

Dr. Ting-Wei Wu, known by her peers as Tina Wu, was born in Taiwan and moved to the United Kingdom in 2001. As a little girl with a big imagination, the tale of the Quest for Qieta series has lived in her mind since the age of sixteen. At last, over a decade later, she has put pen to paper to bring the universe of Neputa to life.

Tina is a doctor in the UK. She is an avid lover of martial arts (namely Tae Kwon Do) and spends her free time drawing, reading, and watching anime. She also loves K-POP and has been a BTS ARMY since 2015.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

Since I was around six years old I have loved writing stories. I still have scrapbooks from back then, full of scribbles of stories which I have created. The first books I remember reading as a child were Jacqueline Wilson’s books and Harry Potter. I was amazed at how much I felt I knew the characters as if they were real-life friends, how incredible it was to be transported to a completely different world. This truly magical feeling consumed me, and my love for reading and writing absolutely blossomed.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

I have always loved the themes of Asian Fantasy and Martial Arts. This story has lived in my mind since I was sixteen years old. I was going through a difficult time then, and the characters I envisioned were people who restored my faith in humanity. Then, scenes started playing in my head at random times, just like they always did whenever I had a story blooming, and the story took off from there.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

Surprisingly, it didn’t take long at all. I always knew that the centre of all the mysteries in my book would be an island called Qieta (pronounced Keeta), and so, it only made sense for me to name it The Quest for Qieta!

The second book title took me a bit longer. Memories of the Kurai only came after I finished writing about a character’s backstory, so it came after I finished writing about half of the book.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

Oh my gosh, interesting that you ask this question because there are two particular songs I always listen to when writing my books because they fit my theme so well and every time I listen to them I am completely transported into my own fantasy world (of Neputa).

First is: “Missing” by Neal K (A really talented Korean artist)

Second is: “Forever” by Tido Kang (Also a really talented Korean artist/composer)

Describe your dream book cover.

My dream book cover(s) already exist! Both were designed and painted by a super-talented artist from Brazil called Antonio Cesar. I wanted to paint my covers myself, but had no experience in digital art, so I sought professional help. He literally turned my visions into a stunning reality! And created a masterpiece for both my book covers.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

My main profession is actually a doctor (a surgeon!)—some readers may or may not know this.

What books did you read (for research or comfort) throughout your writing process?

I’ve read a lot of Asian Fantasy stories but my book takes influences from multiple places: Asian mythology, anime, k-drama, chinese drama, and real-life experiences

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

What I truly hope for readers to take away after reading my books (especially book 2!) is how even at the toughest times, there is the beauty of a sincere heart. I hope they can deeply feel the lengths that people can go for one another when they truly love someone, whether that be as a friend, family, or lover.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.