It's 2023 and for the first time in my writing career I don't have a full length novel to busily promote 😮 A CRANE AMONG WOLVES is coming out *next* year in 2024, and I've been sharing teasers of the story on tiktok so hope to see you thereeee @/junehwrites
At the library:
A kid patron came up to me at the desk, asked me where she could find more mystery books. That she'd read her first mystery & had loved it so much.
So I led her over to the MG mystery series section.
She placed a hand over her heart & whispered, "Oh my gosh."
Dear writers,
Don't make yourself feel guilty about wanting to rest.
Resting is NOT synonymous with laziness. Resting is part of writing. It's a time when your brain heals and prepares for the next round of tackling with words.
Sincerely,
Tired Writer
Last night I tearfully shared with my mom that sometimes I don't feel Korean enough to write about Korea. I'll never be able to write Korean historicals like a "real Korean."
Then my mom told me:
When some diaspora Koreans speak in Korean, they speak with an accent.
And likewise, when we write about Korea, there will be an "accent" to our Storytelling. But she reminded me that accents are beautiful. Accents tell a story in itself. We bring in a new perspective
And she assured me in the end. I am Korean enough.
So right now, as I nervously watch more & more ppl pick up my sophomore novel, I tell myself that I've done my best. And I'm going to keep writing for myself & others in the West who yearn to learn more about Korea.
The news is out! I'm writing a Jane Auten-esque Historical Romance set in feudal Korea. This is a dream come true because my writer origin story began with Pride & Prejudice fanfic. 13 year-old June would be so ecstatic 🥹
I never thought this day would come, and it still feels very unreal to me, but I'M GOING TO BE A PUBLISHED AUTHOR.
My book is a murder mystery set in Joseon Dynasty Korea, & also a coming-of-age tale about a girl searching for home. It'll be out in the world in 2020! 😭
Dear Writers,
No manuscript you've had to shelve is ever a waste. Even if you never return to it again, this MS allowed you to amass 1000+ hours of writing experience, which is priceless.
Sincerely,
The Writer Who Took 8 Years to Let Go of Her First Manuscript
THE FOREST OF STOLEN GIRLS is now out in the world!!
It means the world to me, truly, to know that there are people out there who believe thar there's space on the shelves for Korean historicals written by this Korean diaspora writer 💕
✨COVER REVEAL✨
TADA!!! This stunning illustration is by Shotze and the beautiful cover design is by Aurora Parlagreco.
I've been staring at this cover for weeks and am obsessed with it 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
P. S. Pre-order linked below!
Hi writers, don't be like me
Me: i have so many versions of my current revision on Onedrive & on my desktop
Titled:
[Book title] 1.doc
THIS VERSION [book title].doc
THE REAL VERSION [book title].doc
THIS VERSIONnnn [book title].doc
Etc.,
Something bad is bound to happen.
Dear Writers,
Write something that frightens you. That pushes you out of your comfort zone. That forces you to grow as a writer. It's worth it.
Sincerely,
Writer who is trying to be brave
THE RED PALACE is out!!
This book was my “game changer” book. It helped me rediscover the joy of writing—a joy I’d lost over the decade spent trying & constantly failing to get published.
I had SO much fun writing this story & hope you'll enjoy reading it 🖤
Someone I looked up to once told me, "Oh, you won't be writing after you have kids" & this stuck with me
But so many writer moms are reshaping my view. Women who wrote first drafts, completed stunning novels, while caring for their newborn & kids, with only an hour or two a day.
I GET TO KEEP WRITING!
THE RED PALACE is a YA historical mystery set in Joseon Dynasty Korea (again 🤗) & my most ambitious project to date.
P.s. The mystery revolves around Crown Prince Sado. If you don't want your hearts broken, don't look him up on google
🌟 COVER REVEAL 🌟
It's true. Writing the 2nd book is HARD. But I did it & now I can share the cover for THE FOREST OF STOLEN GIRLS!
If you're interested in:
⚔ Joseon Korea
🌧️ Jeju Island
👭🏻 Sisterhood
❓Finding 13 missing girls..
Add it on GR:
From what I've observed, there's so much pressure on BIPOC authors to always spin up original and unique work. But BIPOC authors should also be allowed to be mediocre too. Prolific and mediocre. Lol.
I've read English books with tons of French in it, and no one ever said the many "cultural words" ruined their reading experience. And yet I see these kind of comments for POC books :/
I'm trying to unlearn a certain 'rule' I was taught long ago:
"When you stop writing, you stop being a writer."
This saying can be so toxic.
When you stop writing, you are STILL a writer. Living life is PART of writing. Living life BREATHES life into our writerly imagination.
It's so upsetting to see that diaspora writers have to write under the tremendous stress of knowing they'll be scrutinized both by readers from the west and by their community gatekeepers.
I GET TO WRITE ANOTHER BOOK!
In my newest book, A CRANE AMONG WOLVES, you can expect:
☠️ Political conspiracies
🖤Enemies to lovers
⚔️& one epic battle to end King Yeonsangun's reign of terror...
Dear Future Self,
STOP romanticizing your past writing experience. Drafting your previous novel was NOT much easier. The words did NOT flow out. It was a bloody battle against frustration & wanting to give up.
Sincerely,
Writer Who Always Forgets How Hard First Drafts Are
I want you to know:
if you're a writer like me, don't feel ashamed about your many false starts. Don't be ashamed to write & delete & rewrite 10000 times. You're making progress by figuring out what the story is NOT.
There's nothing wrong with a bit of wandering and exploring.
My Korean historical novels aren't meant to serve as history textbooks. They're more like keyholes through which you can peer through & catch glimpses of a glorious & bloody history. And, hopefully, it'll make you hungry to learn more.
🌟COVER REVEAL🌟
So thrilled to share the cover for THE RED PALACE, a Korean historical mystery that features...
👑A tragic crown prince
🖤Slow-burn romance
⚔️A Killer on the loose
Goodreads:
Art:
@park_sunga
Design:
@LizDresner
My 3 yo has covid and she asked me to put a mask on her, then asked me to give her a hug. She said she wanted to protect me & didn't want me to get sick because I'm pregnant 😢💕
I'm shaking. THE RED PALACE is an indie bestseller!
I never imagined this possible, and all I feel right now is immense gratitude. Thank you to all the readers who put this book on the list. And thank you so much, independent bookstores! This is such an honor.
Me, in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016: I MUST get my 1st book published. I'll rewrite till it sells. It's my BEST WORK
Me, in 2016: I give up. Let's just write something random for fun.
Narrator: This random book landed an agent & sold to a big publisher
I'm preggers again! The first time I got preggers I was both thrilled but scared. I'd just begun my writing career & worried motherhood would end it. But so many writers reached out w/encouraging stories. I'm happy to report that...
In the police bureau of Joseon dynasty Korea, there were servant girls who were in charge of female criminals and suspects. They were called ‘damo’ and they were apparently the first female police force to EVER have actual arresting power in all of world history. 1/
Dear querying writer,
Publishing is not just merit based.
It's also based on the market. And a dash of sheer luck. Of course, you can *always* develop your craft. But you could be an outstanding writer & still not be pubbed.
Sincerely,
A fellow writer
Dear drafters,
If you're bored of writing a scene, there's a chance your readers might get bored as well. So go back, re-assess & see if the boredom stems from nothing interesting happening. Maybe add in some corpses or kisses.
Sincerely,
Writer Who Wrote A Boring Scene
THE FOREST OF STOLEN GIRLS (4/20/2021) is a YA historical mystery about:
⚔ Joseon Korea ️
🌧️Jeju Island
🏠A small village
👯Two estranged sisters
❓Finding 13 missing girls...
Pre-oder now:
Add it on GR:
Writing is not easy.
Writing is hard.
Just because it's hard to write doesn't mean there's something wrong with you as a writer or that you're writing the wrong story.
🌟🌟🌟GIVEAWAY🌟🌟🌟
Win ONE signed hardcover copy of THE SILENCE OF BONES, a mystery set in Joseon Dynasty Korea!
To enter:
💙 Like
💙 RT
💙 Tag a friend
Internationally open
Ends: August 7th
Can we take a moment to admire Gabriella Bujdoso's illustration of Palace Nurse Hyeon & Inspector Seo Eojin, the crime-solving couple in THE RED PALACE?
Can't wait for you to meet them January 2022! This illustration will be part of January's Faecrate box!
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐏𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐢𝐬 𝐉𝐚𝐧 𝟐𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 🎉🎉🎉
And: I just finished drafting TRP!! It's a YA historical following a 17yo nurse & 18yo police inspector trying to clear the crown prince’s name after a massacre at court.
🌟 GIVEAWAY 🌟
We're 4 weeks away from the publication of THE FOREST OF STOLEN GIRLS! To celebrate, I'm giving away one signed hardcopy + Jeju Island stickers. A winner will be chosen on April 12!
To enter:
🖤Like
🖤Retweet
🖤Tag a friend you'd partner up with to solve a crime
My mom and dad over the phone: we are on Amazon right now! and you have 16 reviews!
Me: yah it's not that many--
Parents: what an accomplishment. WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!!
My parents are so cute.
My book is coming out next year! If you're interested in:
🇰🇷Joseon Dynasty-era Korea
🕵🏻♀️Political Mystery
👹Moral grayness
👀 Family secrets
💔 Love & betrayal
👩🏻✈️The role of a Damo (female servants involved in police work)
Then add my book to GR :D
I never understood readers who bookmark the page they're on by memorizing the page number. Maybe they have an incredible memorizing capacity.
I can't even remember how old I am some days.
@kercoby
I know so horrifying. Same thing always happens even with my essays 🙄
English Lit essay.doc
ENGLIGH LIT.doc
FINAL DRAFT ENGLISH ESSAY.doc
Esssayyyyyy.doc
FinalessayPRINTTHISONE.doc
🌟 GIVEAWAY 🌟
To celebrate getting to hold my own book for the first time, I'm giving away (1) of these advance copies of THE SILENCE OF BONES.
To enter: Retweet and ♥️
Bonus entry: Tag a friend who you'd want to solve a crime with.
Open int'l
Ends August 27
My editor just emailed me with such good news 😭
THE FOREST OF STOLEN GIRLS is going back for a 3rd printing!!!
& the paperback of THE SILENCE OF ONES is going back for a second printing!!!
Thank you to everyone who've shown my Korean historicals so much love <3
YAAAY. Now I can refer to Book 2 by its official title!
THE FOREST OF STOLEN GIRLS is a YA historical mystery about two estranged sisters searching for their missing father, who happens to be the greatest detective in Joseon Korea.
Goodreads:
Writers can create an entire world and a complex web of characters and emotions in 90k of words.
But then when asked to explain their book...
Writer: "Hmm my book is a YA novel? And it uh involves a mustery? And...yah...And there's...yah...I write...books..."
The mockup K-drama poster for my upcoming book, THE RED PALACE (Jan 2022) 🙃
Blurb from my friend: "THIS READS LIKE AN ACTUAL ROMANTIC HISTORICAL K-DRAMA."
BOOK NEWS: We have a new title for my debut, the historical mystery set in Joseon Dynasty-era Korea!
The title has changed to.... THE SILENCE OF BONES.
And the publication date is set for April 21, 2020 🎉🎉🎉
You can add this book on Goodreads:
@weedsandroses
My face when I woke up this morning...
Oh can't even find an emoji to express how shocked I was. I HAD NO IDEA PPL LOVED THE LIBRARY THIS MUCH
My Korean diaspora heart is crying. I was tagged in this review, and the reviewer said, "You now have a fan in Korea." I still have so much to learn about Korea history, but am so glad to see my research efforts seem to be paying off🥺
My mom has NEVER read my writing before. But then she asked me to send her my to-be-published book & I did, not expecting much. She's not that comfortable with English.
A week later she called me & said in a shaky voice, "I liked the parts where Seol thinks about home."
🌟 COVER REVEAL 🌟
I'm thrilled to share the cover for THE SILENCE OF BONES (Feiwel & Friends, April 2020), a YA historical mystery set in Joseon Dynasty-era Korea!
@reeraboo
oh wow, this means so so much to me. I feel like I should write this out into my journal and read it whenever I feel too scared to write. Thank you <3
Got nominated again for the Edgar Award, and I'm shakinggggg. As a mystery writer, the nomination alone is always such a huge honor. Thank you
@EdgarAwards
!
In exactly five days I will officially become the mother of three.
👶My first baby is a gloomy sweetheart.
👶My second baby is a loveable brat.
👶And my third is a charmer.
🌟 I can now officially share that...🌟
THE RED PALACE is a
@FaeCrate
January pick!!! I've seen the exclusive cover and it is GORGEOUS.
Also, look at my babies, Palace Nurse Hyeon and Inspector Seo Eojin 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
Illustration by Gabriella Bujdoso
THREE months until the publication of THE RED PALACE!
If you're interested in...
👑A tragic crown prince
🖤Slow-burn romance
⚔️A Killer on the loose
Pre-order now!
Or add TRP on GR:
I was interviewed by
@KBSWorldTV
. KBS (!!!!!!!)
I spoke in Korean for the 1st time. I was so nervous about my English accent & mistakes, but the announcer was so kind & was like, "You're a diaspora Korean! This is authentic!"
<3
Envy rots one's creativity, and I'm not immune to it. When it strikes, don't indulge it; don't continue to scroll down your feed. Take a break. Focus on your own writing. And remind yourself why you love writing in the first place.
Romance tropes in...
THE SILENCE OF BONES: No Romance✖️
THE FOREST OF STOLEN GIRLS: No Romance✖️
THE RED PALACE: ✔️
"Slow-burn / Stuck Together"
A CRANE AMONG WOLVES: ✔️
"Enemies to FRIENDSSSSSSSSSS!!!! ᵗᵒ ˡᵒᵛᵉʳˢ"
A belated 1 year bday to my daughter! In accordance to Korean tradition, we placed Baby Jo before various objects, and each object is supposed to represent a certain future.
Her 1st choice was a book, her 2nd choice was to become Dae Jang Geum 대장금 (Jewel in the Palace) 😂
In 24 days I'll be an author of three books 🥺 truly grateful to everyone who has supported me and my works. I get to keep writing these Korean historicals (& learning more about my Korean roots as I research) because of you all 🖤🖤🖤
Me: I miss being able to go to a coffee shop to write carefreely 😭
Sister: You still can
Me: But the coffee shops I go to are too small for strollers & don't always have seats & the baby might cry
Sister: You can go after 5
Me: Huh?
Sister: I'll come watch her after work
I...I just got my first starred trade review.
Writing this book nearly killed me, but I love it to bits, and I am so thrilled that
@sljournal
loved it too 🥺
ONE MORE MONTH ONE MORE MONTH ONE MORE MONTH ONE MORE MONTH ONE MORE MONTH ONE MORE MONTH ONE MORE MONTH ONE MORE MONTH ONE MORE MONTH...
...until you can enter THE RED PALACE. If you dare.
Pre-order now!
Or add TRP on GR:
There are people out there who will know WAY more about Korean history than I (a diaspora Korean writer) ever will. And I love it when, instead of being gatekeepers, they reach out to encourage me & are excited for me. It means so much to me I literally want to cry.
What I like to call, The Vicious Cycle:
I'm not 'good enough' until I have an agent.
... until I have a book deal.
... until I'm a New York Times bestselling author.
...until my book turns into a movie.