It is high time we started infusing new story ideas into fiction.
Tag: Japan
Gay Samurai
For all intents and purposes, shudo was the world's first form of gay marriage.
Earthquakes and Literature
We are sometimes reminded of one of the origins of Japanese culture when the ground starts shaking.
The Dirty Secret of Japanese Sex
The best kept secret about Japanese sex is that there isn't any.
Yasuke, the Black Samurai
Did I mention that I was writing a samurai novel in English? One of the main characters in the novel is Yasuke, an African slave brought to Japan by European missionaries who granted the status of samurai by Lord Oda Nobunaga upon entering his service. He is the only recorded black samurai in history. In … Continue reading Yasuke, the Black Samurai
Nom de Plume
I have finally settled on the pen name Akira Fuyuno. It is a name I had thought of more than a decade ago, but hesitated using for the English speaking audience because I was not sure how it would sound to their ears. I came to this name by observing the names of the best … Continue reading Nom de Plume
World Building and the Samurai Novel
The really hard part about writing a samurai novel in English is that you must remain within the historical context of what you are writing, yet not spend too much time explaining. Most Western readers have a much clearer image of what a Victorian tea party is than what a Japanese tea ceremony is. So, … Continue reading World Building and the Samurai Novel
La Japonaise
Over dinner last night, my son told me a funny story. It was the story of the Monet exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. La Japonaise is a painting by Claude Monet of his wife Camille ‘in Japanese costume’ and a blonde wig. The Museum commissioned an authentic replica of the kimono that … Continue reading La Japonaise
Write Not What You Are Not
An intriguing story by Susan Barker appeared on the pages of The Los Angeles Review of Books titled "Should Ethnicity Limit What a Fiction Writer Can Write?". The article relates the authors experiences of a recent book tour she made in China after publishing her book The Incarnations set in modern China. The author is … Continue reading Write Not What You Are Not
My First Novel
I grew up writing and telling stories. When I was twelve, they were mostly Harry Potter style adventures. Not about wizards, but about average boys with normal fears and abnormal skills who face enemies and dangers best left for Superman to confront. In my early teens they were mostly poetry. Depressing stuff. It was the … Continue reading My First Novel
