Writing Asian Romance Characters

Book excerpt: Have you wanted to enrich your romance novels by including a diverse cast of characters? Do you want your stories to reflect the society around you? Are you unsure how to portray Asian characters in a balanced way that does not perpetuate stereotypes? If so, I can be your mentor and help you develop Asian romantic heroes and heroines that are strong, desirable, talented, and flawed—in other words, well-rounded characters, who, like all romantic heroes and heroines deserve and find a happy ending. I have experience in this area, having grown up Asian American and have written many romance novels with Asian heroes and heroines. I’ve also read widely in both literature and fiction areas, as well as taken ethnic studies classes and researched Asian American history. I can be your guide in finding resources to deepen your knowledge while pointing out areas to pay attention. I will also encourage you to let your characters fly, no matter what their background and to not let fear hold you back when developing your Asian characters. In this book, I will go over common myths and stereotypes, respectful ways of describing Asian characters, and the tropes to avoid. I’ll briefly touch on the history of the various Asian groups in America and point out to you the difference in experience based on when the Asian ancestor immigrated. Interracial and multicultural romance is a thriving romance market, and I will talk about some of the concerns and opportunities when writing characters who come from different backgrounds. I'll include example excerpts to illustrate my points and interview questions you can use to develop your unique characters from an Asian perspective.