Van Hoang

Van Hoang’s first name is pronounced like the van in minivan. Her last name is pronounced “hah-wawng.” She is the author of Girl Giant and the Monkey King, Girl Giant and the Jade War, and the forthcoming Hidden Tails for middle grade readers. Her adult debut novel The Monstrous Misses Mai will publish in spring 2024. Van was born in Vietnam, grew in up Orange County, California, and now resides in Los Angeles with her husband, kid, and dog. When she is not writing, she spends her days force-feeding books to small children (and adults!) at the Huntington Beach library in Southern California.

Instagram: @IAmVanHoang

Are there particular films that have influenced your writing?

I watched The Craft (1996) when I was probably too young for it, and the horrifying images wreaked havoc on my brain for years. I related so hard to the main character’s awkwardness and need to belong while yearning for the power that she cultivates through her arc. Even though I consider myself a Halloweenie, I find scary stories incredibly compelling and have gleaned a lot from the way they deliver suspense and tension. The rest of my go-tos include more wholesome, happier stories, something with color and vibrancy and a feast for the eyes. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was a favorite comfort watch before and during the pandemic, and it actually inspired the dresses, tone, and time period in The Monstrous Misses Mai.

Is there a genre of music that influences your writing/thinking? Do you listen to music while you write?

If I’m working on a historical project, then I will listen to a playlist of popular hits from that time to get into the mood, though I can’t listen to lyrics when I need to focus. While I’m actually writing, I discovered the magic of isochronic tones to stimulate my brain and feel more alert. I was skeptical at first and put on a YouTube video for background music, but I looked up after a while to discover that I’d been writing for a full 3 hours in a state of deep flow. There’s science-based evidence as to why!

Is there another profession you would like to try?

I’m one of those writers who has tried many different jobs only to discover that writing is the only thing for us. In my other life, I’m also a librarian where I organize events and classes for tweens and adults, discuss literature with my many book clubs, and, contrary to popular belief, avoid shelving books (I still have to sing the ABCs to myself, so I’m not the best person to be roaming the stacks in the quiet reading areas). I’ve also worked at a nail salon, environmental consulting company, accounting firm, billiards hall, attorneys’ office, retail, and my mom’s alterations shop, where I learned how to sew pockets into things. The last is probably the most useful skill I’ve ever picked up, and of course, inspired a lot of the main character’s obsession with pockets in The Monstrous Misses Mai.

Do you speak a second language? Do you think differently in that language? Does it influence your writing?

My first language is Vietnamese! Because of the different sentence structure and the hierarchical social nature of our culture, I often see the world in contradicting angles. I’m more worried about insulting someone if I guess their age incorrectly, since it’s so important in our country to refer to someone as “older sister” or “younger brother” or “aunt-who’s-younger-than-my-mother.” I want to show them the respect reserved for elders but don’t want them to be offended if they’re younger than I surmised. I question the origin of a word often, especially in writing, and feel like all of my stories have to tie back somehow into my heritage.

What period of history do you wish you knew more about?

I want to explore more of Vietnam’s ancient history, even though it’s full of sorrow with other countries constantly trying to invade us. I’m also obsessed with pretending to be wealthy so I can live vicariously through rich people’s problems, and I love moments in history with beautiful dresses and opulent styles, like the Gilded Age. I feel a strong urge to mold together my obsession with wealthy privilege and my own heritage, but I’m not sure yet how that will come together. The possibilities are endless because there’s so much history we still haven’t uncovered, and I know one day the right characters will show up and fit perfectly into the right story at the right time. It’s always worked that way in the past, and for me, it’s just a matter of being patient and waiting for the story to present itself.