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Xiran Jay Zhao

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Xiran Jay Zhao
Born
China
Alma materSimon Fraser University
Occupation(s)Author, Internet personality
Years active2020–present
Websitexiranjayzhao.com

Xiran Jay Zhao is a Chinese-born Canadian author, Internet personality, and cosplayer. Their[a] debut novel, Iron Widow, became a No. 1 New York Times Best Seller and won the 2021 BSFA Award for Best Book for Younger Readers.

Early life

Zhao immigrated to British Columbia from a small town in China in grade five.[2] They are of Hui heritage on their father's side.[3] They would imagine stories growing up, but did not put any on paper until they were encouraged to at an anime convention when they were 15. They majored in health sciences with a focus on biochemical disease research at Simon Fraser University, graduating in 2020. They worked at a co-op before deciding an office job was not for them.[4]

Career

In March 2020, Zhao signed a two-book deal with Penguin Teen Canada for a young adult (YA) mecha reimagining of the rise of the Chinese Empress Wu.[5] Rock the Boat, the children's imprint of Oneworld Publications, acquired the UK rights in May 2021.[6] Zhao described the series as a "monstrous amalgamation of my love for anime and my love for Chinese harem dramas".[7][8] The first installment in the series, Iron Widow, was published in September 2021 and reached No. 1 in the Young Adult Hardcover category of the New York Times Best Seller list.[9][10][11] The second installment in the series, Iron Widow 2: Heavenly Tyrant, is scheduled for release in spring 2023.[12]

In September 2020, Zhao went viral, first on a Twitter thread followed by their first YouTube video, for their criticisms of Disney's live-action Mulan remake and its cultural inaccuracies.[13][14] Zhao credits their presence on the Internet as a self-described "Chinese history memer" for the success of Iron Widow, which was initially expected to only appeal to a niche audience.[15] Jessica Singer, for CBC News in August 2021, highlighted the impact of BookTok on sales of young adult fiction. Singer wrote that "books like Iron Widow by Canadian author Xiran Jay Zhao are already gaining popularity online, even before the book's release date in late September".[16] Kara Savoy, Penguin Random House Canada's integrated marketing director, told Singer that "when Xiran did an unboxing video of their advanced copies a few weeks ago [on TikTok], the pre-sale numbers in the U.S. went up 600 per cent that week".[16]

At the beginning of 2021, Zhao landed their second book deal for Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor, a middle grade contemporary fantasy with Margaret K. McElderry Books,[17][18] an imprint of Simon & Schuster.[19] It was released on 10 May 2022.[20] The novel debuted at #4 on the New York Times Best Seller list in the Children's Middle Grade Hardcover category;[21] it remained on the list for two weeks.[22] Alec Scott, for The Globe and Mail, compared Zachary Ying to Zhao's Iron Widow and commented that "the two books speak to Zhao's obsessions – both with anime, the visual storytelling popularized in Japan that's gone global, and with Chinese history and mythology. [...] In both novels, the mythic past gets translated into the future. [...] For all their differences of mood, the novels rescue what is valuable to Zhao in Chinese history and myth, and project it forward – creating artistic acts of cultural reappropriation".[23]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2021 BSFA Award Best Book for Younger Readers Iron Widow Won [24]
2021 Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction Nominated [25]
2022 Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award Won [26]
2022 Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book Finalist [27][28]
2022 Astounding Award for Best New Writer Finalist [27][28]
2022 Barnes & Noble Children’s & YA Book Awards Young Adult Category Won [29]
2022 Locus Award Best First Novel Nominated [30][31]
Best Young Adult Novel Nominated [30][31]

Bibliography

Young adult

  • Iron Widow (Penguin Teen Canada, 2021, ISBN 978-0735269934)
  • Iron Widow 2: Heavenly Tyrant (2023) [upcoming][12]

Middle grade

Notes

  1. ^ Zhao uses they/them pronouns.[1]

References

  1. ^ "Press Kit". XiranJayZhao.com. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Ten Terrifying Questions with Xiran Jay Zhao!". Booktopia. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Xiran Jay Zhao". Simon & Schuster. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  4. ^ Chue, James (26 September 2021). "Empress Smashes Alien Mechas in Chinese-Canadian Author's New Book". Radii. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Rights Report: Week of March 16, 2020". Publishers Weekly. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Rock the Boat signs Chinese-inspired YA SF, Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao". Oneworld Publications. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Our Friend is Here! Asian Heritage Month Edition – An Interview with Xiran Jay Zhao, Author of Iron Widow; On Feminist Fantasy, Giant Robots, & Diaspora Worldbuilding". The Quiet Pond. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  8. ^ Morrissy, Kim (6 June 2022). "How DARLING in the FRANXX Inspired a New York Times Bestselling YA Novel". Anime News Network. News. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Young Adult Hardcover Books – Best Sellers – Books – Oct. 10, 2021". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  10. ^ Codega, Linda H. (22 September 2021). "Historical Fantasy at Its Most Anime: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao". Tor. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  11. ^ Colyard, KW (9 April 2021). "Xiran Jay Zhao's Iron Widow Combines Ancient Chinese Culture And Mecha Science Fiction". Bustle. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  12. ^ a b Zhao, Xiran Jay [@XiranJayZhao] (19 March 2022). "'The false ruler Lady Wu has an unpleasant personality and a lowly birthright. She has the heart of a snake or lizard and the nature of a wolf. She is hated by both men and gods, and heaven and earth cannot allow her to exist.' Iron Widow 2: HEAVENLY TYRANT. Coming Spring 2023" (Tweet). Retrieved 13 April 2022 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ Universe, Greg (9 September 2020). "Chinese Writer Hilariously Breaks Down Disney's Live-Action Mulan". GeekFeed. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  14. ^ Nawotka, Ed (24 September 2021). "Publishing in Canada 2021: Novelist Xiran Jay Zhao on Blending SciFi and Chinese History". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  15. ^ Koehler, Mimi (20 September 2021). "Q&A: Xiran Jay Zhao, Author of 'Iron Widow'". The Nerd Daily. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  16. ^ a b Singer, Jessica (29 August 2021). "BookTok's novel approach to books is helping Canadian authors, retailers attract new audiences". CBC News. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor|Hardcover". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  18. ^ Brooks, Rachel (1 May 2022). "Children's Book Review: Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor (Zachary Ying #1) by Xiran Jay Zhao". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  19. ^ "Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor". Simon & Schuster. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  20. ^ "New Books: 10 May 2022". Locus Online. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  21. ^ "Children's Middle Grade Hardcover". The New York Times. 29 May 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  22. ^ "Children's Middle Grade Hardcover Books - Best Sellers - Books - June 5, 2022 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  23. ^ Scott, Alec (16 June 2022). "Xiran Jay Zhao uses the power of #BookTok to find new audiences". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  24. ^ "2022 BFSA Award Winners Announced". Starburst Magazine. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  25. ^ "Iron Widow". The Nebula Awards. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  26. ^ "2022 Awards". Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  27. ^ a b "Canadians C.L. Polk & Fonda Lee nominated for 2022 Hugo Award for best series". CBC Books. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  28. ^ a b Brooke, David (7 April 2022). "2022 Hugo Awards finalists, including in comics, announced". AIPT. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  29. ^ "2022 B&N Children's, YA Book Award Winners Announced". Publishers Weekly. 2 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  30. ^ a b Armstrong, Vanessa (11 May 2022). "Here Are the Finalists for the 2022 Locus Awards". Tor.com. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  31. ^ a b "2022 Locus Awards Winners". Locus Online. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
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