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Wishing You a Happy Mother's Day!

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There are all kinds of mothers in my books. The intelligent and hypercritical Elsie Tham, the bitter jilted Har Ping, the overprotective Stella Soong … There are also mothers in Joss Paper , my collection of horror short stories inspired by Southeast Asian folklore. An unconventional relationship can be found in “Legacy.” The story revolves around a woman, Emily Conti, who travels to Singapore to claim her inheritance, including the luxury condominium that her late father left her.  I won’t say more for fear of spoilers, but here’s an excerpt ... From the story “Legacy” Emily took off her shoes. The marble floor felt like heaven under her sweaty, cramped feet. She poured herself a glass of water and wandered around the condo. There wasn’t much else to see. There were two bedrooms in addition to the living room and kitchen/dining room. The master bedroom had a picture window similar to the one in the living room, as well as an attached bathroom. There was a second bathroom off the l...
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It Took Me a While, but I Finally Watched ‘KPop Demon Hunters’

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Well, I finally watched KPop Demon Hunters and … I enjoyed it. I don’t know why it took me so long.  In case you’re not familiar with the movie, it’s an animated urban fantasy musical about Huntrix, a girl group in South Korea (hence K-pop, or Korean popular music). The threesome actually are demon hunters who use their singing to protect the world against soul-sucking demons. A new boy band, the Saja Boys, becomes the Huntrix’s biggest competition. It turns out the Saja Boys are demons out to steal the Huntrix’s fans and weaken the protective anti-demon barrier that the women maintain with their music.  Netflix released KPop Demon Hunters in June 2025. Since then, the movie has become a sensation. It’s Netflix’s most-watched original title, with more than 500 million views. It’s won two Academy Awards—for best animated feature and best original song. My friends’ kids watch it on repeat. Heck, my cousin is taking K-pop dance classes so she can dance to “Golden,” the hit song...
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'Joss Paper' Free for Limited Time; Part of Narratess Indie Book Sale

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Joss Paper , my collection of horror short stories, is free at Amazon from April 11 to April 13.  The sale is in conjunction with the Narratess Indie Book Sale, where you will find over 280 free or discounted fantasy, science fiction and horror titles. The sale is worldwide, with prices at free, $0.99 or $1.99. Just in time for you to find some new reads for the weekend! Check out Joss Paper on Amazon. Visit the Narratess Indie Book Sale .   Some of you may know that I’m originally from Singapore. Joss Paper features ghost stories based on the folklore and folk practices of Southeast Asia. They’re basically the ghost stories I grew up with, re-imagined into new narratives set in the U.S. and Asia.  Be warned: these tales of terror will give you chills …  Want a look behind the stories? Visit my author website to find a short write-up about Joss Paper 's underlying folklore . I also explain why I write ghost stories , and give the context and history behind th...
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New Release: 'Conjuring the Rage Deity'

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The prequel to the Pearl Dragon Adventures series is now ready for download!  It’s available to my newsletter subscribers. If you’re not a subscriber but would like to read the novella, you can subscribe to my newsletter in the box below.  Here’s the blurb:  A gangster’s mansion in San Francisco. Unguarded safes with untold riches. Pearl Tham is paralyzed by grief. She recently lost her mother, and now her landlord is evicting her from the apartment she and her mother shared.  She finally gives in to her boyfriend’s request to rob Donnie Chan, head of one of the most notorious gangs in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Pearl and David have the perfect opportunity. While the gangster languishes in jail, his mansion—located in an exclusive neighborhood high above the Pacific Ocean—will be left with minimal guards on the day his men meet to elect new leadership.   This will be Pearl’s first major job. If successful, it could fund her budding career as an internation...
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Interview with The Butchered Writers Horror Group

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Check out my recent interview with Nora Peevy from the horror writers group The Butchered Writers.  In the interview on the group’s Substack , I talk about my writing process, a eulogy I would write for myself, and music with creepy vibes that I aspire to in my writing. 
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Feng Shui and the Spring Equinox

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  The spring equinox occurs today, March 20, at 10:46 a.m. EDT in the Northern Hemisphere. That’s the moment the sun crosses the equator, producing the effect of equal day and night. The spring equinox kicks off the spring season in the Northern Hemisphere. From this day onward, the days will become longer while the nights get shorter, culminating in the longest day of the year, the summer solstice (which falls on June 21 this year). In terms of feng shui, the spring equinox is the start of a new energetic cycle. Yang energy (the white part of the yin-yang symbol) rises in spring, while yin energy (the dark part of the symbol) ebbs. Yang energy is masculine, dynamic and active, while yin energy is feminine, restful and introspective. Spring is associated with feng shui’s wood element, which is all about growth and new beginnings. You can enhance the energy of spring—and spark growth and creativity—in your home and office by adding healthy houseplants to your decor ...
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The Shamrock, St. Patrick’s Day and Ireland

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St. Patrick's Day is almost here! While you're gearing up to celebrate, have you ever wondered why the shamrock became one of the main symbols for both St. Patrick’s Day and Ireland?  Here's a brief history of how that came about.  Saint Patrick was born in Roman Britain (probably modern-day Scotland) at around 385 AD. When he was 16, he was captured and enslaved by Irish pirates, and brought to Ireland to work as a shepherd. He managed to escape, and returned to his family.  He became a Roman Catholic priest and eventually a bishop. He returned to Ireland as a missionary and converted the people there to Christianity. According to Irish lore, he used the shamrock (a type of three-leaf clover) to explain the Holy Trinity. Saint Patrick died March 17, 461 AD. March 17 became a religious holiday in Ireland. In the 17th century, the Irish began wearing shamrocks in their hats while celebrating the saint’s feast day.  During the 18th century, the shamrock became a symbol...
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