Kampung Kreepy

Happy first day of summer! The Geomancer’s Apprentice series is on sale for U.S. and U.K. readers from today until June 24. The first book, The Geomancer’s Apprentice , starts at $0.99. Please check the stores for U.K. prices.  The series features two underdog feng shui consultants who find, to their dismay, that they must save the world (or at least the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area). The magic system is based on feng shui, the monsters are terrifying and straight out of Asian folklore, plus there are ghosts!  These books are for you if you like stories with high stakes, magical bloodlines, monster slaying, fast-paced action, family drama, and redemption and second chances.  What readers are saying ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ~ “Empowering, fun, and excellently written” ~ “non-stop action, that will leave your heart racing” ~ “truly original urban fantasy” ~ “An absolute page turner” ~ “These stories really are some of the most wonderful urban horror I've ever read and the way Taoism i...

Happy Mother's Day! Today’s the day to celebrate all the incredible mothers in our lives, including the fictional ones! My author friends and I have come together to share some of the amazing urban fantasy mothers in our series and why you should discover their worlds.  One thing is clear, it takes all kinds of mothers to handle the urban fantasy world, from demons to witches to rogue Greek goddesses, there’s something for everyone 💗 Dive in now! The Briarmoor Chronicles by Victoria Vassallo:  https://geni.us/TheBriarmoorChronicles The Geomancer's Apprentice series by Yin Leong:  https://books2read.com/u/mZqEPe   The Magic & Motherhood series by A.L. Tippett:   https://altippett.com/rl/3608501   The Ashuan Lust series by Janna Ruth:   https://books2read.com/ashuanlust   The Valkyrie Bestiary series by Kim McDougall:   https://kimmcdougall.com/valkyrie-bestiary   The Bearsden Witches series by J.C. Yeamens:   https:/...

It's always lovely to find a new reader review. It's even more wonderful when the reviewer loved all five books in your series! Thank you so much, kind reader! I'm glad you enjoyed the monster-slaying adventures of Joe and Junie, my underdog feng shui consultants. If you haven't read The Geomancer's Apprentice series, check it out here .  Why you should leave a review if you love an author’s work It’s one way to make an author’s day, maybe even her week! It encourages your favorite authors to keep writing. You’re giving your favorite authors more visibility. You’re sharing good books with other readers. You’re helping your favorite authors to reach new readers. The more, and better, reviews a book has, the higher Amazon’s algorithms will rank it in search results. Even a rating helps! Make an author happy. 😄

Patrick Greenwood, a fellow author and host of the Writers on Writers Over a Triple Espresso podcast, recently reviewed my Geomancer's Apprentice urban fantasy books to discuss how to write a series.  Please check it out below or on YouTube .  [Patrick's review starts at 0:50 minutes]

I’m excited to share that The Geomancer’s Apprentice , the first book in my urban fantasy series, will be free as part of Stuff Your Kindle, Fantasy Edition , from Oct. 18 to Oct. 20.  In addition, I’m holding my first-ever series sale ! From Oct. 17 to Oct. 21, Amazon.com customers will be able to buy my entire Geomancer’s Apprentice ebook series for half the price. Book 1 is free all over the world during those dates. This is a great time to start the series, or to buy the next book if you’ve already started. It’s spooky season, so what better time to read about two underdog feng shui consultants who must save Washington, D.C., from ghosts and monsters. And please check out Stuff Your Kindle, Fantasy. More than 400 books in the fantasy genre are free during this fantastic event. There’ll be some familiar names, as well as new authors you can discover.  If you do pick up any of my books, I have a favor to ask. If you enjoyed the book, I hope you can take the time to leave a ...

A failed barista, a struggling geomancer, feng shui, Washington, D.C., ghosts and monsters. What could go wrong? EVERYTHING!! Who knew feng shui would be this dangerous? The Geomancer’s Apprentice urban fantasy series features Asian mysticism and magic, and terrifying monsters from Asian folklore. Reader reviews on Amazon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Five-Out-Of-Five-Star Fantasy Page-Turner!!" "A roller coast ride of a novel" "Folklore based UF at its finest!" "A breath of fresh air" 🎄 Join the adventure now Holiday destinations. Sun-drenched beaches. Pristine rainforests. But what comes out to play when the sun sets? Vengeful spirits. Horrific creatures from Asian folklore. Sometimes the old wives’ tales are real. 🎄 Joss Paper : It's time to chill …

The Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month draws to a close today. I thought it might be interesting to discuss how my Geomancer’s Apprentice books reflect the experience of Chinese immigrants in the United States. First off, it’s important to note that the Chinese diaspora encompasses millions of disparate experiences based on the time period in which it took place, as well as family and individual circumstances. I wanted my characters to reflect this diversity. To recap, my protagonists are Junie Soong and Joe Tham, a pair of feng shui consultants from Chinatown, Washington, D.C. The books—especially The Forgotten Guardian , the second book in the series—focus mainly on how Joe’s family came to America. Joe’s grandfather Tham Tiar Lung (placing the family name first, as is the custom for ethnic Chinese people) came to the U.S. in the early 1930s. Like many others before and after him, he used his connections to find a way around the Chinese Exclusion ...

2022 has been a good year for my writing and publishing. For one, I released  The Corpse Ritual , the third book in my urban fantasy series, in August. It made my day when a reader told me “it’s the best” yet of  The Geomancer’s Apprentice  books. Another highlight: I reached over 120,000 page reads on Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited this year after I loaded the entire series onto the service in May. That translates to around 280 books, not taking into account my ebook and print sales. Thank you so much, dear readers, for your interest in my series. The numbers aren’t a lot for some writers, but amazing to this one. When I released my debut novel in February 2021, it was the fulfillment of a long-cherished dream to write fiction. I can’t believe I’m actually living the dream today. So what’s the plan for 2023? I’d like to release two more books in the series, the fourth and the fifth—and final—installments. Yes, Joe and Junie’s journey comes to an end, or at least this part...

I found this old Christmas promo for The Geomancer’s Apprentice series. It made me smile. What a difference a year makes.  My dog Oreo is now 14. A little older, a little stiffer. I'm not sure he's any wiser, but he's as lovable as ever. He’s a rat terrier, beagle mix. We got him from a dog rescue group when he was six months old. He’s good-natured and smart, and quickly settled into our household routine. He doesn’t always listen, but he’s one of the most loyal dogs I’ve ever had. As for the books, I’ve updated the covers for Books 1 and 2. I also released Book 3, The Corpse Ritual . By this time next year, Books 4 and 5 should already be out. Here’re some of the Christmas ads I'm running this year. They make me feel merry. Writing my books and seeing them in print is a dream come true for me. Cheers!

I’m excited to reveal the cover for The Corpse Ritual , the upcoming third book in my Geomancer’s Apprentice series. There are still a few issues to sort out. I hope to release the book later this month. I’ve also overhauled the covers for the first two books to reflect a more cohesive look for the series. In addition, I wanted to add more elements in the covers to make it clear to readers that the books are in the urban fantasy genre, and feature Asian magic. The ebooks and paperbacks now come with the new covers.  That’s the beauty of indie publishing. You have the flexibility to make changes that you might not otherwise have in traditional publishing. It’s been one and a half years since the publication of The Geomancer’s Apprentice , my debut novel. It’s been a blast so far. The learning curve is steep for an indie author in terms of the craft and what constitutes good marketing. I’m still learning, and I hope you’ll keep reading.  

I'll be discussing my books at the Strasburg Community Library on July 16th.  The Geomancer's Apprentice series features two underdog feng shui consultants who find, to their dismay, that they must save the world (or at least the Washingotn, D.C., metropolitan area).  Please join us if you're in the area. I'd love to see ya 😀 195 West King Street Strasburg, VA 22657 Phone: (540) 465-8464 Fax: (540) 465-2739 E-mail: stlib@shentel.net ******

The phrase “dragon lines” appears often in T he Geomancer’s Apprentice series . So what are they? You may know them as ley lines. Ley lines are pathways of supernatural or spiritual energy that connect primitive sacred sites. Almost every ancient culture has its version of such routes. They are known as “fairy paths” in Irish folklore. The aborigines of Australia call them “dreaming tracks” or “songlines.” The people of ancient Peru referred to them as “spirit lines.” Such pathways have been recognized in China for thousands of years. Dragon lines are roadways of qi , or vital energy, that cut across the world. The lines correspond to the concept in Chinese medicine of the human body’s meridians—energy passageways associated with the various organs. According to the ancient Chinese, dragon lines originate from certain geographical locations, typically a low hill set in a valley. The energies are the most potent and active at these “dragon hearts.” The best and most auspicious sit...

I was delighted to find out in  April that paperbacks of my urban fantasy novels are available for lending at two libraries in my county. It’s a dream come true for this indie author. Not only are there two more avenues for readers to find my books, but I personally love libraries. My father was an avid reader. When I was in primary school in Singapore (elementary school in the United States), my father would bring me to the public library with him every month. He’d leave me in the children’s section while he browsed the books in the adult section. I loved exploring the stacks and finding new books to read. It was in that same library that I discovered Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. That library was where I devoured the myths and legends of Greece, Rome, Norway and the United Kingdom. That library was where I found books by Enid Blyton, J.R.R. Tolkien, Susan Cooper, Diana Wynne Jones, George MacDonald, Madeleine L’Engle, C.S. Lewis, L.M. Montgomery, Frances Hodgson Burnett and oth...

The Forgotten Guardian , the second book in my Geomancer’s Apprentice series, features a white tiger. Such beasts hold a special place in Chinese mythology. In ancient China, the white tiger symbolized war and military might. The white tiger also is one of feng shui’s Five Guardians . The beast represents the west, the fall season, and the feng shui element of metal. Among other folklore surrounding the animal, it was said the white tiger would appear only if the Chinese emperor ruled with goodness, or if there was world peace. Another myth has it that a tiger’s tail would turn white when it reached 500 years of age. Some ancient Chinese peoples worshiped the white tiger as a god. Today, a few Chinese minority groups still claim they are descended from the white tiger. They believe that the star of the white tiger fell to earth and gave birth to their ancestors. In real life, white tigers are the result of a genetic mutation known as leucism. Leucism is akin to albinism. However, ...

I can’t believe it’s been a year since I released The Geomancer’s Apprentice on Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform. The book is an urban fantasy adventure about two underdog feng shui consultants who find, to their dismay, that they must save the world. It’s set in Washington, D.C., and borrows heavily from Chinese myth and folklore. When I hit the “publish” button on Feb. 4 last year, I had no idea what to expect. I was both excited and afraid. Would my debut novel see any sales? Would readers trash it and confirm my very worst fears? Despite my angst, it was magical to see the book displayed alongside other books on Amazon. Why did I go the indie route and self-publish? By mid-2019, I had a handful of completed manuscripts spanning fantasy, urban fantasy and horror. Instead of trying to acquire an agent, I sent two of the manuscripts to major publishers that accept unsolicited submissions. Predictably, both manuscripts were rejected. Given that many publishers prefer exc...

In the fantasy world, Chinese geomancers may be the closest equivalent to wizards such as Gandalf (from Lord of the Rings ) or Albus Dumbledore ( Harry Potter ). An image of the geomancer from Chinese pop culture is that of a man dressed in long robes and armed with a wooden sword. See, for example, geomancers fighting the undead—or “jiangshi”—in the Hong Kong Mr. Vampire movies from the 80s. He immobilizes the walking corpses with his paper talismans. So what exactly is a Chinese geomancer? It’s basically a person skilled in the ancient art of feng shui. It helps if you first know what feng shui is. Feng shui literally means “wind, water” in Chinese. The phrase reportedly originates from The Book of Burial written by a Taoist mystic named Guo Pu (AD 276 – 324). Feng shui principles, though, are believed to have been practiced in China for more than 4,000 years. Feng shui has its roots in Taoism, which is a Chinese philosophy and religion that emphasizes living in harmony with “th...

In this post, I thought I’d explain why the second book in my urban fantasy series is set in a Chinese temple. To be clear, the Heavenly Bridge Temple in The Forgotten Guardian is wholly fictional. There is no temple at the far edge of Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown, as far as I’m aware. I thought it would be an ideal site for Joe and Junie’s next adventure because I’ve always regarded Chinese temples as mysterious places. Where better for magic and mayhem to occur? I’m not particularly religious. However, when I was young, my mother took me with her when she prayed in temples in Singapore. She wasn’t particularly religious either, but she visited certain temples at certain times of the year (usually during Buddhist festivals or Qingming, which is the day people of Chinese descent pay their respects to their ancestors). I can still remember how hazy the temples were inside. The smoke from the candles and incense was so thick it made me cough and my eyes tear up. My fictional temple...

The Forgotten Guardian , Book 2 of my Geomancer's Apprentice series, is now available in paperback format on Amazon.  It also is available as an ebook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books and Google Books.  In their latest adventure, feng shui practitioners Joe Tham and Junie Soong are called upon to investigate a long-abandoned temple at the edge of Chinatown in Washington, D.C.  The full blurb is below. I hope you check out the book.  Some secrets are better left buried … The old, abandoned temple near Chinatown is one of Washington, D.C.’s best-kept secrets. It is dilapidated and its gods have been forgotten. However, something may still remain. Two homeless people are killed on the grounds while a developer is trying to raze the buildings. Now construction workers keep walking off the job. The developer calls in feng shui practitioners Joe Tham and Junie Soong to speed up the demolition process. It’s been months since the geomancers cleansed the Ka...

Swords are cool. Since swords appear in Book 2 of my Geomancer’s Apprentice series, I thought it might be useful to provide readers with a historical or real-world context for them. Not to worry—there are no spoilers here.  To recap, my urban fantasy series revolves around two geomancers based in Chinatown, Washington, D.C. They use feng shui to tackle ghosts and monsters in the D.C. metropolitan area. There are five kinds of swords in The Forgotten Guardian , the second book in the series. One of them is Junie Soong’s weapon, which was introduced in the first book, The Geomancer's Apprentice . The other swords are the wushu jian, the katana, the wakizashi, and the tanto. Curious as to why there are Japanese swords in a fantasy steeped in Chinese myths and magic?  Well, I guess you'll have to read the book. Energy Devourer Junie’s sword is known as the Energy Devourer. It’s made from the wood of a peach tree cut from the Shen Ting Mountains’ sacred groves. The Energy De...