PHOENIXA: THE NEST is a story blending history and fantasy and follows a spirited girl growing up in turbulent time in China’s history. Where did the idea behind this novel come from? 

I AM  PHOENIXA. PHOENIXA: THE NEST is my personal, lived history, and a passionate initiation of dialogue between myself, my grandfather, and my ancestors—whose connection to me was, in essence, cut off by politics and by time. PHOENIXA: THE NEST can be viewed as a bioepic, in which a real-life story is elevated to mythic, historic and moral significance. I was born and raised in Beijing in Mao’s China, and with only a small dose of private education from my family- one that had been essentially torn apart – I was able to somehow survive the very sweet, sugar-coated terror of collectivism and brainwashing. I am eternally grateful to the motherland that has nurtured me. Yet there is something greater than the love for your motherland, that is the love for truth – truth that lies beyond familiar borders and comfort zones.

The idea behind this novel came from my midlife cry for roots. After leaving my job as a CCTV anchor/journalist in the late 1980s, and living an adventurous, self-exiled life in the United States for two decades, I grew increasingly restless, uncertain of who I was, or what—or where—home truly meant. After a willful search for Cheng family history – I stumbled upon my grandfather’s name – one that my father had hidden all his life, one that struck me like lightning: Cheng Zhenjun 程振鈞, a western-educated Chinese pioneer and leader who died on duty in 1932, advancing China’s modernization. In that moment, I trembled, shocked by the magnitude of family drama as well as the voice of history itself—muffled, suppressed, and long silenced. I felt betrayed, lied to by omission.  Someone—or something larger—had cut off my roots, my very source of becoming.

I picked up my pen and my camera. What followed was more than a decade of research into the life of my grandfather and the forces that shaped him into a hero and a martyr, I have traversing not only the physical terrain of China, but also the inner fabric of Chinese civilization including Chinese mythology. Here you are, PHOENIXA: THE NEST, the first in PHOENIXA trilogy. 

Looking back, I’ve come to realize that I paid a dear price to preserve my naïveté, my idealism, my conscience and, ultimately, my freedom as an individual human being. I am so thrilled today that I am now able to share “the pearl of life “with you – formed over the course of my entire life, but cultivated into shape in the solitude of the three-year COVID lockdown. I feel I have been metamorphosed through creating PHOENIXA and reinventing myself as an author and mythic thinker— and I hope my readers will be too, through reading and listening to this novel ( yes, as an audiobook, too), through pursuing something truly meaningful, something that allows each of us to make a contribution to this troubled yet beautiful world.

What is it that draws you to this period in history? 

The dominant narrative throughline centers around PHOENIXA’s life inside CHENG COURTYARD during the onset of the Cultural Revolution in 1966 — echoes of which a careful reader will recognize not only in today’s China but also other parts of the world. It is the violent nature and its insidious chain of indoctrination that I defy, and from which we must break free; PEACE – world peace – must begin with inner peace. But how does one attain inner peace as an individual? Let the ancient wisdom of Chinese sages guide you.  The novel detours into, and occasionally references, several sub‑timelines, each designed to illuminate the depth of Chinese culture, history, and philosophy, which runs at the core of Cheng values and education. Some explore the dynasties and the Enlightenment of the early twentieth‑century Republic of China; others drift into the timeless, fantastical realms of the Chinese Phoenix and other magical beings. My hope is to lift the spirits of readers, guiding them to navigate this troubled world. Glide with me, and soar on the wings of a child’s imagination!

What was your writing process to ensure you captured the essence of the characters? 

As the Cheng family historian, I have devoted years to meticulous research on my grandfather’s life—his struggles, his achievements—and the tumultuous era he lived in: China at a crossroads in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, transforming from a wounded, fragile imperial dynasty into a young, hopeful, and vigorous Republic. I am fortunate to read both simplified and traditional Chinese, as well as classical Chinese.  I have delved deep into the layers of centuries, savoring the flavor and absorbing the nutrients of Chinese antiquity. My research will continue across China, the United States, and soon, Europe, in preparation for the PHOENIXA Trilogy.

Writing, to me, is confessional and a deep act of soul-searching—therefore, an act of courage. You cannot lie; you must lay yourself bare in order to connect with, and perhaps even be rescued by, a higher power—be it your ancestors, a guardian angel, or God.

Can fans of PHOENIXA: THE NEST look forward to a follow-up soon? Where will it take readers?

Yes, I have created my life’s work and brand: PHOENIXA or P.H.O.E.N.I.X.A. Each acronym has its distinct meaning. please discover yours and share with me.

Here is the PHOENIXA Trilogy: THE NEST, THE FLIGHT, and THE RETURN. 

From the enchanted childhood and coming-of-age in tumultuous China in PHOENIXA: THE NEST, to the evocative youth odyssey in America in PHOENIXA: THE FLIGHT, and onward to her middle-age return confronting the dark fate of Cheng Courtyard and enacting a Cheng ancestral resurrection, Cheng continues her bioepic fantasy storytelling deeply rooted in her intimate personal adventure and the unflinching history of China.

Author Website