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Xiran Jay Zhao

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Xiran Jay Zhao
Born
China
Alma materSimon Fraser University (BS)
Occupation(s)Author and social media creator
Years active2020–present
Notable workIron Widow, Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese趙希然
Simplified Chinese赵希然
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhào Xīrán
other Mandarin
Xiao'erjingجَوْ ثِ‌ژًا
Websitexiranjayzhao.com

Xiran Jay Zhao is a Canadian author and social media creator.[1] 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. They won the 2024 Astounding Award for Best New Writer.

Early life

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Xiran Jay Zhao (Chinese: 赵希然; pinyin: Zhào Xīrán[3]) immigrated to British Columbia from a small town in China in grade five.[4] Their father is of Hui heritage.[5] Zhao would imagine stories growing up, but did not put any on paper until being encouraged to at an anime convention when they were 15.

They studied biochemistry[6] at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University,[7] graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree[7] in 2020.[8] They worked at a co-op before deciding on a different career.[9]

Career

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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.[10] Rock the Boat, the children's imprint of Oneworld Publications, acquired the UK rights in May 2021.[11] They described the series as a "monstrous amalgamation of my love for anime and my love for Chinese harem dramas".[12][13] 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.[14][15][16] The second installment in the series, Iron Widow 2: Heavenly Tyrant, was scheduled for release in April 2024;[17][18] however, the release date has been delayed.[19]

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.[20][21] They credit 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.[22] 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".[23] 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".[23]

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,[24][25] an imprint of Simon & Schuster.[26] It was released on 10 May 2022.[27] The novel debuted at #4 on the New York Times Best Seller list in the Children's Middle Grade Hardcover category;[28] it remained on the list for two weeks.[29] 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".[30]

Zhao was a finalist for the Astounding Award for Best New Writer in 2022.[31] In 2023, they received enough votes to be a finalist again but were declared ineligible and removed from the ballot.[32][33] It later emerged that this was due to self-censorship by the Hugo Award administrators of the 81st World Science Fiction Convention – which was held in Chengdu, China – in order to appease the Chinese government, which has a strict censorship regime.[34][35][36] In December 2023, Zhao exposed Cait Corrain's "pattern of leaving one-star reviews through fake Goodreads accounts, mostly on the debut works of first-time writers of color, while leaving positive reviews on her own forthcoming book".[37] This resulted in Corrain being dropped by her publishers.[38]

In 2024, Zhao won the Astounding Award for Best New Writer after the award sponsor Dell Magazines extended the eligibility requirements.[39][40]

Bibliography

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Young adult

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  • Zhao, Xiran Jay (2021). Iron Widow. Penguin Teen Canada. ISBN 9780735269934.
  • Zhao, Xiran Jay (2024). Iron Widow 2: Heavenly Tyrant (1st hardcover ed.). Bloomsbury. ISBN 9780861544233. (upcoming)[19]

Middle grade

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Awards and nominations

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Year Work Award Category Result Ref.
2021 Iron Widow
Goodreads Choice Awards Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction Nominated [41]
Kitschies Golden Tentacle (Debut Novel) Shortlisted [42]
Nebula Award Andre Norton Award Shortlisted [43]
2022 — Astounding Award — Finalist [44][45]
Iron Widow Barnes & Noble Children's & YA Book Awards Young Adult Won [46]
British Fantasy Award Newcomer (Sydney J. Bounds Award) Shortlisted [47][48]
BSFA Award Fiction for Younger Readers Won [49]
CCBC Book Awards Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy Won [50][51]
Amy Mathers Teen Book Award Won [52][51]
Locus Award First Novel Nominated [53][54]
Young Adult Novel Nominated [53][54]
Lodestar Award — Finalist [44][45]
Pacific Northwest Book Award — Won [55]
2024 — Astounding Award — Won [40]

Notes

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  1. ^ Zhao uses they/them pronouns.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "'I get to see myself more': Why writing a middle-grade book made Vancouver author Xiran Jay Zhao feel seen". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Press Kit". XiranJayZhao.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  3. ^ 中央通訊社 (17 February 2024). "中國辦雨果獎蒙陰影 匡靈秀趙希然等作家被取消資格疑政治審查 | 兩岸". 中央社 Central News Agency (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Ten Terrifying Questions with Xiran Jay Zhao!". Booktopia. 8 October 2021. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Xiran Jay Zhao". Simon & Schuster. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Xiran Jay Zhao – Asian Heritage in Canada". Toronto Metropolitan University Libraries. Archived from the original on 29 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b "FHS alumnus writes #1 New York Times bestselling book". www.sfu.ca. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  8. ^ locusmag (21 November 2022). "Xiran Jay Zhao: Speak Loudly". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  9. ^ Chue, James (26 September 2021). "Empress Smashes Alien Mechas in Chinese-Canadian Author's New Book". Radii. Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Rights Report: Week of March 16, 2020". Publishers Weekly. 16 March 2020. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Rock the Boat signs Chinese-inspired YA SF, Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao". Oneworld Publications. 7 May 2021. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  12. ^ "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. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  13. ^ Morrissy, Kim (6 June 2022). "How DARLING in the FRANXX Inspired a New York Times Bestselling YA Novel". Anime News Network. News. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Young Adult Hardcover Books – Best Sellers – Books – Oct. 10, 2021". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  15. ^ Codega, Linda H. (22 September 2021). "Historical Fantasy at Its Most Anime: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao". Tor. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  16. ^ Colyard, KW (9 April 2021). "Xiran Jay Zhao's Iron Widow Combines Ancient Chinese Culture And Mecha Science Fiction". Bustle. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  17. ^ Zhao, Xiran Jay [@XiranJayZhao] (10 March 2023). "This isn't an announcement I wanted to make, but Heavenly Tyrant isn't coming out this year. Trust me, you don't want it the way it is right now. I am unwilling to put out a rushed sequel for the sake of quicker capitalist profits, so its new release date is APRIL 30, 2024 1/? [IMAGE]" (Tweet). Retrieved 10 March 2023 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ Ulatowski, Rachel (17 March 2023). "Publishing's Unlivable Wages Delayed a Highly Anticipated Sequel From a Bestselling Author". The Mary Sue. Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  19. ^ a b Zhao, Xiran Jay [@XiranJayZhao] (23 January 2024). "OK fuck it, specifically they're refusing to give me something I need that could've kept the book in 2024 bc of our conflict even though I told them I'm willing to put my grievances aside to make the tight deadline. They've been dragging their feet for almost a month now. [...] Well to be very fair it was never going to come out in April because I was too absorbed in advocacy for Palestine to work much on the book, but I hoped to at least keep it in 2024" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2024 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ Universe, Greg (9 September 2020). "Chinese Writer Hilariously Breaks Down Disney's Live-Action Mulan". GeekFeed. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  21. ^ Nawotka, Ed (24 September 2021). "Publishing in Canada 2021: Novelist Xiran Jay Zhao on Blending SciFi and Chinese History". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  22. ^ Koehler, Mimi (20 September 2021). "Q&A: Xiran Jay Zhao, Author of 'Iron Widow'". The Nerd Daily. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  23. ^ a b Singer, Jessica (29 August 2021). "BookTok's novel approach to books is helping Canadian authors, retailers attract new audiences". CBC News. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  24. ^ "Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor|Hardcover". Barnes & Noble. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  25. ^ Brooks, Rachel (1 May 2022). "Children's Book Review: Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor (Zachary Ying #1) by Xiran Jay Zhao". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  26. ^ Zhao, Xiran Jay (10 May 2022). Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781665900706. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  27. ^ "New Books: 10 May 2022". Locus Online. 12 May 2022. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  28. ^ "Children's Middle Grade Hardcover". The New York Times. 29 May 2022. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  29. ^ "Children's Middle Grade Hardcover Books - Best Sellers - Books - June 5, 2022 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  30. ^ Scott, Alec (16 June 2022). "Xiran Jay Zhao uses the power of #BookTok to find new audiences". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  31. ^ "2022 Hugo, Astounding, and Lodestar Awards Winners". Locus. 4 September 2022. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  32. ^ Guy, Zoe (16 February 2024). "The Hugo Awards Scandal Is a Mess". Vulture. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  33. ^ Haile, Nardos (16 February 2024). "Hugo Awards scandal: Why the prestigious sci-fi literary awards is under fire for censorship". Salon. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  34. ^ Hawkins, Amy (15 February 2024). "Authors 'excluded from Hugo awards over China concerns'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  35. ^ Alter, Alexandra (17 February 2024). "Some Authors Were Left Out of Awards Held in China. Leaked Emails Show Why". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  36. ^ Gennis, Sadie; Polo, Susana (24 January 2024). "The biggest sci-fi/fantasy award has been accused of censorship, and the situation is a mess". Polygon. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  37. ^ Zornosa, Laura (13 December 2023). "An Author Review Bombed Books on Goodreads. Then Her Debut Book Was Dropped". Time. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  38. ^ Creamer, Ella (13 December 2023). "Publisher drops author for using fake accounts to 'review-bomb' peers". Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  39. ^ "2024 Hugo Award Finalists | Glasgow 2024". 29 March 2024. Archived from the original on 13 April 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  40. ^ a b "2024 Hugo Award Winners". Glasgow 2024. 11 August 2024. Archived from the original on 11 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  41. ^ "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction!". Goodreads. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  42. ^ "2021 Kitschies Shortlists". Locus Online. 16 September 2022. Archived from the original on 16 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  43. ^ "Iron Widow". The Nebula Awards. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  44. ^ a b "Canadians C.L. Polk & Fonda Lee nominated for 2022 Hugo Award for best series". CBC Books. 11 April 2022. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  45. ^ a b Brooke, David (7 April 2022). "2022 Hugo Awards finalists, including in comics, announced". AIPT. Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  46. ^ "2022 B&N Children's, YA Book Award Winners Announced". Publishers Weekly. 2 May 2022. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  47. ^ "British Fantasy Awards Shortlists". Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  48. ^ "British Fantasy Awards 2022: Winners announced". 17 September 2022. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  49. ^ "2022 BFSA Award Winners Announced". Starburst Magazine. 16 April 2022. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  50. ^ Canadian Children's Book Centre [@kidsbookcentre] (29 September 2022). "And the Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy sponsored by Elly Barlin-Daniels goes to… [IMAGE]" (Tweet). Retrieved 30 September 2022 – via Twitter.
  51. ^ a b "Winners of the 2022 CCBC Book Awards revealed". Quill & Quire. 30 September 2022. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  52. ^ Canadian Children's Book Centre [@kidsbookcentre] (29 September 2022). "And the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award sponsored by the Canadian Children's Book Centre goes to… [IMAGE]" (Tweet). Retrieved 30 September 2022 – via Twitter.
  53. ^ a b Armstrong, Vanessa (11 May 2022). "Here Are the Finalists for the 2022 Locus Awards". Tor.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  54. ^ a b "2022 Locus Awards Winners". Locus Online. 25 June 2022. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  55. ^ "2022 Awards". Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
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