But those were really different from writing fiction. I learned how to write incredibly well by working with the judge on writing opinions to the court. When I came to her, I knew how to polish a piece because I’d been an editor with the Law Review at Columbia. She taught me to get to the emotional core of my stories. The other person that was really influential was one of my mentors at Vermont College of Fine Arts, Amanda Jenkins. My kids joke that I talk about my judge all the time. It was instances of encouragement like that that shored me up over the years. I was like, “Oh, good to hear.” She wrote that in a letter to Stanford as well. Make sure you keep that in front of you.” She also said to me things like, “You and your friends will help each other get to the places you need to get to.” She once told me that I had a mind that was as smart as they come.

Those are the most important things in your life.

She told me very early on, “Look, I’ve got two little dogs. I look to her often for so many life lessons. PC: Speaking of that ten-year journey, when you look at your career, who or what’s had the biggest influence?Ībigail: I’ve had a number of wonderful mentors over the years. I guess there really is something there.” That’s when I realized, “Okay, maybe this is worth exploring.” I have since had a ten-year journey growing in my craft. It seemed like such a big, daunting thing, but I did it. My husband was like, “You’re so excited about this novel. I was thinking about either becoming a law professor or writing this fantasy novel that was swimming around in my head. But I didn’t know that I could take storytelling seriously until I graduated from law school. We would go on adventures in these worlds without grownups. I used to tell my brother and sister what I called “group stories,” which were about a group of friends that included ourselves, our cousins, and some kids from church. PC: How did you discover your passion for storytelling?Ībigail: I have always told stories. Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Abigail about her journey as a writer, Loveboat, Reunion, and the upcoming film adaptation of Loveboat, Taipei. This January she follows that success with the highly-anticipated release of Loveboat, Reunion.

Her debut novel, Loveboat, Taipei, became a New York Times bestseller, receiving praise from publications including Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan, and Seventeen Magazine. The author, screenwriter, producer, and tech leader is creating much-needed narratives that represent a community that is often unseen. Abigail Hing Wen has emerged as one of the voices of her generation.

Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen