With The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly just published, we took a few minutes to talk to the book's internationally renowned author Sun-Mi Hwang about her inspiration, her writing, and how she hopes that people will react to a plucky hen named Sprout.
WHERE DID YOUR INSPIRATION FOR THIS NOVEL COME FROM?
I got the idea to write a story about a hen while I was watching TV, and the inspiration for the duck came from a comic book. These two sources of inspiration were surprising, as they were so different.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE A HEN FOR YOUR MAIN CHARACTER?
The hen is hardly the coolest or most beautiful of characters to choose for a heroine, as hens are neither brave nor good fighters. In picking a hen I deliberately opted for a puny, run-of-the-mill creature – a creature that is so often overlooked and ignored – as I wanted my protagonist to be an ordinary person who readers could relate to, and realize that they could be a hero in their own lives.
DO YOU SEE ANYTHING OF YOURSELF IN SPROUT?
Of course there is! It’s natural for a writer to put something of themselves into any character in his or her work. Sprout is all about following one’s passions and dreams and about taking a chance to discover a new life for yourself. I’d have to say the novel is based on the story of my father and my adolescence. I prefer to write about strong characters like Sprout – this is very typical of my books.
NAMES ARE IMPORTANT TO THE CHARACTERS IN THE BOOK – DO YOU THINK THAT NAMES HELP SHAPE WHO WE ARE?
Yes, they are. I had to consider and reconsider the name of each character very seriously. The names given to them are not just names but are an integral part of the plot, as each character signifies a specific type of person, which I wanted readers to spot.
YOUR NOVEL HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A MODERN FABLE. DO YOU THINK THAT FABLES CAN BE A MORE POWERFUL WAY OF SHARING IDEAS?
Fables can portray humanity and life very powerfully and deeply. I do like writing about people in my novels, but I feel much freer when writing a fable. The fable is an attractive option for writers as it’s not only a very charming genre but is one that can really engage readers, as the very positive responses from so many suggest.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE READERS TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS NOVEL?
I don’t really think it is necessary for a writer to interfere in a reader’s response to a work, but I would be honoured if my book prompts someone to take a look at themselves. We have all had a dream at one time or another that has given us a zest for living, a purpose in life. If anyone who is suffering or living a hum-drum life could be reminded of their childhood dream when reading this book, it would be a success.
THIS NOVEL HAS BEEN HUGELY POPULAR AROUND THE WORLD, WITH FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDITIONS COMING OUT IN OVER TWENTY COUNTRIES – WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES THE STORY SO UNIVERSAL?
Actually, this is something that I’ve wondered about myself. I think perhaps it’s due to a desire we all have to connect with and understand others. But I also think readers can relate to and identify with the animals in the story, particularly as the novel is really about such universal human themes as motherhood, loyalty, sacrifice and so on. In addition, I think my focus on the importance of every life, and of every human being, is reflected in this work too, which resonates with readers.
COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW – AND WHY – YOU BEGAN TO WRITE BOOKS, AND YOUR EXPERIENCES WRITING THIS NOVEL IN PARTICULAR?
I’ve wanted to read and write stories ever since I was thirteen when I came across a children’s novel for the first time. Since then I’ve never considered any other job because the urge to write was so strong. I can’t imagine not writing. It’s how I live, it’s who I am, and how I express myself. As far as the writing of this novel in concerned, however, it was really my father who was the inspiration – the character of Sprout is based on him. Sadly he died just after I finished writing the novel.
WHERE DO YOU WRITE, AND WHAT IS YOUR WRITING ROUTINE – I.E. DO YOU WRITE EVERY DAY, OR IN BURSTS WHEN THE INSPIRATION TAKES YOU?
I usually write whenever I need to. I do not have a special place or time to write, but I do have to be somewhere quiet. My inspiration comes from daily life, and from the everyday lives I see around me, so these are very important. I would love to travel to other countries for extra stimulation, but things have fallen through so far.
YOU HAVE WRITTEN A NUMBER OF BOOKS SINCE THE HEN WHO DREAMED SHE COULD FLY. DO YOU HAVE PLANS FOR FURTHER BOOKS?
I have a lot of stories in my head, and I am never sure which one I should pull out first. I’d love to tell the story of a writer who is in a vegetative state, and I am so excited about it that it keeps me awake at night, but I am still figuring out how I should start it.