ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.
Listen "Ep. 31: Permission to Become a Creative Novelist with Kyla Zhao"
Episode Synopsis
It was the summer of 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Kyla Zhao (@kylazhao) was living alone in California while completing her last year at Stanford University. Being all alone for months and not being able to unite with her family in Singapore led her to turn to books for comfort. During the height of anti-Asian racism, Kyla realized that many of the books she read did not feature characters of color with whom she could relate to. This realization inspired Kyla to write her own book—one that features an entirely Asian cast of characters and is set in her hometown of Singapore. Although Kyla never thought she would publish her book, after completing her entire draft in 3 months, she eventually found an amazing agent and publisher who believed in her story and in Asian representation.
In this interview with Kyla, she shares with us her journey to becoming a creative novelist, from her early exposure working at fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Tatler, how the pandemic inspired her to write her first novel, how she managed to complete her draft in 3 months, how she found an agent who believed in her work and eventually received multiple offers from major book publishers, and finally her tips and advice for aspiring Asian American female writers!
About Kyla:
Kyla is a lifestyle writer, fashion journalist, and author of her first debut novel, The Fraud Squad, a story about a working-class woman who worked her way into high society in order to get her dream job at a posh magazine and the world that unfolded from there. She grew up in Singapore and moved to California to attend Stanford University and majored in psychology and communications. She graduated in 2021 and has been working at a tech company in Silicon Valley since. But before that, she worked at several fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Tatler, which brought her up close with the glitz and glamor of high society. In addition to The Fraud Squad, she has two more books coming out in the next two years, another adult novel and a children’s novel.
To connect with Kyla:
Check out her book, The Fraud Squad: https://kylazhao.com/the-fraud-squad/
Twitter: @kylazhao_
TikTok: @kylazingaround
Instagram: @kylajzhao
Email: [email protected]
SUBSCRIBE TO THE PERMISSION TO BECOME PODCAST
Apple Podcast
Spotify
In this interview with Kyla, she shares with us her journey to becoming a creative novelist, from her early exposure working at fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Tatler, how the pandemic inspired her to write her first novel, how she managed to complete her draft in 3 months, how she found an agent who believed in her work and eventually received multiple offers from major book publishers, and finally her tips and advice for aspiring Asian American female writers!
About Kyla:
Kyla is a lifestyle writer, fashion journalist, and author of her first debut novel, The Fraud Squad, a story about a working-class woman who worked her way into high society in order to get her dream job at a posh magazine and the world that unfolded from there. She grew up in Singapore and moved to California to attend Stanford University and majored in psychology and communications. She graduated in 2021 and has been working at a tech company in Silicon Valley since. But before that, she worked at several fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Tatler, which brought her up close with the glitz and glamor of high society. In addition to The Fraud Squad, she has two more books coming out in the next two years, another adult novel and a children’s novel.
To connect with Kyla:
Check out her book, The Fraud Squad: https://kylazhao.com/the-fraud-squad/
Twitter: @kylazhao_
TikTok: @kylazingaround
Instagram: @kylajzhao
Email: [email protected]
SUBSCRIBE TO THE PERMISSION TO BECOME PODCAST
Apple Podcast
Spotify
In God we trust