Following Fate and Searching for Dragons — an Interview with Author Katrina Kwan

By Gemma L.

These little stories helped me bridge a connection I didn’t think was possible.

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Gemma: Your book, The Last Dragon of the East, is a Chinese-myth fantasy novel featuring ancient dragon gods and finding your fated one. I really enjoyed the unfolding of the history behind the dragons and how it tied into the empire, and how you wove the concept of family and love into it! Why did you want to tell this story?

Katrina: This story actually came from a place of wanting to learn more about my parents. Growing up, they spoke very little about their upbringings, but when they did, I’d drink up those stories eagerly. As a first-generation Canadian, I already feel massively disconnected from my cultural and heritage roots. I don’t speak Mandarin or Cantonese fluently (just the basics like “I’m hungry” or “I’m tired.”) I grew up on hamburger steak and mac and cheese. I don’t know the names of my grandparents or my aunts and uncles and cousins because that’s how distant our branch of the family is. At some point, I decided that I wanted to do research on the types of myths and legends my parents would have grown up with as children as a way to connect with them, and I stumbled on a handful of fascinating tales–one of which includes the myth of the red thread of fate. I believe there’s a section in The Last Dragon of the East where Sai recounts a (slightly modified) version of the tale. When I told my mother I was researching the myth, her whole face lit up. Her excitement meant everything to me. It may not seem like much, but these little stories helped me bridge a connection I didn’t think was possible.

Gemma: The main character, Sai, is a young man taking care of his mother who sets off on an adventure in order to save her and ends up finding his destiny. It’s harder to find books featuring male protagonists in this genre, so I’m curious as to why you decided to tell the story through his eyes?

Katrina: There’s a saying within the writing community that you should write the stories that you would want to read. I’m always a fan of fantasies with strong female protagonists, but when I first began drafting The Last Dragon of the East, I was really craving a palette cleanser. In many ways, I feel like the story wouldn’t have changed very much if I had made Sai a female protagonist. The hero’s journey (or any tale I hope to tell) isn’t restricted by gender. At the end of the day, my characters are all human, and what I’m trying to capture is the human experience/reaction within a fantastical narrative. We all know what it means to love, to do what’s right, to face obstacles, to be manipulated, to be betrayed, etc. Sai just happened to take shape on the page, at which point I decided to roll with it and challenge myself with a new perspective.

I think unexpected heroes are my favorite…they can look just like me and you.

Gemma: Many fantasy books feature a male main character that is often aggressive and arrogant, but Sai stands out to me because his nature is of a softer kind of love towards those he cares about. You’ve even mentioned him as a “Silly Little Guy!” How did you develop him as the main character and why did you choose to write him in this way?

Katrina: Sai definitely goes against archetypes, but I love that about him. There’s an expectation for male main characters to be strong, brave, and capable (and there’s nothing wrong with that), but I was really interested in writing a story about a reluctant hero. Someone who was content on being an Average Joe, only to be thrust into a grand adventure. Sai cracks jokes to make other people laugh (a coping mechanism to help his mother after the loss of his father). He doesn’t know how to fight (and why would he, he’s the owner of a teashop). Time and time again, he finds himself in harm’s way, but usually because he puts himself there in defense of others. When I was writing Sai’s character, I wanted to explore what it meant to be a hero. The conclusion I came to was that it’s all about the heart. Despite the insurmountable odds that Sai faces throughout the book, he always does what’s right. In many ways, I think unexpected heroes (like Frodo and the rest of the Hobbits) are my favorite, because in reality, they can look just like me and you.

Gemma: Other major characters in the book are the ancient dragons of Chinese mythology. I hardly get to find books that center around Chinese mythology, especially ones including dragons that are also main characters. I’m curious as to how you wrote them into being. What was inspired by old tales and what liberties did you take?

Katrina: Dragons are really hot right now in the literary world, but I swear I didn’t plan that. It was pure coincidence that I started writing a story about dragons. I’ve always loved the depiction of Eastern dragons as serpentine and without wings, but I rarely come across them in my books. Within The Last Dragon of the East, there’s a brief scene where the characters discuss the difference. Dragons out west are seen as these large, reptilian (and let’s be honest, super cool) monsters. But out East, you’ll find a lot of cultures actually revere dragons as deities unto themselves capable of controlling the weather, good fortunes, and so on. I wanted to write a story where we could get a more prominent look at them. They are not beasts to tame or weapons to use, but living, breathing characters with their own stories to tell. I did take a few liberties when I wrote them into the book (I used the Chinese myth of Longjing “Dragon Well” tea as a bit of a backstory), but all in all, I think the dragons in my tale took on a life of their own.

Gemma: A major theme in the book is of everlasting love throughout lifetimes. The concept of always finding your soulmate in different lifetimes is so interesting to me so I was quite excited to get to explore your version in this book! How did you incorporate the tale of the red string of fate into this?

Katrina: I’m a hopeless romantic, so I was drawn to the concept of the red threads of fate the moment I learned about the tale. Sai has the ability to see these threads, strings of unbreakable magic that connects people to their soulmate, and he uses it in the beginning of the book to play matchmaker (because we all love a good side hustle). But then I got to thinking, if I could see my own thread of fate, would I want to follow it? I’d be bursting at the seams with curiosity! I couldn’t just have Sai follow it directly to his Fated One, though, because where’s the fun in that? That’s how his tragic and bittersweet backstory eventually came to be. I love the idea of being able to find the other half of your soul throughout many lifetimes, and I really enjoyed how the concept itself could open up to endless angsty possibilities.

When it comes to love, it should never come with conditions. Because once it does, can it really be considered love?

Gemma: The main villain of the story was very unexpected to me, but reflecting now I should have seen it coming! I really appreciate how the myth woven into the story was brought back full circle by the end. In the end, the message I understood is that sometimes power destroys the ones you love and so you must choose wisely. Is this correct or did you have a different intention?

Katrina: That’s a great way of looking at it! The intention was to have two love stories playing out parallel to one another (and eventually have them both weave together at the end). Love is supposed to be selfless, endearing, and kind. It’s less about physical passion and more about the connection between two souls. But I also wanted to explore what happens when love becomes corrupted by things like power and greed, how it can start off as true love, but twist into something toxic. Regardless of who you are (whether you come back in the next life as a man or woman, dragon, bird, monster, etc.), none of us are immune to the world that shapes us, and we must always be mindful that when it comes to love, it should never come with conditions. Because once it does, can it really be considered love?

Gemma: What do you hope the audience will take away from your book?

Katrina: There are two lessons I hope people will take away from the book. The first is that, somewhere out there, there’s someone waiting for you. You might not find them right away, but there’s something hopeful about knowing someone out there will love you for you. I sincerely hope that you find them. The second lesson is that (as cliché as it sounds) heroes come in all shapes at sizes. The world is in flux (and it has been for a very long time). We are all capable of standing up for what’s right, but I think we sometimes forget that.

Gemma: We would also like to learn a little more about you! The Last Dragon of the East isn’t your first novel. You’ve actually spent six years ghostwriting books, but are now finally getting to publish books under your own name! This isn’t the typical writing path authors undergo. What has your writing journey been like?

Katrina: It’s been surreal! Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always loved writing, but I was strongly discouraged from pursuing it professionally. There were certain expectations in place for me (namely the doctor-lawyer-engineer route). I was a year out of college working at a bank, and I came to a sudden realization that just because I had a “safe” job on a “safe” career path, I wasn’t satisfied in the slightest. I was 23 at the time, and I knew that I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life not doing something that I loved, so I took a chance. I stumbled upon an online freelance job board and found someone looking to hire an article writer. I didn’t have a portfolio, so I made one up. (Immoral? Probably. But I just had to prove that I could write–and I could!) Next thing I knew, I was ghostwriting SEO-optimized articles. It wouldn’t be until a few months later that my client came to me with a referral asking if I was interested in ghostwriting romance novels. I leapt at the chance. Before long, I was ghostwriting a new romance novel every month (the output rate was wild). Was I burnt out by the end? Definitely. But I’m also super grateful to have stumbled my way into the work because it gave me the perfect opportunity to practice my craft. I took everything that I learned and eventually wrote my very first novel between lunch breaks. This project would eventually become my debut adult romcom, Knives, Seasoning, and A Dash of Love.

Gemma: You are Chinese-Canadian and have written two books featuring Chinese experiences. What does it mean to you to explore characters of Chinese descent in different ways?

Katrina: I write characters of Chinese descent because that’s the perspective I have at my disposal. I have my own experiences (some lived and some I’ve had to research), and my writing comes easiest when I can incorporate what I’ve been through into my writing.

I have to decide for myself that I’m enough. That I have nothing to prove.

Gemma: Can you tell us a little more about your background (cultural identity, childhood, growing up in Canada) and any obstacles you’ve overcome?

Katrina: I’m Chinese-Canadian, but I’m sure (as is the case for most of those in the diaspora) that the label comes with a big ol’ asterisk. I’ve always had to deal with the fact that I’ll never be enough for either parts of the world I belong to. I feel more Canadian, having been born and raised here, but visually I look like I’m from elsewhere. I can’t tell you how many times people will ask, “Where are you from?” When I say Vancouver, BC, they quickly follow up with, “No, where are you really from?” Because apparently my answer just isn’t good enough. I’m sure they don’t mean to be malicious, but having to deal with this Othering since birth has left my nerves frayed. I get very annoyed when people ask me that, especially when they’re so blatantly unaware. It’s an experience that only members of the diaspora are keenly aware of.

And then there’s the Chinese part of my background that I’ve struggled to connect with. From the food to the language to the history to my own family tree, I’ve lamented never having embraced it fully. My parents would speak Cantonese around the house (and I picked a little bit of it up, but not much), but then I was enrolled in Mandarin school and that really messed me up linguistically. I just couldn’t understand. I don’t know how to reproduce the dishes my parents would make because they don’t have written recipes to pass on to me. (They’ve always been the “just eyeball it” kinds of cooks.) I’ve never visited China and I don’t know my extended family at all. And when Chinese friends ask me why I can’t read or write the language, it’s always made me feel a little less than. Like I’m somehow failing.

Gemma: In addition to being a writer, you’re also an actor! Can you tell us what balancing your multiple careers has been like?

Katrina: I was! I actually retired from acting in February of 2024 to focus on my career as an author, but it was great fun. I’ve always been a creative type (in hindsight, my poor performance in science and math should have been a clear indicator). I used acting as a way to express myself, to get out of my head. Acting helped me get into the minds of characters, to help study their motivations and pick up on any behavioral nuances they might have. In many ways, it’s been helpful when writing characters in my stories. I’m obviously a work in progress, and I can only hope to get better with each new story I put out there, but having that foundation was super helpful for me.

Gemma: You took a chance and pursued multiple dreams with your various careers. Do you have any advice for those who are contemplating chasing their own dreams?

Katrina: We are all going to end up at the same finish line. What we choose to do until we get there is entirely up to us. I recommend finding a good support system, a group of people on whom you can rely to see you through the worst storms and will cheer you on through your biggest accomplishments. Life’s too short not to do what you love. I’m not saying you have to drop everything to chase your dream. Doing it little by little is also a perfectly good option. The true tragedy is to not pursue it at all.

Gemma: How did your own experiences influence your writing?

Katrina: I’ve always believed that the world needs more love. Maybe that’s why I tend to lean to more romantic plots. Even my fantasy novels have a healthy dose of romance. I grew up in the tail-end of the 90’s romcom era, and I think they really influenced the way I write. Not to mention the C-dramas my mother would watch. They were the perfect lessons in top-tier angst.

Gemma: For our romance fans, your debut novel, Knives, Seasonings, and a Dash of Love, is a contemporary romance featuring food, a bit of spiciness, and a lot of secrets. Is there anything you’d like to add to this to entice the readers?

Katrina: It’s got a healthy dose of grumpy/sunshine, too! That’s one of my all-time favorite romantic tropes to write. I’m pretty sure every book I’ve written (plus a few that I’m working on now) features the dynamic. I don’t know what it is, but grumpy/sunshine always has me giggling and kicking my feet.

Gemma: I know you have another book in the works that will be publishing next year that will be set in the same universe as Dragons. Can you tell us more about it?

Katrina: Yes! My next work, The Legend of the Nine-Tailed Fox, is slated for Fall 2025 from Saga Press. It exists within the same universe as The Last Dragon of the East, but it’s a standalone. You don’t need to read one to understand the other (though there may be snippets here and there that reference one another). Nine-Tailed Fox leans toward a darker fantasy than Last Dragon, so be warned! There are plenty of monsters, man-eating demons, and even an escape from Hell to look forward to!

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