interview with linyang zhang

Grace Johnson
Oct 8
4 min read

Today kicks off a series of interviews with our amazing Of Storm & Sea authors! Each of these authors brought their own unique perspective and style to this anthology, and we loved hearing their thoughts on their stories. We hope you enjoy these interviews as much as we did!

Our first author is the illustrious Linyang Zhang, author of "My Coworker Met the Dragon King".

Welcome, Linyang, and thanks for joining us! To begin, why don’t you introduce yourself and share a couple of fun facts?

Thank you so much for having me! I’m Lin, I’m sort of in-between things right now, but I very much love writing! Two truths and a lie about me: I’m six foot three, I used to write exclusively by hand, and I’ll take a chicken sandwich over a hamburger any day if we’re getting fast food.

You’re featured in Of Storm & Sea with your story, “My Coworker Met the Dragon King”. This is such a unique and mesmerizing story. What inspired it?

At the time of starting it I think a lot stemmed from a desire back then to walk into the ocean. When given the prompt of a “nautical adventure” I wanted to include something not usually seen in this genre, so I went with including Eastern mythology in the more fantastical aspects of the story.

How would you describe your writing process?

Start collecting ideas and images and snippets and characters and plot points in one massive digital note (or document). Once I have enough (usually years later), I start piecing everything in the document into a coherent story, along with something of an outline, and some character descriptions and development.

After the plot is somewhat solidified, start writing! Once I’m done drafting, I let it sit for an indeterminate amount of time (usually years, again), and then return for editing and re-drafting.

Continue the editing and revising until looking at the page makes me want to throw up. Rinse and repeat.

What lessons have you learned as a writer?

Like with everything, investing time and practice goes a long way. A lot of time, and a lot of practice. And by the time you think you’re good enough, usually you can be better, but just give it more time.

What are you currently working on?

I’m working on a fantasy novel with an ensemble cast! It’s been very exciting (for me, not necessarily the book).

What themes and messages drive your writing?

There’s a lot about grief in there. Usually everything can be boiled down to it. Other than that there’s just sort of the “knowing” someone and “being known” aspects of life. And maybe some loss, love, self-awareness, and so on.

Lastly, where can readers connect with you and learn more about your work?

As of right now I don’t really have a solid platform (gave up on the newsletter ages ago T^T) but if they want really really really rare updates they can follow my almost inactive Instagram account @coldestsunshine. Hopefully soon I’ll have things to post and such regarding books and publications and et cetera.

about the story

After Lu Fei’s coworker Ren Guang disappears into the sea, Lu Fei is left to face dreary, gray days at the company alone. His grandmother thinks Ren Guang has gone to see the Dragon King, but Lu Fei believes the white funeral flowers on Ren Guang’s desk say otherwise. One day, Lu Fei takes a misstep down by the shore, and finds himself swept into the waves, where he comes face to face with Ren Guang again. Can the two of them escape the Dragon King’s palace and find their way back home?

about the author

Linyang Zhang enjoys writing speculative fiction, from fantasy to sci-fi to surrealism. When not writing she enjoys movies, reading, music, and spending time with friends. She currently resides in New England.

about the anthology

Of Storm & Sea is a nautical adventure anthology that captures the romance and wonder of the ocean, with stories and poems that range from contemporary tales of ghost ships and first love, to mythology-inspired quests, to mer-queens and ex-pirates, to finding faith and footing on the rough sea. There's something so stirring and romantic about the sea, something that beckons us come and see what adventure finds us—and this collection accurately captures that idea and the emotions the ocean evokes in us. Even if you're not a pirate captain or mystery-solver or mermaid or runaway or adventurer, there's something to each of these stories you can relate to or resonate with. Just like the sea speaks to us, these stories speak to our soul's longing for escape, for redemption, for love, for a new beginning.

Featuring work from Michaela Bush, Anna Huet, Molly McTernan, Jessica B. Brown, Norah Case, Rose Everille, M.C. Kennedy, Bree Pembrook, Jennifer G. Satnic, Emma Thrasher, Linyang Zhang, Grace King-Matchett, and Lilly Tanis.