Hong Kong Noir Anthology
HONG KONG NOIR, a new anthology from Akashic and Blacksmith Books, features a story by Shannon Young set on the historic Pottinger Steps in Central.
What will Hong Kong look like in five years, ten years, or thirty years when the “one country, two systems” promise expires? It’s impossible to foresee. Hong Kong’s future may be beyond our control, but some things aren’t. We can continue to write about our beloved city and work our hardest to preserve it in words.
When we asked our contributors to write their noir stories, we didn’t give them specific content guidelines other than to make sure their stories end on a dark note. What we received was a brilliant collection of ghost stories, murder mysteries, domestic dramas, cops-and-robbers tales, and historical thrillers that capture Hong Kong in all its dark glory. The result is every bit as eclectic, quirky, and delightful as the city they write about.
REVIEWS
“Ng and Blumberg-Kason defy the fates by presenting a collection of 14 stories — by Chinese tradition, an ominous number — illustrating their city’s dark side. [Their] Hong Kong is a city on the brink, haunted by its past but facing an uncertain future. Readers can feel lucky to have such a collection.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Hong Kong is a city of breathtaking highs and earth-shattering lows, luxury and poverty, excess and want, and this new collection of 14 tales from Hong Kong’s best crime writers showcases the extremes of one of the world’s capitals. From ghost stories, to historical thrills, to underworld brutality, Hong Kong Noir, like the city it captures, is as endlessly fascinating as it is impossible to define.” — CrimeReads
Get it from Akashic, Blacksmith in Hong Kong, or Amazon.
Ferry Tale
A new novel from Shannon Young set in enchanting Hong Kong:
She wants to be someone else…
Katrina Keller flees to Hong Kong after the most humiliating moment of her life goes viral on YouTube. She starts over as a lounge singer in a fancy hotel, wishing only to be anonymous. But that’s tricky when you’re the wrong end of an Internet joke.
He doesn’t want to risk another heartbreak…
Sam So transfers to Hong Kong after his long-term girlfriend cheats on him. He doesn’t want to risk another heartbreak by dating again, and he’s not even sure how people date in the world of Tinder and texting anyway.
When the two meet on the Star Ferry, Katrina will tell him she’s someone else, someone who’s as cool and sophisticated as she’s always wanted to be. Sam will be too caught up in her spell to remember he’s supposed to be avoiding relationships. But it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out. Will they get their enchanted romance, or will Katrina’s lie destroy it all?
A modern day fairytale about finding romance in an age when we tend to Google the mystery right out of love. Get it on Kindle for only $2.99 or buy the paperback here.
“A fun, fizzy story that takes readers from the smoggy ferry decks to the spectacular harbor views of the InterContinental Hotel’s Lobby Lounge. Young’s fondness for her adopted home of Hong Kong comes through on every page of this cheerful and charming romance . . . as effervescent as champagne.” – Maura Cunningham
“Young evokes the vibrancy and sense of possibility in her adopted home Hong Kong. Her characters are each cast with their own unique mix of endearing qualities and weaknesses. Through alternating viewpoints, you’ll barrack for Katrina and Sam as they tackle their demons and learn more about themselves and each other in the process. Ferry Tale is an enjoyably sweet and classy romance – set in the digital age, but not lost in it.” – Booklover Book Reviews
YEAR OF FIRE DRAGONS
A new travel memoir from Blacksmith Books
Year of Fire Dragons: An American Woman’s Story of Coming of Age in Hong Kong
When a bookish 22-year-old follows her Eurasian boyfriend to Hong Kong, she hopes it’ll be the happy ending to their long distance love story. But a month later, his company sends him to London. Left with a new job and a pile of student debt, she embarks on a wide-eyed newcomer’s journey through Hong Kong—alone. She works as the only foreigner in a local school and explores with other young expats. The city enchants her, forcing her to question her carefully laid plans. Soon she must make a choice between her new life and the love that first brought her to Asia.
Buy the e-book or paperback from the following sites:
Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Blacksmith Books (free shipping in Asia)
Read author Elsie Sze’s full review of Year of Fire Dragons at Bookish.Asia.
Advance praise for Year of Fire Dragons
“Year of Fire Dragons is not only a riveting coming of age story, but also a testament to the distance people will travel for love. Shannon Young is the voice of the millennial generation and anyone who has ever built a new life abroad.”
-Susan Blumberg-Kason, author of Good Chinese Wife
“Year of the Fire Dragons evokes all of the wonder of being in love as a young expat while capturing the true romance of Hong Kong. As you delight in Shannon Young’s deftly written coming-of-age story, you might just find yourself falling for this fiery city where East meets West.”
– Jocelyn Eikenburg, founder of Speaking of China
“Life’s twists and turns are like the tail of a dragon, but this intrepid American Millennial holds on tight to her dreams to carve out her place (creatively, financially and romantically) in Hong Kong–a world far from home. Shannon Young’s delightful memoir shows us that true discoveries are made when we let go of who we think we are and embrace who we might become.”
-Leza Lowitz, author of Here Comes The Sun: A Yogi’s Journey of Adapting and Adopting in Japan
“After moving halfway around the world for love, Shannon Young unexpectedly finds herself living alone in Hong Hong. One brave, adventurous step at a time, she finds her footing in her new city and in her own life.”
-Lisa McKay, author of Love at the Speed of Email and founder of Modern Love Long Distance
“Shannon’s memoir was so inspiring because it shows that two people can live so far apart in the world and yet be so committed to love.”
-Jane Cornelius, author of Baby and a Backpack
Welcome
Welcome to my author homepage! I am an American writer living in Hong Kong.
Find out about my books using the links above or visit my Amazon author page here.
My newest release (February 2016) is a modern love story set in Hong Kong. Ferry Tale is about finding romance in an age when we tend to Google the mystery right out of love.
Follow the links on this page to find out more about my writing journey, my work, and my life in Hong Kong. Connect with me through Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. If you want to receive updates about my upcoming work, please sign up for my email list.
Shannon Young 