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In this episode of On Creative Writing, host Sheelagh Caygill sits down with Chinese Canadian author Su Chang to discuss her acclaimed debut novel, The Immortal Woman.
Su takes listeners on a compelling journey from her childhood in Shanghai to her life in North America, revealing how her experiences as an immigrant have profoundly shaped her voice as a writer. Sheelagh and Su look at the challenges and rewards of writing in English, Su’s second language. Su explains how English, with its distance from her mother tongue, provided her with emotional freedom—allowing her to express thoughts and feelings that might be constrained by the cultural reserve and censorship often present in Chinese society.
Su opens up about her family’s tumultuous experiences during the Cultural Revolution, and how these personal and historical traumas have influenced the themes of The Immortal Woman. The episode explores the novel’s focus on collective amnesia, intergenerational conflict, and the lingering effects of political upheaval on family relationships.
Su shares how writing became a therapeutic process, helping her to process her own struggles with immigrant identity, belonging, and the tension between remembering and forgetting the past.
Sheelagh and Su also discuss the broader context of Asian Canadian literature, the importance of diverse voices in storytelling, and the ways in which fiction can serve as both a mirror and a bridge between cultures. Su offers insights into her creative process, from initial inspiration to the challenges of revision and publication. She gives listeners a glimpse into her next project—a hybrid work that blends memoir, fiction, and cultural commentary, which is currently under submission.
If you’re interested in the craft of writing, the immigrant experience, or the power of stories to heal and connect, this episode offers a rich and thoughtful exploration of creativity, resilience, and the search for identity. Tune in to hear this engaging conversation, and discover the transformative potential of writing across languages and cultures.
The Immortal Woman is published by The House of Anansi Press.
Awards and acclaim for Su Chang's The Immortal Woman
- Winner: Independent Publisher Book Award (Multicultural Fiction, 2025).
- Winner: National Indie Excellence Award (2025).
- Shortlisted: William Saroyan International Prize for Writing (2026).
- Shortlisted: International Rubery Book Award (2026).
- Shortlisted / Finalist: Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award (Multicultural Fiction, 2025).
- Longlisted: Toronto Book Award (2025).
- Finalist: Independent Author Network (IAN) Book of the Year Award (2025).
- Finalist: CIBA/Somerset Literary Fiction Award (2025).
- Commended: CBC Best Book / Best Canadian Fiction of 2025.
- Listed: 49th Shelf Best Fiction of 2025.
- Selection: Rakuten Kobo Best Fiction (March 2025
Shortlists and FinalistsCommendations and Lists.
