Novelist and pop lyricist Jozev Lau, who edited a wuxia magazine in the early 1990s while studying translation at City University (CityU), has returned to his literary roots with his best-selling epic period series, Blood and Steel, which weaves knowledge of real martial arts into wuxia fiction.
The series has been a surprise hit, given that wuxia as a literary form seems to have been marginalised in recent years. Growing up watching movies and reading manga, Lau brings a modern twist to this traditional genre with fast-paced storytelling and testosterone-driven action.
The latest and eighth instalment of the Blood and Steel series - and its manga adaptation - will be released this month.
What convinced you to focus on writing as a career?
When I studied translation at CityU, there was an instructor who, one day, assigned the class an essay topic. I turned in a short novel, just for fun, but she was impressed. She gave me plenty of positive comments and encouraged me to pursue a career in writing. My buddy's cousin was a publisher who wanted to set up a wuxia magazine. Eventually, I became responsible for the editing and writing of the magazine. Those were the days of fiery passion: I went to classes during the day and edited the magazine at night. I was very determined to become a writer and wanted to have my novels published.
How did you build your career?