Meet Xixuan Collins | Writer & Retired Professor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Xixuan Collins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Xixuan, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born in Sichuan Province, China, grew up in Kangding on the East Tibet Plateau, and have called Iowa home since 1997. I write stories about China, particularly Chinese women, and recent Chinese immigrant experiences in the U.S.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I came to Iowa from China in January 1997 to attend Iowa State University. I earned a master’s degree in 1999 and a doctoral degree in 2003, both in human nutrition. I then completed my postdoctoral training in the department of biochemistry at the University of Iowa.

I have been trained in biological sciences, but my passion has always been in creative writing. I published poems in China and started writing seriously in 2015. I have found my written voice in English, my second language. Since then, I have attended workshops and conferences to learn the craft of writing. My flash fiction and short stories have placed in local writing contests. My short stories and essays have appeared in the Karawane magazine, the MOON magazine and its anthology, PastTen, the Overachiever Magazine, the London Reader, These Interesting Times anthology, and Zibby Mag. I am a regular contributor to Asian Cha: A Literary Journal. I am the author of a dual-timeline novel FLOWING WATER, FALLING FLOWERS (MWC Press, 2020). Most recently, the Black Lawrence Press has selected my second novel manuscript as a finalist for their Immigrant Writing Series.

I wrote on evenings, weekends, and during semester breaks when I taught full time. In 2020, I took a one-year leave from work to promote my novel and care for my special needs child. This leave has turned permeant, partly due to the pandemic, partly due to my desire to be a full-time writer. I have finished the drafts of two novels since.

I’m primarily a fiction writer. Why write fiction? Albert Camus said, “Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth.” This is precisely why I choose fiction. I tell the truth about love, family, and friendship, etc., by making up stories. I love the endless possibilities of fiction writing: the freedom to create settings, charters, and stories using my imagination and the liberty to break physical rules if necessary. In other words, writing fiction is magical.

My published novel and my novels in progress tell stories about Chinese women in the early twentieth century and new Chinese immigrants (since the 1990s) who came to the U.S. as graduate students. Why should any Americans care about these stories? Suzy Kassem said, “Understanding languages and other cultures builds bridges. It is the fastest way to bring the world closer together and to Truth. Through understanding, people will be able to see their similarities before differences.” Stories about a different population will help us understand that population, and eventually, ourselves, and allow us to see the universality of our shared human conditions. The stories of Chinese students are stories of assimilation into the American life while maintaining their heritage and identity, something I think worth sharing with readers.

It’s not easy for me to be a writer. First, English is my second language. Growing up with books that originated outside the English language tradition, I find it challenging, sometimes, to apply the craft of writing and styles of storytelling that are rooted in English in my own writing. I think I’m also overly optimistic about the American reading public’s interest in stories set in an unfamiliar culture and place. Second, I have no creative writing degrees. I love reading and try my best to read widely, but self-education may not measure up to a systemic academic education that provides access to the publishing world. Third, as the mother of a special need child, I find it impossible to apply for workshops, fellowships, or residencies that require me to stay away from my family for extended periods of time. Ageism is also an invisible challenge “late bloomers” like me face.

Having said that, I find writing itself is my biggest reward for my creativity. It is this passion for the written language that keeps me in the trench. I also learned a few things along the way about being a writer. First, you must read widely. Read beyond the genre you would like to write. Second, find a community of like-minded people, who understand what you are up to and up against, who cheer for you for the smallest stride you make, who will read and critique your work with honest and constructive feedback. And finally, understand that writing and publishing are two different beasts, and be prepared to be rejected, a lot. The rejections are personal, but also not. It’s you, but also not you. It’s not you because the publishing industry has its own ideas, tastes, and trends that you can’t control. It’s you because sometimes you do need to hone your craft or your voice. Just don’t give up.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in the Quad Cities, which is comprised of four cities in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, along the Mississippi River.

Moline is home to John Deere, so my top suggestion are the John Deere Pavilion and John Deere World Headquarters. Other fun museums to visit are the Putnam Museum and Science Center, Figgie Art Museum, Rock Island Arsenal Museum, Family Museum, German American Heritage Center & Museum, and Bix Beiderbecke Museum.

The Mississippi River and its banks provide opportunity for lots of outdoor activities: hiking, running, biking, and boating. The Channel Cat water taxi is a must-ride. The Celebration Belle is a great way to cruise on the river.

Some favorite local restaurants are: Circa’21 Dinner Playhouse for a play and dinner, Duck City Bistro for a romantic evening, Ross’ Restaurant for a hearty home-made meal, and finish at Lagomarcino’s for sweet treats and Whitey’s for ice-cream. There’re also many local breweries that offer unique beers and delicious food.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to the Midwest Writing Center in Rock Island, Illinois. I started my writing career by participating in their famed Iron Pen Contest in 2016. Since then, I have met many writer friends and taken workshops through the non-profit literary organization. In 2020, I published my first novel with MWC Press, an imprint of the Midwest Writing Center.

Website: https://xhcollins.com/

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Twitter: @xixuan_c

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