We don't usually cover historical fiction in the Garden, but this opportunity was too good to pass up. Tong Ge has already won one award for best new fiction, but she's a finalist for yet another prestigious award. Ancestrally biographical (I think I made this term up), she takes us through the Chinese experience of the Japanes invasion and occupation, and how that led to the Maoist Revolution. Tong takes us through those scenarios through the eyes of one family and the protagonist, Golden Phoenix. During the course of our discussions, we cover history, the politics of China, the military of China, the Taiwan issues, the cultural and socio-economic status, and religion in China. We discuss the Uiygars and other matters as well.  Born and raised in China, Tong Ge came to Canada in the late 80s as an international student. She has obtained a Master of Science degree from University of Saskatchewan in 1992. Since 2012, she has written under both her real name and the pen name Tong Ge, publishing poems, prose, and short stories in both English and Chinese across North America, England, and Taiwan. Her works can be found in publications such as PRISM International, Canadian Stories, Ricepaper, Academy of the Heart and Mind, FLOW magazine, Vineyard Poetry Quarterly, 渥水, 远方的诗, Polyglot Magazine, Aloka Magazine, Magnets and Ladders. With four literary prizes already received, she is also a finalist for four others. Her debut novel, "The House Filler," was published in Canada in 2023 and is among the five finalists worldwide for the 2023 Eyelands Book Awards historical fiction + memoir category and is the winner of the 2024 Independent Press Award for new fiction. It is also a finalist for the 2024 Canadian Book Club Award. To request additional review copies or an interview with Tong Ge, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: [email protected] | 403.464.6925.