In this moving and insightful episode, J.R. sits down with author Tong Ge as part of the Author’s Circle series to explore her debut novel The House Fiddler . Born and raised in China, Tong shares the incredible true story that inspired her book—based on her grandmother’s harrowing and courageous life spanning war, political upheaval, and bound-foot oppression in early 20th-century China. 💡 What You’ll Hear: Tong’s deeply personal immigration story, including persecution and systemic oppression in 1980s China The challenges of transitioning from a degree in Agricultural Economics to writing historical fiction in English Why she wrote The House Fiddler and how it became part of a larger trilogy capturing three generations of Chinese women A rare perspective on the Second Sino-Japanese War and cultural dynamics rarely covered in Western historical fiction The meaning behind the term “House Fiddler” and how Chinese women who married widowers were viewed The freedoms we take for granted in the West—and how simple digital access can be revolutionary Advice for authors navigating long creative journeys and writing across languages and cultures 📘 The House Fiddler is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indigo, Walmart, and more. Visit www.toge.ca for more about Tong Ge and her upcoming work. 📝 Show Notes Bonus: Want to support the book further? Request it at your state’s Capitol library using the ISBN. Get it into the hands of more readers. 🔗 Follow WV Uncommonplace on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, Tumblr, and LinkedIn. Check out our merch store and subscribe to our email list at wvuncommonplace.com .
