past, present, future: an interview with Thao Thai, author of BANYAN MOON
we talk second chances, writing process, and book recs!
I’m so excited about Thao Thai’s book, Banyan Moon, which comes out today! I first met Thao on Instagram, and before any time at all, we were exchanging messages about writing life, our debut novels, and pumpkin spice coffee creamer.
Banyan Moon is a touching novel about motherhood, love, grief, and the long-lasting impact of the decisions we make and the secrets we keep. The novel follows three generations of Vietnamese-American women in the aftermath of the death of the matriarch, Minh. Secrets emerge when Ann and her mother, Huơng, jointly inherit the Banyan House, Ann’s childhood home. Thao’s writing is stunning, and she weaves a beautiful, multiple-POV immersive story that slowly and satisfyingly peels back the layers of history and its decades of buried truths.
Lauren Kung Jessen: Hi, Thao! Congratulations on Banyan Moon and such a wonderful debut novel. Can you tell us about it?
Thao Thai: Thank you so much, Lauren! I’m delighted to be able to chat with you about my book. Banyan Moon is a multigenerational novel that spans over a half century, and moves from wartime Vietnam to present-day Florida. In the story, we meet three women who are thrown together in this large, decrepit Gothic manor in the Florida swamplands. When Ann, the granddaughter, returns home after her grandmother Minh’s death, she must face her estranged mother Huơng and decide what to do with the secrets she uncovers in the Banyan House. I always call this a love letter to the survivors—of war, violence, heartbreak, and motherhood.
LKJ: What was your process like for writing this book?
TT: I was very private about this novel. I didn’t tell many people I was working on it—in fact, I didn’t know it would turn into a novel at all. I hadn’t written anything like this for about a decade, after I earned my MFA in creative writing, so I was cautious (and yes, probably terrified!). But as soon as I heard Minh’s voice, I couldn’t stop working on the story in the evenings or early in the mornings. It felt urgent to me! I had many magical moments of writing, along with the usual frustrations of writing a novel—you know what I mean, Lauren!
LKJ: I do know what you mean! You expertly weave multiple perspectives of Ann, Huơng, and Minh, spanning decades and continents. What was your process for determining the order of POV, the timeline, and what information gets revealed when?
TT: Thanks for those kind words! I assumed the story would be narrated from Minh’s perspective from beyond the grave, but the more I wrote, the more I heard the other women’s voices fighting to be on the page. And I’m so glad that’s what happened, because I came to love Ann and Huơng’s stories as much as Minh’s! I wanted the present to directly influence what we saw in the past—and vice versa. My fantastic editor at Mariner and I worked hard to make sure each chapter resonated with the ones around them, which got tricky at times with all three perspectives and timelines.
LKJ: The banyan tree has such a powerful presence throughout the book (the home where Ann grew up is called the Banyan House, where there’s a banyan tree looming outside), as well as with the imagery on the cover (which is so beautiful!). What inspired you to incorporate the banyan tree into this book? Was it part of the story from the very beginning? Did it come later?
TT: I grew up in coastal Florida around banyan trees, so they’ve always captured my imagination, but I had a bit of a lightbulb moment when I was pretty far along in the novel. I saw the metaphor of the tangled trees, how they’re viewed as invasive species, and how they seem to creep and take over the landscape around them. That’s a pretty apt comparison to complex family relationships!
Plus, the Vietnamese folklore of the man in the moon (woven throughout Banyan Moon) centers around the tree. Banyans appear in both Florida and Vietnam, so it was a natural complement. I was incredibly fortunate to be able to have Tanya Hough’s gorgeous painting as a book cover!
LKJ: It’s a gorgeous book cover! The theme of second chances stood out to me when reading—both in their potential and in what actualized. Was this something you actively integrated? Do you think people can change?
TT: I love that you picked out that theme; few people have mentioned it, and it’s spot on! I’m a big believer in personal evolution. I’ve seen it happen with the people closest to me, and I know it takes incredible strength and vulnerability. I don’t think one can be a writer and not believe in (or at least hope for) second chances. That’s part of why we read and write, I think, to get a glimpse at things that can redeem us as humans. When writing the mother-daughter relationships in Banyan Moon, it was important for me to understand the ways they could hurt and heal each other. That felt true to life.
LKJ: That does feel true to life. Now let’s talk about location. Through the multiple timelines and perspectives, the locations range from 1960s Vietnam to present-day Florida. What is the importance of each setting? How do the two contrast and/or complement each other?
TT: Vietnam and Florida have a lot of similarities—the tropical weather, the lush vegetation, the proximity to water. They both contain beauty and treachery in various degrees, and they have both been homes to me. I’m a diasporic writer and I’ve always been interested in the changes that happen with context—how people’s choices can lead them into the next step of their journeys. I think alienation is a huge part of the Southern literary tradition, and it also happens to be a part of the diasporic experience, too.
LKJ: Your book is so thought-provoking and emotional. What do you hope readers will take away from Banyan Moon?
TT: Thank you for this, Lauren! I hope readers will feel seen for all the nuance inside of them, both the shadows and the moments of light. Especially as women, I believe our hearts contain multitudes, and we deserve stories that honor our complexities. Any writer would be honored to know that a reader feels less alone after reading their work!
LKJ: I love that, and completely agree. This is your debut novel. What has been your favorite part of your publishing journey so far?
TT: I love the people I’ve worked with! They have heard about everything from my daughter’s talent show drama to my favorite reality shows to watch. And they are genuinely so excited about the book, and that feels extremely gratifying. You hear a lot of horror stories about publishing, especially as a first-time author, but I felt like my whole team at Mariner sprinkled fairy dust over my experience. Also, any time I get a kind reader message, I just float on air all day. It’s still a shock to know that my words are making their way into people’s lives, and I could not be more thankful!
LKJ: You always have the best recommendations. Tell us, what’s on your summer reading list?
TT: Ooh, yes, I love a good book rec exchange! Let’s see: As a Little Women fan, I loved Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano, which was inspired by the classic and dives into the complex dynamics between sisters so beautifully. I also laughed my way through Tara Conklin’s Community Board, about a reclusive woman who returns to her hometown after a divorce and reacquaints herself with her community through a public social media page.
And because I know you have a ton of romance readers, I recently read Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola, and found the banter so witty and entertaining.
Thank you so much, Thao! Banyan Moon is out now, and you can follow Thao on Instagram and Twitter. You can also subscribe to her wonderful newsletter, Wallflower Chats.
And! A few of Thao’s favorite API-owned brands: Material, Paper and Rice Co., Lisa Lisa Design and Illustration, Flip Eats Liquid Fire, and Nguyen Coffee Supply.
🎥 Past Lives: It’s been a while since I’ve been to the theater to watch a movie, but this one got me out of the house. This movie is a stunning, meditative, and nuanced look at who we are at different points in time, the people who come in and out of our lives and what they mean to us, and what role fate might play.
📖 Happy for You by Claire Stanford: I enjoyed this book a lot. It gave me Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong and Days of Distraction by Alexandra Chang vibes in the sense that it is highly observational, inward-looking, and meditative. Evelyn Kominsky Kumamoto takes a job at a tech company trying to revolutionize happiness, all the while feeling unsettled in her own life and questioning what happiness really means. I flew through it!
🥘 The Bear, Season 2: I love this show for so many reasons, despite the anxiety it gives me. It’s very emotional, funny, and fast-paced. I am particularly loving the emphasis on food in this second season. We get to slow down a bit and really take in the art of fine dining.
Last week, I shared the cover reveal for my second book, Red String Theory. The cover is truly what red-string dreams are made of! I love it so much! Sandra Chiu captured Rooney and her Red-Thread-of-Fate-believing essence so perfectly. And in case you missed it, you can read an *exclusive* excerpt on Entertainment Weekly!
📕 A few things you can expect in Red String Theory:
❤ Before Sunrise and Serendipity vibes
❤ Opposites attract
❤ Fated Mates
❤ Art meets NASA
❤ Lantern chase through New York City
❤ Dumplings at midnight
❤ Lots of red
Red String Theory is out January 9, 2024, and you can pre-order it now! ❤️🧣🏮
From me to you, in the present,
Lauren
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