Hong Kong Lit Club
Hong Kong Lit Club
Podcast Description
While the city is often portrayed as a busy financial hub where nobody has time to read, the reality is that people do read - and they write, too. Discover the work of both past and contemporary authors, and dive into the the literary heritage of Hong Kong that often gets overlooked. Each episode will feature three parts: a read-aloud ("Words Unfold"), either by your host, Julia, or by guest authors reading their own pieces, a discussion section to delve deeper into the meaning of the text ("Deep Dive"), and a short language section focussing on a Cantonese word or phrase ("Local Lingo"). Ultimately, this podcast is a celebration of Hong Kong's literary landscape and an invitation for listeners to embark on a literary journey that transcends borders.Learn more here.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Focused on the literary heritage of Hong Kong, the podcast explores themes of identity, cultural reflection, and intergenerational relationships with episodes that feature contemporary works, discussions on the impact of technology on storytelling, and explorations of local language.
While the city is often portrayed as a busy financial hub where nobody has time to read, the reality is that people do read – and they write, too. Discover the work of both past and contemporary authors, and dive into the the literary heritage of Hong Kong that often gets overlooked. Each episode will feature three parts: a read-aloud (“Words Unfold”), either by your host, Julia, or by guest authors reading their own pieces, a discussion section to delve deeper into the meaning of the text (“Deep Dive”), and a short language section focussing on a Cantonese word or phrase (“Local Lingo”).
Ultimately, this podcast is a celebration of Hong Kong’s literary landscape and an invitation for listeners to embark on a literary journey that transcends borders.
Learn more here.
Award-winning author Ritu Hemnani joins us for a powerful conversation on writing as a tool for empathy and social change.
We begin with her poem, “Mind the Gap,” which hijacks the London Underground’s warning to frame the xenophobia faced by Asian communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ritu reveals how this mundane phrase becomes a metaphor for prejudice, bystander silence, and the fear of being targeted.
We explore her cinematic craft, moving from nostalgic Chinatown memories to a tense tube car confrontation, and how her drama background fuels her character-driven empathy.
The discussion expands to her mission as a children’s author. She shares her journey to publication with the Partition-inspired verse novel Lion of the Sky and picture book Gope and Meera, driven by her belief that every child deserves to see themselves in a book.
Ritu also offers practical advice for writers and a sneak peek at her upcoming narrative non-fiction picture book, ‘Their Story is Our Story.’
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- Ritu’s live reading of “Mind the Gap.”
- How a TEDx Talk secured her HarperCollins book deal.
- Why writing for children is her toughest and most important audience.
- Writing tips, from daily habits to breaking through blocks.
- Our Local Linguo segment on the Cantonese phrase 「請留意月台空隙」.
Featured in this episode:
- Ritu Hemnani:Website | Instagram
- Books Mentioned:Lion of the Sky | Gope and Meera: A Migration Story
- Publication:Imprint by The Women in Publishing Society (Hong Kong)
Episode Credits:
- Host & Producer: Julia Besnard
- Guest: Ritu Hemnani
- Audio clips: “President Trump Calls Coronavirus ‘Kung Flu'” BBC clip; “Coronavirus: Racism towards Chinese people in the UK on the rise” video by The Telegraphh UK.
- Hong Kong Lit Club is a production dedicated to promoting the writers of Hong Kong. Follow us on Instagram.
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