The Phoenix Newspaper was pleased to have been part of a Q&A with author Kent Hung on the publication of his third book ‘Starry, Starry Night’.
Speaking about the book, Kent explains: “My new book ‘Starry, Starry Night’ is the last of a trilogy following ‘Letting Go’ and ‘Entitled’.
“All three novels are interlinked family dramas of three to four generations set in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The initial idea of Starry, Starry Night came to me watching the TV program Long Lost Family.
“The main character George’s birth mother took her own life due to her past trauma when George was just two years old. He was raised by his emotionally detached father and his stepmother.
“When his stepmother brings her biological son back into their lives, George’s fragile self-esteem begins to unravel as he fears losing the only mother he has ever known. It is a story about a search to uncover the truth about his birth mother’s family to find closure with the past.
“But the path of the search is fraught with challenges and self-discoveries. As the past surfaces, he is confronted by his present and whether he is able to heal the fractured relationships around him and finally befriend himself.
“This novel has themes of mental health and struggles in finding closure with the past in order to move on.” Detailing the themes that are tackled in ‘Starry, Starry Night’ Kent states “my aim has always been to create characters that are relatable and hopefully readers will find them emotionally engaging through the characters’ struggles and also their resolutions in life. All three novels have similar themes of finding compassion and coming to peace for oneself.
“Also, to understand that in order to move on with life, one must find closure with the haunting past; all easier said than done.” Born in Taiwan, Kent Hung was raised in Sweden before living in Belgium and moving to Edinburgh.
Kent was inspired to start writing in 2016 and nine years later Kent’s third book is released. Speaking of his amazement, Kent says: “I would like to thank everyone who has encouraged and guided me through my writing journey.
“But I was also motivated by rejections and disbelief from others because they as well served as an impetus for not giving up.” Kent’s stunning new book, ‘Starry, Starry Night’, published by Vanguard Press, is out now!
By: Mandip Taunque
