The House Filler - Tong Ge

I was inspired by my family's story across three generations. My debut novel, The House Filler, is based on my grandmother's life. The true stories she and my family lived through were so extraordinary—filled with drama, resilience, and unforgettable moments—that I felt compelled to tell them. I began writing this three-book family saga in 2006. It took me twenty years to complete the trilogy, with The House Filler becoming the first published novel.

The House Filler is told through the experiences of Golden Phoenix, a widow with bound feet who faces war, poverty, and political turmoil as she fights for survival, freedom, and happiness. After the untimely death of her husband, Golden Phoenix is determined to keep her family together. However, poverty forces her to make the heart-wrenching decision to give her teenage twins to the Red Army. During the upheaval of the Japanese invasion of her hometown, she is separated from her two young girls, and her remaining son leaves to fight with the Nationalist army. Golden Phoenix, along with her adopted son, remains to endure the horrors and the hardship of war. When the Civil War ends with the Communists in power in 1949, one of her twins, a member of the Communist Party, is wrongly accused of being a traitor and is sentenced to death. Golden Phoenix and her family must find a way to save her son’s life.

Most of the main characters in my novels are based on real people, many of whom I knew personally. My mother had been telling me her family's stories since I was a child, so I grew up with these people and their experiences. Because of that, bringing them to life on the page came quite naturally. For characters I knew less well, I relied on a combination of family accounts, my own life experience, logic, and imagination to fill in the gaps. I believe compelling characters are shaped not only by their physical appearance, but also by their emotions, core beliefs, and the way they think, speak, and act. Most importantly, a person's true character is revealed in extraordinary circumstances—when facing danger, betrayal, hardship, or even death. How they respond to those moments is what makes them believable and memorable. In writing The House Filler, I also interviewed family members and relatives and conducted extensive historical research to ensure that both the characters and the world they inhabit felt authentic.

The biggest challenge for me has been writing in English, which is my second language. The differences between Chinese and English are far greater than those between English and many European languages, such as French, Spanish, or German. For example, Chinese does not use verb tenses the way English does. The same verb form is used whether an action happened yesterday, is happening today, or will happen tomorrow. We also don't have singular and plural noun forms, so the equivalent of "one dog" and "three dogs" would both use the same word for "dog." In addition, Chinese verbs do not change with the subject, so there is no distinction like "I do" versus "he does." Prepositions present another challenge because they often don't correspond directly between the two languages. Learning to think, rather than simply write, in English has been one of the greatest challenges of my writing journey. At the same time, it has been one of the most rewarding, allowing me to share my family's stories with readers around the world.

To pursue writing, you must have a genuine passion for it, as it often doesn't yield significant financial returns, especially at the beginning. Hard work is also essential; becoming a skilled writer requires a dedication to continuous learning. Humility plays a critical role as well. Be open to feedback, even if your initial reaction is defensive. If one person points out a problem in your writing, you might dismiss it, but if two people mention the same issue, it deserves attention. When three people bring it up, it’s time to rewrite. If your book isn’t getting published, resist the urge to blame others for not recognizing your talent. Instead, take a hard look at your work, seek external help, and figure out what might be holding you back.

Yes. I am currently working on my next novel, The Pinioned Bird, which follows the next generation of the family through a new protagonist, Orchid. Although it is not a traditional sequel, it is closely connected to The House Filler. Golden Phoenix returns as a supporting character, and the novel continues the family's story against the backdrop of China's turbulent twentieth century.