Meet our Fiction Judge Chin-Sun Lee!

By Reine Dugas

Learn a little more about Chin-Sun Lee, our 2025 Fiction Judge. 

What is it about a story that first captures your interest?

This is a hard thing to quantify, because every story is different and likewise, every beginning. That said, within the first few sentences, I need to feel a certain surefootedness; a sense that, Oh, I’m in capable hands with this author. I also look for specificity of place and character that serves the story. I don’t need to know the minutiae of a setting, however beautifully described, or every contour of a person’s face unless they propel the narrative. But I do want to see the world of the story.

What are you always happy to see in a short story? (a symbol, theme, place, literary device)

I love the combination of humor with pathos. Probably the best, most succinct example of this would be Tobias Wolff’s short story, “Bullet in the Brain.” I’m also thinking of writers like Jenny Offill, Sigrid Nunez, Denis Johnson, and Lucia Berlin. And something subverted, transgressive, or otherwise unexpected always piques my interest, as long as it’s organic to the story and not inserted for shock value.

What advice do you have for new writers?

Read as much as you can, from the canonical to contemporary, experimental to traditional, and across genres and cultures. Find your literary community—these are the people who will carry you and cheer you on. Accept rejection, as it is a constant, and be patient. Lastly, and most importantly, know that the act of writing is the reward itself. 

What have you been reading lately?

In the last year, I’ve read so many books related to either promoting my debut novel or informing my current project, but I’m finally coming into a time where I can read without an agenda, for pure pleasure. Recently, I’ve been reading slim but potent books by female writers, such as Gwendolyn Riley’s My Phantoms and First Love, Jenny Offill’s Weather, and Han Kang’s The Vegetarian.

How would you describe the New Orleans writing scene/community?

I find the writing community here so welcoming and open! We are small but mighty, and my experience so far is that we acknowledge, support, and encourage each other. When I first moved here eight years ago, I didn’t know any writers, so my first introduction to the writing community was through attending the Dogfish reading series, which is sadly no more. But it set the tone for the communal warmth and general vibe of the writing scene here, which is pretty chill, unpretentious, and friendly—much like the city itself.

How can writers connect with other writers here in the city?

A great way to meet other writers is by attending author or other writing-related events around town. We have LMNL’s monthly reading series and the Unlikely series for poets, as well as ongoing author events at local bookstores like Octavia, Blue Cypress, Garden District, Frenchmen Art & Books, and Baldwin Books. Baldwin often hosts free Coffee & Craft workshops, and Lowpoint, a coffee shop and tiny bookseller in Bywater, has also hosted reading events. Finally, the New Orleans Writers Workshop offers a variety of in-person courses across genres at reasonable rates.

Can you tell us about what you’re working on now?

I’ve just finished revising my second novel, Soon You’ll Be Just Like Us, a mystery thriller and medical sci-fi set in the near future, where a radical cult of activist feminists terrorizes the Los Angeles beauty and wellness industries. Koreatown extends from Downtown to the San Fernando Valley and cosmetic surgery is ubiquitous, with prominent plastic surgeons from Seoul commandeering the entertainment and media industries. Ultimately, it’s all a front for more radical transformations, including reproductive cloning. The novel examines the relationship between the body and consciousness, feminism and patriarchy, and climate change under capitalism.

TWTC To Present

A Streetcar Named Desire

Williams’ iconic Pulitzer Prize-winning drama that follows Blanche DuBois’ journey from the columns of her ancestral Mississippi Delta mansion into the depths of the French Quarter is fraught with steamy sensuality. Blanche needs a world surrounded by softness and magic, but grief and consequences creep into the household of her sister Stella as soon as Blanche comes to visit. Will Blanche be able to start her new life in the Big Easy, or will she be crushed against something brutal and hard?

WHEN: July 18 - 20; 25 - 28 at 7:30 pm

WHERE: The Marigny Opera House

CAST:

Charlie Carr as Blanche

Elizabeth McCoy as Stella

Sean Richmond as Stanley

Samantha Rohr as Blanche/Stella Standby

Robinson J. Cyprian as Mitch

Tracey Collins as Eunice

Bob Mitchell as Steve

Miguel Garcia as Pablo/Stanley Understudy

Benjamin Adams as Doctor/Ensemble

Quinn Lapeyrouse as Newspaper Collector/Ensemble

Lydia Pena as Flower Saleswoman/Ensemble

Adrienne Simmons as Ensemble/Aerials 2

New Williams Poem in the 2024

Tennessee Williams Annual Review

The 2024 edition of the Tennessee Williams Annual Review (TWAR) from The Historic New Orleans Collection includes a never-before-published Tennessee Williams poem entitled, "The Final Day of Your Life," a moving piece about the death of Williams' life partner Frank Merlo. 

Margit Longbrake speaks with Thomas Keith, who brought the poem to TWAR and provides an introduction to the poem in the context of Williams' life and work amidst 20th-century views on homosexuality.

In the TWAR article, Keith answers some questions about the poem, about Merlo, and about the crucial, once-invisible relationship with the playwright now getting its due.

Margit Longbrake is a member of our Board of Directors and also coordinates the annual Tennessee Williams Scholars Conference. Thomas Keith co-curates our Tennessee Williams Tribute Reading, assists with Williams content for our literary programming, and edits Williams titles for New Directions. 

Read the article HERE.

The gorgeous Hotel Monteleone is once again our host hotel and is offering a special room block for our TWFest attendees. 

Famous writers who spent time at the Monteleone include our own Tennessee Williams, who chose the hotel as the setting for The Rose Tattoo and was a regular guest of the Carousel Bar. 

Hit the booking link below or call 1-504-523-3341. Be sure to mention that it’s through the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Festival room block

Save now on our popular VIP Pass, the best way to see everything you want at TWF25, including the entire writer's craft series, all of the literary discussion panels, the scholars conference, theatre events, music events, tribute reading, walking tours, SASFest events, and more.

Plus, you'll get an invitation for 2 to the VIP Party the Friday night of the Festival.

Treat yourself to the full fest experience! It also makes a great gift for the literary lover in your life.

Join a community of literary and theatre lovers and help sustain our mission of supporting and promoting writers.You can play a vital role in our organization, support the literary arts, AND get some great perks when you become a Friend of Tennessee. 

Membership levels begin at just $50 and every level receives 10% off all Festival tickets. Benefits include free passes, tote bags, party invitations, and more.

Click below for full details and join today!

DID YOU ATTEND TWFest24? PLEASE TAKE OUR SURVEY!

You have ideas and we want to hear them! Our survey for 2024 is linked below, and we appreciate everyone who takes a few minutes to answer our questions. It is extremely helpful for future planning, grant writing, and grant reports. Thanks in advance!

Deadline June 30.

MISS THE FEST? We miss it too! But some branded merch could be the remedy. Visit our merch site for TWFest mugs, shirts, posters, and more! Click the image below and shop till you drop.

SAVE THE DATE!

TWF 2025 is March 26-30

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The Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

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