A different stroke

Di An, who has just published her latest novel, Ling Yang in the South, is among China's bestselling writers from the post-1980 generation. [Photo/China Daily]

"I wrote a novel that's set in a historical background in a bid to explore the impact of social systems on people's lives," she says. "I love Ling Yang for her strong will and perseverance."

In the book, she tries to imitate the dialogue style from A Dream of Red Mansions, a Chinese classic written by Cao Xueqin more than 200 years ago, she adds.

Di An was born in Taiyuan, in northern China's Shanxi province, to established writers Li Rui and Jiang Yun. Her parents had named her Li Di'an.

In 2003, the young author published her debut novella, The Sisters' Jungle, in China's prestigious Harvest literary magazine, using her pen name Di An.

Her debut novel, Farewell to the Heaven, which is about the love stories and experiences of five young people, was published in 2005. It sold more than 700,000 copies, Chinese media report.

From 2009 to 2012, her Memory in the City of Dragon trilogy on the bittersweet lives of four cousins in the fictional city of Long Cheng in Northwest China firmly established her as one of China's most promising young authors. The trilogy sold more than 3 million copies, according to the publishing house that also published her latest book.

When Di An started to publish her books, other young Chinese writers, such as Han Han and Guo Jingming, had been doing well by writing on youth romance and related issues.

Di An has also charmed critics with her writing and was nominated for this year's Lu Xun Literary Award, one of China's top literary honors.