There are so many things that inspired me to create this character that I don’t know where to begin, but I’ll do up a list of 10 things you need to know about the character. (No spoilers, I promise.) Here’s the 411 on Ling Xin Long.
- When I first thought of Xin Long, she didn’t have a name. She was the female protagonist and had to slay the Nian in this folktale that I’d re-written. The original folktale had an old man, but I changed some aspects of it to make her the main character.
- When writing the first chapter of Dragonhearted, my friend Jean told me that she was too smart. The first chapter took 3-6 iterations before I was satisfied.
- Xin Long has long hair, something I wish I had as a child. Imagine all the pretty barrettes I could have worn! Sigh.
- The little one is spoiled rotten by her grandmother. If she wants anything, all she has to do is ask Ah Ma and it will be given.
- When she was younger, Xin Long was one of those kids who asked why about everything. She drove everyone insane because they didn’t know the answers to her questions.
- Xin Long is also stubborn. Once she has made up her mind on something, it’s very difficult to convince her that she’s wrong or that another point of view is just as valid.
- She hates Math and Chinese, just like me. But I am not her. Haha.
- Outside of Wushu, Xin Long makes an effort to try as many sports as she can, like, swimming, badminton, basketball, hockey, and more. She wants to try everything.
- Xin Long’s daydreams are very vivid and it’s difficult to shake her out of them.
- If she’s not pretty enough to be an actress, she would like to be a movie stuntman when she grows up.