Bora Hah

What was your favorite book as a child?

Hope for the Flowers by Trina Paulus. I encourage everyone to read it. It's a book of life, suffering, friendship, transformation, and love. I still read it every time I find life bitter and colorless.

What was the original reason or motivation why you started writing creatively?

In middle school, I was a huge fan of a South Korean boy group named Super Junior. Two of the members had hosted a radio show at the time, so I began writing letters to the radio station to let them know about me. Luckily my letters did get picked up. Not just once, but a lot. Within three years I had learned that I had sent roughly 300 letters to the station. I did not think writing could be my vocation (what a difficult thing to do!), but I did know from early on how much I loved it. Can you imagine: 300 letters.

What was the most adventurous or thrilling thing you ever did/experienced?

Chemotherapy. I did it when I was 19 because I had stage II blood cancer. I’m all cured now; but I will never ever forget the shock of losing all my hair and the dead quietness of the cancer unit. I have a very clear sense of the ending in that way. I know my life will end at some point. And with that I am able to write so boldly, and humbly.

Do you listen to music while reading or writing?

Yes, I do. I listen to a lot of sentimental jazz music to set the tone of my work. My favorite jazz musician is Youn Sun Nah — her voice soothes my soul.