Who knew a project for his master's degree at Memorial University could result in a multi-book deal with one of the biggest English-language book publishers in the world? Certainly not William Ping.
The 26-year-old writer and journalist released his debut novel earlier this year, "Hollow Bamboo," through HarperCollins Publishers. A work of fiction with a fantasy twist in the form of a guiding spirit, the book is inspired by the life of his grandfather, also named William Ping. He immigrated to Newfoundland from China in the 1930s.
"It's delivered through this almost 'A Christmas Carol' type of frame, where there's a fictional version of myself that gets taken into the past, and I witness his life as he builds his life here in Newfoundland," said the author.
Ping had a longstanding curiosity about his grandfather's life, having only minuscule personal memories of the elder William Ping, who died when his grandson was only three years old.
"When I'd hear about it, it felt like a movie or a great book, and I always wanted to tell that story, but I didn't really know him that well," Ping said. "Sitting down to write this was my chance to dig into all the resources and listen to all the family stories, and paint a picture of who he was and what his life was like here."
Ping explored his grandfather's backstory for CBC Radio's "Atlantic Voice" documentary program and wrote a manuscript that impressed St. John's author Lisa Moore, who was teaching him at MUN. That got the ball rolling for the eventual publication of the book with HarperCollins — a significant milestone for a writer who is only 26. He did not envision finding a major publisher for his first book.
"It's exciting. It's daunting. It never felt real until the book was out. We did the book launch here Bannerman Brewing actually ... It never felt real until that night and seeing people walking around with copies of it."
Ping, who will do some travelling across the country later this year to help promote the book, is in the process of writing a second book. He expects to have a manuscript ready for editing before the end of 2023.
Uh, @RealWilliamPing just totally called all you other boring book launches punks. #HollowBamboo pic.twitter.com/RQhPqGyZtK
— 𝔸𝕟𝕕𝕣𝕖𝕨 ℍ𝕒𝕨𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣𝕟 (@hawthornandrewj) February 24, 2023
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20 Questions
1 . What is your full name?
William Seto Ping, the third.
2 . Where were you born and where do you live today?
Born and raised in St. John's, and still in St. John's.
3 . Who do you follow on social media?
Follow a lot of people. Follow friends and people I know. I follow a lot of restaurants and chefs, a lot of clothing brands, news pages, meme pages — follow too many people, too many things [laughs].
4 . What would people be surprised to learn about you?
People are always surprised to learn that I don't know how to swim. I never drank soda. I've never tasted a drop of Pepsi or Dr. Pepper or any of that ... Similar with candy. Just was never interested.
5 . What’s been your favourite year and why?
I think 2020 was probably my favourite year. Even though that was a difficult year globally, a hard year for lots of people. But for me, that was the year that I wrote the book. That was the year that I finished my master's degree at MUN, and that was the year I started to work with CBC. It was the year I got laid off from my old job and was able to just hang out at home with my family for a few months, which was really nice. It was like a Christmas vacation that just went on for months, it felt like for me.
6 . What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
Paragliding through the Swiss Alps. But I found once I was actually doing it, it was pretty relaxing. I'd say maybe the hardest thing, actually then, is writing. I find the writing itself easy, but the sharing of the writing was the hard part. You have this vulnerable thing that you create and bring into the world, and then once you share it with the world, it's sort of theirs and not yours anymore. That's the scary part of writing. That could be the rewarding part too. You get these connections with readers all over the country who connect to this thing you created.
7 . Can you describe one experience that changed your life?
I would say at MUN when I was doing my master's degree, I did a podcasting course. That was what started me on the path toward being a novelist and a journalist. In that course, I met Lisa Moore and Angela Antle. I'm eternally grateful to have met both of them. If I hadn't done that course, I think I'd be living a very different life right now.
8 . What is your greatest indulgence?
Food. I like to eat a lot of food. I love to go to Portage or Terre, Chinched, and just try to eat as much as I physically can.
9 . What is your favourite movie or book?
Favourite movie, probably Wong Kar-wai's "In the Mood for Love," or maybe Spielberg's "Jaws." "Hot Rod" with Andy Samberg is another favourite. Favourite book, I would say "The Great Gatsby" (by F. Scott Fitzgerald). It is definitely the one that I've read more than any other. It was just such an incredible tale to return to again and again.
10 . What do you like to listen to?
The last album I really loved was "Renaissance" by Beyoncé. I've been listening to the most recent two Arctic Monkeys albums a lot — "The Car" and "Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino." I just really enjoy the vibe of those ones. It's like a lounge, depressed sort of vibe. I like those two a lot.
11 . How do you like to relax?
I like to just sit at home, make a cocktail, maybe watch an old movie with my cats.
12 . What are you reading or watching right now?
I just finished reading "Ducks" by Kate Beaton. That was amazing. I just started reading "Tell Me Pleasant Things about Immortality" by Lindsay Wong. I've been enjoying that so far. I've been rewatching the "John Wick" movies in anticipation of the new one.
13 . What is your greatest fear?
My greatest fear would be that I haven't adequately expressed my love to the people in my life who are important to me ... That's something I'll be awake at night over sometimes [laughs].
14 . How would you describe your personal fashion sense?
Outside of work, I'll wear a lot of bright colours and patterns and street wear — hoodies and fun sneakers and that type of thing. But at work, I'll wear the same outfit almost every day. It's one of two Patagonia sweaters, same sweatpants, same pair of Crocs. That's my main go-to outfit most days.
15 . What is your most treasured possession?
I think building on the previous answer there, I have lots of possessions that I treasure, but I would say the thing I treasure most is the relationships with the people I love.
16 . What physical or personality trait are you most grateful to a parent for?
I think I'm a good combination of both parents. My mom is very boisterous and outgoing and very headstrong. My dad is very quiet and reserved and patient. I think I landed in the middle between the two.
17. If you had to choose one karaoke song, what would you choose and why?
Maybe "Coyote" by Joni Mitchell, because I've watched (rock documentary) "The Last Waltz" so many times. Or "American Boy" by Estelle. It's been one that I've always loved.
18 . What would you say is your best quality, and what would you say is your worst quality?
Worst quality, I can be a procrastinator sometimes. Definitely guilty of putting things off and putting things off. Best quality, I try to be thoughtful. But I think I miss the mark on that sometimes.
19 . What is your favourite place in the world?
Love home. Love St. John's. In terms of places I've visited, I really liked Reykjavik (Iceland). Really enjoyed the Blue Lagoon spa (a geothermal outdoor spa). The way that their culture is very similar to our culture here, but in a very different way altogether.
Going back to Las Vegas soon. That's a place I've always loved, but I don't do any gambling or anything like that. I enjoy to see the place. It's like the most extreme version of American capitalism, all in one place. It's a fascinating place to go and just observe what's going on around you.
20 . What three people would join you for your dream dinner party?
My grandfather. I'd love to sit down with him and hear about his life in his own words and see what wisdom I could glean from him, and then to tell him about my life as well. Second person, I would say (songwriter, actor and playwright) Lin Manuel Miranda. I feel like there's a big "Hamilton" backlash these days, but it was still something that was important to me. I wrote my honours thesis on "Hamilton," so I'd love to sit down with him and see (if) I was right about this, was I right about that. Third person, I would say (American restauranteur) David Chang. I loved his TV shows and his books, and I've been to a few of his restaurants. I think he would be the right personality to bridge the gap between the three people we have invited there.
