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Filed in: Asian fantasy | blog | giveaway Tags: asian fiction | giveaway | lucky money | recommended reads | tbr
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Happy New Year!
One of my laments is that I shall never be invited to be part of a holiday anthology. I mean there are Christmas anthologies and Valentine’s Day anthologies. There are even Halloween anthologies. There are no Chinese New Year anthologies. No Mid-Autumn Moon festival. Okay, this lament is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but a lament nonetheless!
So I thought I’d wish everyone a Happy New Year with an eclectic list of Chinese New Year reads. 2010 was actually a lovely year for Asian stories. These were not all set in Asia — in fact most of them were set in fantasy worlds that were very obviously based on historical China.
I’m a rolling stone this week: First a hop to Northern California to visit Little Sis and her newborn Peregrine and then a jaunt over to Montana for a ski trip. Since I’m jumping about, I wanted to get my New Year’s giveaway and reading list out early.
First the goodies:
Lucky money – Subscribe to my Newsletter and I’ll send you a personal New Year’s good luck wish along with a replica of an imperial Chinese coin. If you’re already a subscriber, there’s a link within the January Newsletter to follow.
Giveaway – One random commenter will be chosen to receive the original hardcover of Cindy Pon’s Silver Phoenix with the original stunning cover. Please let me know in the comments that you’d like to be entered. I’ll be selecting the winner when I return on Superbowl Sunday, Feb 6.
Recommended Reads
Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon
 Well, if you’ve followed my blog at all, you know I’ve raved about Silver Phoenix several times. Ai Ling is a young girl who suddenly discovers a mysterious gift–she can transport her spirit into another’s body. Along with two brothers, she embarks upon a mission to find her father and discover the origins of her power. This is a classic adventure tale with elements of Chinese mythology interwoven within it.
As the story progresses, the scope of the adventure also grows until it encompasses palace intrigue, reincarnation, and the mysterious Silver Phoenix who is somehow linked to Ai Li’s destiny. I was so excited when I first spotted this cover on AbsoluteWrite that I immediately searched out Cindy Pon’s website to find out more.
The paperback release of Silver Phoenix is February 1, 2011. Read it now to get ready for the sequel, Fury of the Phoenix, which releases in March!
Buy Links: Borders | Amazon | Indiebound | Powell’s | B & N | BookDepository
EON: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
 Little Sis gave this to me for a birthday present because she thought I would like it. She was SO right. It’s hard to resist a sword-wielding heroine, let alone one who wields double swords. The dragon mythology in the book is based around the Chinese zodiac, though I felt the culture was likely an amalgam of Chinese and Japanese culture. There are occasional Western sounding names thrown in, which made me imagine a more cosmopolitan mix of characters, though the setting is definitely Asian.
EON is masquerading as a boy in hopes of being chosen as a Dragoneye, the specially trained warriors who commune with dragons in order to protect the empire. When she is unexpectedly chosen by the Mirror Dragon, she it thrown in the middle of a power struggle for control of the throne. I really loved this adventure: the fight scenes, the ceremonies, the manifestations of the magic. As you’ll see, the sequel is way high on my TBR.
Buy Links: B & N | Indiebound | Amazon | Borders | Powell’s | BookDepository
Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
 Guy Gavriel Kay bases his fantasy world on Tang Dynasty China. I felt the allusions were thinly veiled at best. He blatantly borrows the historical events of the An Lushan rebellion and the historical figures are obvious. He does, however, inject some of his own elements such as the Kanlin warrior sect and a whisper of magic in the shamanism of the northwestern tribes and the ghosts of the dead in Kuala Nor.
I felt the book captured the culture of the Tang Dynasty quite well with its emphasis on poetry and language as well as glimpses into the culture of the capital city as well as relations with the neighboring tribal kingdoms. The historical figures are also portrayed in a very engaging manner as Kay re-invents the motivations and circumstances behind the famous rebellion. You have to be a patient reader for this one. It builds slowly with a lot of text dedicated to create an almost haunting atmosphere. It’s one of the big fat books you can really sink your teeth into.
Buy Links: Powell’s | B & N | Borders | Amazon | Indiebound
Red-Hot Renegade by Kelly Hunter
 Surprised to see a contemporary romance here? I actually love reading contemporary romances and this book was a great find. Martial arts hero, Chinese heroine. Set in modern day Singapore — I love the international scene! This is a story of a couple that married young and then separated. Twelve years later, Jianne Xang-Bennett is threatened by an unwanted suitor and she reunites with her estranged husband, Jake.
The interracial romance was executed perfectly here. (Jake is Caucasian) We see the conflict of two people coming from different cultures, but it’s subtle and realistic. Similarly, their reunion and emotional angst is handled so well. And the romance is sexy and HOT. This book hit all the right notes for me and I immediately bought the previous book in the series and will most likely read them in reverse order.
Buy Links: Powell’s | Amazon | Indiebound | B & N | Borders
Hot Soup by Robyn Patterson
I bought this from Amazon for my Kindle and it’s a complete steal at the 99 cent price. The introduction at the beginning describing the wuxia genre is insightful and fabulously written. If anyone wants to know what wuxia is and why I’m always babbling about it, definitely buy this story.
The story itself is charming and quirky. Gou is your quintessential trickster hero; one of the beloved archetypes of the martial arts genre. He’s cheeky, clever, and a scoundrel with a hidden heart of gold. As commonly done in wuxia renditions, the language in the story is colloquial and the action is over the top. I laughed out loud several times and thoroughly enjoyed the madcap action scenes as Gou gets chased through tea houses and rooftops.
Buy Links: Amazon | Smashwords
To Be Read…
These are titles I haven’t yet read, but I’m looking forward to checking out.
Fury of the Phoenix by Cindy Pon – Hardcover Release date March 29, 2011
I’ve been avoiding all manner of reviews and commentary about this book because I really want my reading experience to be as pure as possible. So my blurb is not going to do it justice.
It’s the sequel to Silver Phoenix and goes into the past history of the mysterious Phoenix as well as the continuation of Ai Ling and Chen Yong’s story as he journeys to his father’s homeland.
I expect to encounter more supernatural creatures, imaginative places, and lots of delicious food. I’m pretty much willing and ready to go wherever Cindy Pon wants to take me in this sequel.
Buy Links: Amazon | Indiebound | Borders | B & N | Powell’s | BookDepository
EONA by Alison Goodman – Hardcover Release date April 19, 2011
 Don’t want to give any spoilers here, but let’s just say EON: Dragoneye Reborn ends on a doozy of a cliffhanger!!
I must, must see what happens. And the quintessential romantic in me is just waiting for the sparks to fly between the young Emperor and Eona now that he knows she’s a girl…and he’s really pissed that she deceived him.
Fully AWESOME! Let it begin, let it begin…
Plus look at the cover. My pretty, pretty Precious…
Buy Links: Powell’s | B & N | Indiebound | Amazon | Borders | BookDepository
Captive Bride by Bonnie Dee – Release date February 14 from Carina Press
 I’ve read other stories by Bonnie Dee and she has a way of portraying more sensitive and thoughtful heroes as well as complex emotional situations. For that reason, I’m really looking forward to this historical romance set in San Francisco in 1870.
Captive Bride features a Chinese immigrant, Huiann, who comes to America only to find that the man who was supposedly going to be her husband is planning to pimp her out as a prostitute instead. She seeks refuge with Alan, a local merchant who also has political aspirations.
Buy Links: Carina Press | Powell’s | Amazon
Do you have any Chinese New Year recommendations to add to the list?
Remember to comment for a chance to win Cindy Pon’s Silver Phoenix with the original cover art.
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Filed in: Announcements | Asian fantasy | blog | new releases | promotion Tags: artwork | butterfly swords | giveaway | release day | the taming of mei lin
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 If I could describe what’s inside my head right now, it’s like the first trip to Disneyland when you’re walking down Main Street and, oh my gosh, everything looks amazing and smells so good and the moment you turn your head there’s something new.
And you don’t want to miss any of it in case Mom and Dad never take you here again.
I’m a published author, finally…
It’s my release day for The Taming of Mei Lin! It’s also my digital release day for Butterfly Swords. Yes, indeed. You can buy the digital version of Butterfly Swords and The Taming of Mei Lin from eHarlequin. “Mei Lin” is also available via Amazon or Barnes and Noble. If you want a hard copy of Butterfly Swords, you’ll have to wait for October 1st. One more month…I’m bouncing with excitement.
Official Launch Celebration kicks off
The official launch celebration kicks off today. Spread the word and be entered in the celebration drawings to be held September 15, October 1, and October 15. Fans and friends have already started spreading the word. Check out the official Butterfly Swords promotion page at http://www.butterfly-swords.com
The blog tour also kicks off today. I’ll be giving away download codes for The Taming of Mei Lin from eHarlequin at a couple guest blogs. The first one is today The Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood where I blog about “Writing Short and Not So Sweet“. Check out the rest of the Blog Tour for the rest of the month and October.
Warrior Women Month
To celebrate my feisty heroines and honor the strong women who inspired them, I’m dedicating September to Warrior Women on my blog. I’ll be featuring interviews from three kick-butt warrior women throughout the month: Wing Chun instructor Mandy Sayah, stuntwoman and Ninja Warrior Luci Romberg, and swords expert Linda Heenan. We’ll also be chatting about our favorite heroines – real and fictional throughout the month.
Get the RSS Feed and don’t miss out.
Artwork for Butterfly Swords
I saved the best for last. I was so thrilled to sell my first book, that I splurged a little and commissioned artwork from one of my favorite DeviantArtists, Wendy (Cha Cha) aka schumy330.I’ll be adding an autographed, color print of this to the Grand Prize drawing.
Her depiction of Ryam and Ai Li nearly brought tears to my eyes. I even love the little palanquin in the background and the armored soldiers. *sniffs*
P.S. Yes, I know that’s a jian she’s holding and not a butterfly sword (dao). It’s PERFECT and GORGEOUS.
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Filed in: Asian fantasy | blog Tags: asian zombies | chinese myth | jiangshi
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Despite the ominous title, this is actually sort of an optimistic post. I was working on my newest project and wrote this sentence into a synopsis:
“Due to the unnatural deaths, the victims are transformed into jiangshi, the hopping undead zombies of Chinese myth.”
At which point, I stared at the words “hopping undead zombies” and said to myself, “Jeannie, now you’ve really joined the funny farm.” That other stuff, that Tang Dynasty multi-cultural romance stuff, was a hard sell, but what the heck are you thinking now?
But a year ago, I didn’t know a thing about what would sell. All I had was a belief in my story. It’s foolish to think that now, a year later, that I have any better of an idea. I still don’t know. I think that’s a possible albatross of having sold a book, you start to think that maybe you have some idea of the market and then put undue pressure on yourself.
On the other hand, I may pull the phrase “hopping undead” from the synopsis. The jiangshi are still in the book, but my sister will be extremely upset. She’s insisted to me that Asian zombies hop. She’s warned me that she’ll be very put out if I make them bite. (Some accounts do have them biting.)
They’re actually quite creepy. There’s something very unnatural about the rigid limbs and lurching hop of the jiangshi. But you know, maybe it’s a cultural thing.
When I stop doubting the craziness of it, this story is actually quite fun to write. I haven’t encountered any jiangshi yet. They’re waiting for me, arms outstretched, about two chapters away.
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Filed in: Asian fantasy | blog | excerpts | excerpts | writing Tags: demons | excerpt monday | fantasy | historical paranormal | romance excerpt
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Is it that time again? Time flies when you’re on deadline! Well, um, self-imposed deadline that is.
Excerpt Monday was started by two lovely writers: Bria Quinlan and Alexia Reed. It revolves around a group of unpublished and published authors who post their excerpts once a month on a Monday. More are always welcome!Visit the other links for some interesting reads and if you’d like to join up for next month, take a look at the main site: The Excerpt Monday blog.
November brings us the opening to a series that I’m hoping to be able to flesh out once Across the Silk Road is done. You can see by the less than sparkly title, that this is still in pre-production. It’s my first attempt to plot a historical paranormal series revolving around five swordsmen in secret service to the Emperor.
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The Middle Kingdom, 9th century
Over the last rise there was silence. Tai Shen expected the sounds of the night to surround them out in this wooded area; the whirring of summer crickets or the coo of an owl. His hand trailed to his weapon, and his sword brother Jin mirrored the gesture.
“Do you sense anything?”
Jin grew still, breathing slowly in and out, before shaking his head. He remained tense however, poised for danger. Tai Shen didn’t comprehend the ethereal forces that Jin sought. Their shifu referred to it as a subtle light.
The outline of a cabin stood ahead. The scent of camphor and sandalwood grew stronger as they approached until it hung in the air like a veil. A strip of paper hung on either side of the doorway, displaying the spider-like brushstrokes of an incantation.
The Taoist master Yang had retreated to this remote stretch of forest nearly a decade ago, losing himself in isolation like so many seekers of the Way. But Tai Shen needed the help of a master now, a true sorcerer who could call the spirits and bend heaven and earth.
A sliver of light seeped out from around the door. Tai Shen peered through the opening. An elderly man lay still upon a mat at the center of the room. Too still.
Tai Shen felt his throat close tight. His insides ground to dust. Master Yang was dead.
A woman in mourning robe of bleached sackcloth knelt beside him. She balanced a writing tablet in her lap and held the calligraphy brush between her first and second fingers. Her brush danced down the strip of paper in one fluid stroke.
“It’s Song Yi,” Jin whispered.
The sorcerer’s daughter.
Song Yi finished the final stroke before glancing up. A white veil framed her fine-boned face. Her eyes were swollen and rimmed with red, but any tears had long gone dry. “So the demon hunters are finally here.”
They were intruding and adding insult to the trespass by spying. Tai Shen pushed the door open to pay his respects properly. His blood went to ice.
Hundreds of talismans covered the walls, ground to the ceiling. Cinnabar ink stained the yellow paper like blood.
“They come for him every night.” Desperation crept into her voice. “They want him, I know it. I can barely hold them back.”
Had she been taken by madness? “Who comes for him?”
The night breeze began to howl behind him. Jin gripped his arm.
“Guǐguài,” she whispered.
Demonkind. The paper talismans on the walls burst into flame.
Sorcerer’s Daughter Excerpt #2
Sorcerer’s Daughter Excerpt #3
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Exceprt Monday Participants:
Note: I have not personally screened these excerpts and they may contain material that is not typical of my blog. Please heed the ratings when browsing the excerpts.
So, to kick it off, your hosts:
Alexia Reed, Urban Fantasy (R)
and
Bria Quinlan, Rom Com (PG13)
Joining us this week:
Jane Bled, Yaoi/M-M Erotica/Vampire/Paranormal/Horror (PG 13)
Danie Ford, YA Urban Fantasy (PG 13)
Heather S Ingemar, Dark Fantasy (PG13)
Babette James, Fantasy Romance (PG13)
Cynthia Justlin, Contemporary Romance (PG 13)
Kaige, Historical Romance (PG 13)
Julia Knight, Fantasy Romance (PG 13)
Jeannie Lin, Historical paranormal romance (PG 13)
R.F Long, Fantasy (PG13)
Shawntelle Madison, Paranormal Romance (PG 13)
Debbie Mumford, Fantasy (PG 13)
Bria Quinlan, Rom Com (PG13)
Megan S, Paranormal (PG 13)
Rosalind Stone, Women’s Fiction (PG 13)
Jo Lynne Valerie, Paranormal Romance (PG 13)
Kendal Ashby, YA (R)
Jax Cassidy, Contemporary (R)
Cate Hart, YA Paranormal (R)
Inez Kelley, Romantic Comedy (R)
Aislinn Kerry, Fantasy (R)
Jeanne St. James, Contemporary Erotic Romance (R)
Cherrie Lynn, Paranormal Romance (R)
Jeanette Murray, Romantic Comedy (R)
Christa Paige, Paranormal (R)
Michelle Picard, Fantasy Romance (R)
Mary Quast, Contemporary Romance (R)
Alexia Reed, Urban Fantasy (R)
Zora Stout, Contemporary Erotic Romance (R)
Sara Brookes, Erotic Sci Fi (NC 17)
Emily Ryan-Davis, Romance (NC 17)
Ella Drake, Historical Paranormal Romance (NC 17)
Angeleque Ford, Erotic Dark Urban Fantasy (NC17)
J.W. Hankins, Dark Fiction (NC 17)
Annie Nicholas, Paranormal Romance (NC 17)
Kim Knox, Erotic SF Romance (NC17)
Michelle Polaris, Erotic Futuristic Romance (NC 17)
Bryl R. Tyne, Contemporary M/M (NC 17)
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Filed in: Asian fantasy | writing
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I just sent off Butterfly Swords for Mandarin language verification. My editor asked me whether I thought I would need it and all the sudden I had visions of bad translations like “All your base are belong to us!”. Oh geez. Yes, I’d rather pay extra for peace of mind.
I can see why many authors just go the pure fantasy route, but for me, I think it’s harder to make up Chinese sounding names and all the history. Crossing my fingers that there are no elephant-sized mistakes. I can live with being challenged on little details. It’s fiction. I made it up. *bites nails*
I’ve been having that thought a lot lately. The “oh crap, this is going to be for real”. Sometimes it’s little things, do I want this to be so and so’s name. Other times it’s fact checking. The worst feeling is wanting to read over every line again and line edit, but I’m forcing myself to only stick to requested changes. The book is the book. It’s not perfect, but I need to let go.
I like author Barry Hughart’s term “An Ancient China That Never Was”. I like it so much I wish I had thought of it. 
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Filed in: Asian fantasy | craft | writing Tags: brainstorming | characters | unusual names
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I was reading a post about a romance set in Egypt and I was trying to get through the names. And I realized, poor thing, there were really complicated names in ancient Egyptian culture. And to make matters worse, the book was about a historical figure so she couldn’t just use “Ramses”.
I’ve had discussions about names with other authors of unusual historicals. I’d have to say this is one area I’m very cognizant of. Even if the writing is spectacular, if the name makes you trip every time you say it, it’s definitely a deterrent. Of course, I read and loved Dune with its multiple apostrophed titles and names. So maybe that’s why Asian settings have been able to make some headway in the fantasy genre.
In any case, I have five swordsmen to name. Currently they exist in my outline as “Swordsman #” They all have to have accessible names and their names have to be different enough from each other that they don’t get mixed up. This is what you might call an ensemble piece so it’s going to make it harder. Then on top of that, the masculine names have to sound masculine to the Western ear.
I’m very, very much into the shape and sound of words on the page and now you can see why!
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Filed in: Asian fantasy | craft | publishing | research | The Bookshelf | writing Tags: brainstorming | historical paranormal | plotting series | Tang dynasty | Tao sorcery | wuxia
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I’ve been tossing around what to do next and my CP helped me find my way — which is why it’s important to have partners that are good at the things you suck at. For me it’s coming up with ideas and where to put commas.
So I wondered if I should leave medieval China, try something else. Something maybe more “marketable” in case this China thing doesn’t work. But I just couldn’t. So if anything, I’m going deeper into the wuxia genre that inspired me by adding paranormal elements.
It’s quite exciting! The supernatural is so prominently woven into Chinese history and culture that I practically feel like I’m still researching a historical rather than worldbuilding for a paranormal romance. There are major texts on the supernatural and a city that is well known to contain the gate to the underworld. I mean, so well known that there’s practically nothing mysterious about it. I’ll have to change that in my book. And it’ll have all the things I love — swords, honor, melodramatic characters – LOL.
I’m trying to learn something new by brainstorming a series. All my previous stories were related, but standalone. Plotting a series you need to think of the series arc as well as each story arc. It’s quite fascinating. I don’t have what I call the “Big Bad” nailed down yet, so things are still pretty loose.
But I do have nearly all five couples mapped out. I realize that I don’t start with character sketches or outlines or even worldbuilding. I start by matchmaking. I figure out the hero and the heroine and gauge if there’s enough conflict and chemistry for them to carry a book. I don’t know much about them other than whether they’ll spark. I guess that’s why at the heart of it, I write romance.
Oh, a hint? Tao sorcery, exorcism swords…a Secret Service team that works for the Emperor (inspired by my research for Unusual Historicals). I think I can start writing by this weekend. Giddy!
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Filed in: Asian fantasy | The Bookshelf Tags: Asian fantasy | ggk | guy gavriel kay | Tang dynasty | under heaven
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What has me giddy this week? I learned from blog buddy Victoria Dixon that GGK has a new novel coming out April 2010 — and it’s set in a fantasy world based on Tang Dynasty China. *Cough* Ahem…next big thing?
GGK, serious author crush right now on you. Can’t wait for the book!
Here’s the info from his website. You can go to Bright Weavings for more info too.
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UNDER HEAVEN will be published in April 2010, and takes place in a world inspired by the glory and power of Tang Dynasty China in the 8th century, a world in which history and the fantastic meld into something both memorable and emotionally compelling.
In the novel, Shen Tai is the son of a general who led the forces of imperial Kitai in the empire’s last great war against its western enemies, twenty years before. Forty thousand men, on both sides, were slain by a remote mountain lake. General Shen Gao himself has died recently, having spoken to his son in later years about his sadness in the matter of this terrible battle.
To honour his father’s memory, Tai spends two years in official mourning alone at the battle site by the blue waters of Kuala Nor. Each day he digs graves in hard ground to bury the bones of the dead. At night he can hear the ghosts moan and stir, terrifying voices of anger and lament. Sometimes he realizes that a given voice has ceased its crying, and he knows that is one he has laid to rest.
The dead by the lake are equally Kitan and their Taguran foes; there is no way to tell the bones apart, and he buries them all with honour.
It is during a routine supply visit led by a Taguran officer who has reluctantly come to befriend him that Tai learns that others, much more powerful, have taken note of his vigil. The White Jade Princess Cheng-wan, 17th daughter of the Emperor of Kitai, presents him with two hundred and fifty Sardian horses. They are being given in royal recognition of his courage and piety, and the honour he has done the dead.
You gave a man one of the famed Sardian horses to reward him greatly. You gave him four or five to exalt him above his fellows, propel him towards rank, and earn him jealousy, possibly mortal jealousy. Two hundred and fifty is an unthinkable gift, a gift to overwhelm an emperor.
Tai is in deep waters. He needs to get himself back to court and his own emperor, alive. Riding the first of the Sardian horses, and bringing news of the rest, he starts east towards the glittering, dangerous capital of Kitai, and the Ta-Ming Palace – and gathers his wits for a return from solitude by a mountain lake to his own forever-altered life.
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Filed in: Asian fantasy | craft | movies | writing Tags: action stories | cliches | crouching tiger | martial arts | roadside tavern | samurai films | science fiction | serenity
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This is a very misleading post title. I suck at titles and having to think up blog post titles would be too stressful if I didn’t just go with the first thing that came to mind.
It’s very commonly known that George Lucas was influenced by Akira Kurosawa’s samurai films when creating the original Star Wars trilogy. In particular, The Hidden Fortress, which has a sword wielding general escorting a defeated princess through enemy territory. So my title is misleading because I’m not going to add to this discussion too much.
I’m writing this historical novella which opens at a noodle stand in a little town. By the way, if you’ve ever been to any country in Asia, you know the food stand/restaurant/tavern is everywhere. I’m loving how fun it is to write this story, but then I got worried. Butterfly Swords has an early scene set at a dusty roadside tavern. Am I being too cliche?
Then I started daydreaming of a space story that I drift to off and on in my head. Where do I open that story? A space tavern.
Which takes me back to the Mos Eisley Cantina in Star Wars.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – Soup stand, tea stand, and then a spectacular tavern battle.
Serenity – The Maidenhead tavern where River gets triggered.
By now I’m feeling better. I think back to my trips backpacking through Europe. The only places we knew to go that weren’t in the tour book were bars and cafes. All you had to do was order a drink and no one could say you didn’t belong there. That’s where stuff has to happen in an adventure story.
So I’m going to relax and embrace the cliche. I’ll ask for forgiveness once the story is finished.
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Filed in: Asian fantasy | research Tags: asian history | Chinese women warriors | Tang dynasty | terracotta statues
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In my current statcounter addiction, I found that someone reached my site by searching for “Tang Legion of the Heroine”….hmmm….
Followed the link to a fascinating thread about fighting women of China. I’ve known that there were several prominent female warriors and military leaders from ancient times through the Tang dynasty. One post mentions there are female statues among a terracotta army (not THE Terracotta army of the First Emperor), indicating that there were women commonly serving in the Han dynasty armies. (Not to be mistaken with an art exhibit where a modern sculptor purposefully created female terracotta warriors.)
There’s some debate as to whether they were truly soldiers, but they were riding horses and holding weapons so I think it’s a strong case!
Another post mentions the “Legion of the Heroine” formed by a Tang dynasty princess. That one I had encountered in my research, but the post added some more detail.
Western readers may find it hard to believe that my princess heroine wields butterfly swords and is so independent. I think Asian readers won’t even twitch an eye since it’s such a common trope for them. That is supposing, that I have any readers at all. 
Well, if you’re interested. It’s a fascinating read:
http://chinahistoryforum.com/lofiversion/index.php/t11692.html
http://www.members.tripod.com/~journeyeast/women_warriors__secret.html
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