Our Knights are truly extraordinary, in and out of the classroom. One of our extraordinary Knights is sophomore Ziqing Kuang! Zi, a staff writer for the Knight Times, has shared another aspect of her writing skills through her poetry book, “From the Ground Up”. I have had the pleasure of knowing Zi and seeing her publish her own book has made the entire newspaper staff and myself full of pride. I chatted with Zi and learned more about the behind the scenes of her first published book. Ziqing Kuang, everyone!

Q: What’s your book about?

A: My book is about growth, self-love, and infatuation.

Q: How long did it take you to write this book?

A: It took me three months. I started writing and getting inspiration around the middle of winter break.

Q: What inspired you to write your own book?

A: I’ve always wanted to write my own book, ever since I was little, but I never got the chance to actually do it. I love to read, and some of my favorite authors include John Green and Rupi Kaur. I think there is something beautiful in sharing your words and passions with the world.

Q: What message did you try to convey?

A: I tried to convey that pain is temporary. I wanted to provide some sort of comfort for the reader and help them realize that they are not alone in their journey.

Q: What do you want people to get out of your book?

A: I want them to finish the book and feel refreshed and motivated. We all need that kind of encouragement every once in a while, and I want my book to be that encouragement for my readers.

Q: Could you share a bit about the publishing process?

A: I had to do a lot of research about marketing and the process of self-publishing a book. I published my book through Amazon, and it was actually quite easy. I designed a book cover on Canva and filled in the manuscript template that Amazon provides. Then, you just upload everything once you’re ready. I also ordered a couple of proof-copies to make sure everything was good before publishing.

Q: Who designed the cover?

A: I did! I was actually thinking about hiring someone to do an illustration for my book, but it didn’t work out. The best part of the process is learning and figuring out what works and what doesn’t.

Q: Which poem is your favorite and why?

A: My favorite poem is:

“I wish I could’ve told my younger self

That everything works out fine

That souls were not meant to be broken

And those written words were meant to heal

You aren’t supposed to be stuck in motion

Take your time to slow down and breathe

Because you still have a long way to go”.

I think it was a really nice ending/closure to my book. I basically summed up my message into one poem, which fits really nicely.

I would like to thank Zi for sharing some insight into her new book. The messages portrayed in her poems are extremely relevant as we encounter the struggles of life. Hopefully, like Zi claimed, her poems provide you comfort and peace as you encounter those obstacles. If you see Zi around campus, be share to congratulate her on this huge accomplishment! I hope you have an amazing day, Knights, as you continue to strive for the impossible and be extraordinary.

If you would like to purchase Zi’s poetry book, “From the Ground Up”, click here.