Interview with Wesley Chu

              

           
           Mr. Wesley Chu, born in Taipei and now an acclaimed science fiction author, graduated from the U. of I. with an information system management degree in 1999. Although Chu spent most of his career in the banking industry after graduation, he also worked as a stuntman and acted in films and TV series. His passion to write kept him staying up late at night after working all day. He turns 39 this Wednesday, Sept. 23rd!

           Chu’s first novel, The Lives of Tao, was published in Spring 2013, two years after he submitted it to Angry Robot Books. The Tao trilogy has since been completed with the publication of The Deaths of Tao (November 2013) and The Rebirths of Tao (Spring 2015). The American Library Association recognized The Lives of Tao as one of the year’s top 10 books written for adults but possessing special teen appeal with the Alex Award in 2014, the same year that Wesley became a full-time writer. That year was also the first time Chu was nominated for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, which he went on to win in 2015. His latest book, Time Salvager, might go on the big screen sometime in the future! One of many glowing reviews of Wesley’s latest book, written in August 2015 by Paul Di Filippo, can be found on LOCUS online.

            In Wesley’s interview, you will learn his values, the inspiration for his novels, and how he overcame challenges of his dream career.  Our takeaway from his interview is: Life is short, so know your limitations, continue to work hard, believe in yourself, and your opportunity will arrive at the right time!

            You can get to know Wesley more at wesleychu.com, follow him on Facebook and LinkedIn, or read another nice in-depth interview of his at Locus Online.

UIAAAN: Your major was Information & Decision Science, and after graduation, you worked as a software engineer and then as vice president of Bank of America for years. What was your primary career goal when you graduated from the U of I?

Chu: The inspirational answer to this question is: now that I’ve developed the right tools and mental acumen at the university to prepare myself for a long and fulfilling career in the business world, I am ready to challenge myself to be the best possible me, to make my mark on the world, and to set an example for others to follow.

The honest answer is: I wanted to find a job to make money, so I wouldn’t have to live in my parents’ basement. Oh, yeah, and world peace. In that order of importance.

UIAAAN: What experience or coursework at the U of I helped you most in your personal development?

Chu: Cultivate relationships with your peers. Discover people with similar interests and loves. Find those friends that will last your lifetime. Get rid of the ones that detract you from your goals. Life’s too short and important for temporary and disposable friendships.

UIAAAN: What influenced you most in deciding to become an author?

Chu: I hated my day job. Making money isn’t a good enough reason to stay in a career. I wanted to do what I loved. That’s not to say you should only spend all your energies focused on your passions. Life is more complicated than that. [It's important to] find the right balance between responsibility and passion.

People should also know their limitations. The road to becoming a novelist is paved with failures. Not everyone will have the talent, skill, or luck to achieve their dreams. That’s okay. As long as you give it a shot, that’s all that is important.

UIAAAN: Where do these incredible and mysterious ideas of your science fiction come from?

Chu: The plots for my books come half from life experiences, half by accident, and half from just working through ideas. Inspiration is completely optional. It’s nice to have, but if you’re a professional writer, it’s all about putting in the work, inspiration be damned. I write when I’m inspired, and I write when not inspired. I also suck at math.

UIAAAN: What would you say to those Asian and Asian American alumni who just started their businesses or joined the workforce?

Chu: The game is stacked against you. No one really cares that it’s not fair. There are others who have it far worse. Such is life. Suck it up. Go kick some ass.

UIAAAN: What’s your biggest challenge now? How do you keep passionate in your job?

Chu: In most careers, people get better with their jobs with experience and knowledge. It doesn’t work that way with novelists. Every book we write will be the hardest book we’ll ever write.

If you love what you do, you will have no problem being passionate about your job. There’s nothing wrong with working a job you hate. Just make sure it’s a stepping stone towards something greater. Otherwise, you’re doing it wrong.

UIAAAN: If there is one sentence that could summarize your feelings during the 17 years after your graduation, what would you say?

Chu: I still can’t believe this is happening.