Virginia Loh-Hagan is an educator and author. She is the 2016 recipient of California Reading Association’s Marcus Foster Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in reading. Currently, she is directing the Liberal Studies program at San Diego State University. She has a B.A. in English and a Masters in Elementary Education (K-8) and Special Education, specializing in Learning Disabilities (K-12), from the University of Virginia.

She earned her Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in Literacy and her dissertation was a qualitative study on the cultural authenticity of Asian-American children’s literature. She serves on various book award committees and is the Cover Editor and Book Nook columnist for “The California Reader,” the premier professional journal for the California Reading Association.

She has published over 300 children’s books and academic publications. She especially likes to write about her Chinese-American heritage. After all, she was born on Flag Day in the Year of the Dragon. She’s also interested in writing fun facts about monsters, weird bodily noises, urban legends, hot dogs, and anything else that’s strange and awesome.

In this episode Virginia and I discuss:

• The inspiration behind Nian the Chinese New Year Dragon
• How a career in teaching informed Dr. Loh-Hagan’s writing
• Reading for comprehension versus reading for craft
• Using the rule of three in a picture book
• Staying true to the world you create

Plus, her #1 tip for writers.

About Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan

Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan is an educator and author. She is the 2016 recipient of California Reading Association’s Marcus Foster Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in reading. Currently, she is directing the Liberal Studies program at San Diego State University. Previously, she was a credential program leader and faculty member for the School of Teacher Education at SDSU. Prior to working at SDSU, she was a K-8 teacher, community college reading instructor, and program chair for an online university. She has a B.A. in English and a Masters in Elementary Education (K-8) and Special Education, specializing in Learning Disabilities (K-12), from the University of Virginia. 

Upon graduation, she received the “Outstanding Woman Scholar in Education” award. She earned her Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in Literacy from SDSU-USD in May 2008; her dissertation—for which she received a ChLA Beiter Graduate Student Research Grant award from the Children’s Literature Association and for which she has published peer-reviewed articles and conducted presentations—was a qualitative study on the cultural authenticity of Asian-American children’s literature. She serves on various book award committees and is the Cover Editor and Book Nook columnist for “The California Reader,” the premier professional journal for the California Reading Association. She is a multi-published author with over 300 children’s books and academic publications. She writes books about things that geek her. She especially likes to write about her Chinese-American heritage. After all, she was born on Flag Day in the Year of the Dragon. She’s also interested in writing fun facts about monsters, weird bodily noises, urban legends, hot dogs, and anything on the odd side.

Visit her website, or connect with her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Nian the Chinese New Year Dragon

Mei hates springtime. Why? Because it’s only in the spring that Nian, a fierce dragon, is able to leave his mountain prison under the sea to terrorize the local village. When the villagers hear the rumblings of Nian’s hungry stomach, they know that winter has ended and spring is coming. But this year on the night before the first day of spring, a magical warrior visits Mei in her dreams. He tells Mei that it is her destiny to face and defeat Nian. But she must do it within 15 days or the dragon will be free forever. Author Virginia Loh-Hagan (PoPo’s Lucky Chinese New Year) gives this retelling of the Nian legend an original twist, while explaining the origins of Chinese New Year traditions.

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

Link to Episode #284

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The post Episode 284: Adapting Legends While Staying True to the Story — Interview with Virginia Loh-Hagan appeared first on DIY MFA.