Following her appearance on Moments with Marianne on KMET 1490 AM / 98.1 FM, the author of more than 35 novels continues expanding awareness of Cambodian history, identity and mythology through storytelling.
ELK GROVE, Calif. — Cambodian-American author Som Phin wants readers to encounter Cambodia as more than a chapter in a history book. Through more than 35 published novels, she brings readers into stories shaped by Khmer history, mythology, family, identity, humor, love and everyday life.
Phin was featured on Moments with Marianne, hosted by Marianne Pestana, on Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 8:06 a.m. PT on KMET 1490 AM / 98.1 FM, an ABC News Radio affiliate. During the conversation, Phin discussed her writing journey, Cambodian-American identity and the experiences that have shaped her work.
Listeners who missed the broadcast will have another opportunity to hear the interview when it airs again Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 8:06 a.m. PT on KMET 1490 AM / 98.1 FM.
Across historical fiction, literary fiction, fantasy, romance and speculative fiction, Phin returns to a common purpose: using storytelling to bring readers closer to Cambodia and its people.
“When readers laugh with the characters, cry with them, celebrate with them, and experience their everyday lives, Cambodia stops feeling like a chapter in a history book and starts feeling like a real place filled with real people,” Phin said.
That connection between storytelling and cultural memory is especially present in The Dancer’s Shadow, which follows a gay Cambodian-American man transported from modern-day California to 1960s Phnom Penh. The novel explores identity, belonging, queer experience and a complicated longing for a homeland known partly through the memories of previous generations.
The idea of experiencing an earlier Cambodia carries particular meaning for Phin.
“As a Cambodian-American, I think a lot of us quietly dream about going back—not to change history—but just to experience the Cambodia our parents and grandparents remember before the genocide,” Phin said.
The Dancer’s Shadow has received recognition from Kirkus Reviews, which described the novel as “A beautiful and thought-provoking addition to the growing canon of diaspora literature.”
Phin has also been featured in BookLife Talks, where she discussed her writing journey, the cultural influences behind her work and her experience building a career as an independent author.
Her broader catalog moves between historical settings, contemporary Cambodian-American experiences and fantasy worlds inspired by Khmer mythology. Although the genres and settings change, Phin says the stories share the same underlying purpose.
“So whether someone picks up The Dancer’s Shadow, one of my fantasy novels, or one of my literary novels, I hope they come away with the same feeling—that Cambodia has an incredibly rich history, culture, and people that deserve to be celebrated,” Phin said.
For Phin, questions of culture and identity are deeply connected to her own experience growing up Cambodian-American.
“When I was younger, I thought belonging meant finding one place where I fit perfectly. But growing up Cambodian-American, I always felt caught between two worlds,” Phin said.
Through her novels, Phin hopes readers from all backgrounds can experience Cambodia through its characters and stories—encountering its history and mythology alongside relationships, traditions, humor, family life and cultural memory.
The Moments with Marianne interview will air for a second time Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 8:06 a.m. PT on KMET 1490 AM / 98.1 FM.
Readers can explore Som Phin’s novels, interviews and latest news at somphin.com.
About Som Phin
Som Phin is a Cambodian-American novelist and the author of more than 35 novels spanning historical fiction, literary fiction, fantasy, romance and speculative fiction. Her work explores Cambodian history, Khmer mythology, diaspora identity, family, love and belonging. Through fiction, Phin seeks to celebrate Cambodian culture while introducing readers of all backgrounds to stories inspired by its history, mythology and people.
Media Contact
Som Phin
somphinbooks@gmail.com
