I have hidden my race for 22 books. I have hidden behind my married name, which is very Caucasian, because I didn't feel safe coming out with it. I didn't feel that the market would really accept me. I think I felt it's time to start bringing in an Asian-American point of view. Tess Gerritsen acceptamericanasian share on social
I met my husband, Jacob, in medical school. We married and went to live in Hawaii where his family lived. It was very beautiful, but I wasn't used to being on an island and needed wide open spaces. Eventually we moved to Maine, New England. Tess Gerritsen beautifulenglandeventually share on social
I devote most of my day to writing, and try to turn out at least four pages a day. As for what triggers the creative process, it's a mystery to me! Characters often just walk on the page, and I wait to see what they do and say while I'm writing them. Tess Gerritsen charactercreativeday share on social
Because my dad's Chinese-American, and they're very concrete, he said, 'There's no money to be made in literature.' So he told me to go into the sciences. And I was a good girl. And I did what Daddy said. And that's how I ended up being a doctor. But you know, you just can't stamp out that desire to tell stories. Tess Gerritsen americanchineseconcrete share on social
I'm Asian-American, and I was the only Chinese girl growing up in a white school in San Diego. So I understood what it was like to be different, to always want to fit in and never feel like you ever could. Tess Gerritsen americanasianchinese share on social
I was always meant to be a writer. I've felt that way since I was a child. Tess Gerritsen childfelthave Change image and share on social
There is no better test of character than when you're tossed into crisis. That's when we see one's true colors shine through. So I try my best to make my characters personally involved in the plot, in a way that stresses them and tests them. Tess Gerritsen charactercolorcrisis share on social
My dad was Chinese-American and very conservative when it came to his family's futures. He said if I wanted to have a secure job, I should go into science. So I did what Dad said and went to medical school, but the writing bug never left me. Tess Gerritsen americanbugchinese share on social
My most successful books, the ones that I feel the strongest about, are the ones that started with a premise that for me was deeply emotional. Tess Gerritsen bookdeeplyemotional Change image and share on social
My mother is an immigrant from China, and she filled my head with stories about ghosts and fighting monks in China, so the world of 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' was a very familiar one. Tess Gerritsen chinacrouchdragon Change image and share on social