A Yi

阿乙

Born in 1976, A Yi (real name Ai Guozhu) worked as a police officer, secretary and editor before settling down at the age of 32 to the fiction he always knew he would write. Hardly a celebrated figure in China's literary circles, A Yi's stubborn dedication to his art and slightly prickly personality have meant that his slowly growing prominence has depended on the support of a host of non-mainstream media and literary figures who have spotted his talent. He is now on the editorial board of Chutzpah, a new literary magazine featuring work by younger and edgier writers—much like A Yi himself. At present he has published two collections of short stories: Grey Stories and The Bird Saw Me. His first short novel, Cat and Mouse, will be published in Chinese in the second half of 2011.

A Yi is represented by Peony Literary Agency.

 
Works by A Yi
Guaren (寡人), published by Chu Chen Books in September, 2011
lit. "The Royal We", currently untranslated
Niao kan jian wo le (鸟看见我了)
lit. "The Bird Saw Me", currently untranslated