Apple An: Author & Historian
Amazon Bestseller
Multi-Award-Winning Author
Embedded Files
eBook release: 2025-08-28
Print formats release: 2025-08-28
In the turmoil of China's Cultural Revolution, young Lianlian's life is shattered by family violence, public shame, and crushing poverty. Raised by a resilient but scarred mother, shadowed by an abusive father, and anchored by a little sister, Lianlian learns to survive a life with an impossible future.
When the political climate shifts, she discovers that her mind is her only weapon and education is her only hope. Fueled by fierce determination and the quiet support of her mother, Lianlian battles for a spot at a top university, seeing it as her one true path to a life she can call her own.
If you were captivated by books about Chinese culture by Amy Tan and Lisa See, and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, you will like this book!
🏆 The 2026 International Book Awards (IBA): Winner for Inspiration Fiction; Winner for Young Adult Fiction; Finalist for Multicultural Fiction
🏆 The 2026 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY): Bronze Medal for Multicultural Fiction
🏆 The 2026 Independent Press Award: Distinquished Favorite for Cultural Heritage
🏆 The 2025 Goethe Book Awards for Post-1750s Historical Fiction: Long-listed
🏆 The 2025 Best Book Awards by American Books Fest: Finalist for Multicultural Fiction
This book is a continuation of Mother of Red Mountains and covers the family's life between 1966-1980. It is a standalone book and does not depend on your reading Mother of Red Mountains.
In the shadow of China’s tumultuous mid-20th century, an ambitious civil engineer is determined to protect her baby girls.
Despite a childhood marked by tragedies, Jun carves out a stable life for herself while shrewdly and skillfully navigating a male-dominated and politically charged society. As she rises through the ranks in her profession, she turns to her in-laws to help care for her daughters.
But when the Red Guards target her young family due to their connection with her in-laws’ capitalist class, Jun fears their very existence is in jeopardy.
Amid frequent threats to their safety, can Jun rise above the challenges and safeguard both her family’s future and their fragile stability?
"Mother of Red Mountains" is an epic tale that creatively weaves together history, personal stories, and the complex culture of revolutionary China. Showcasing the power of sheer grit and determination, this book traces the journey of a formidable woman who dares to dream against all odds.
🏆 2026 International Impact Book Awards: Winner for Historical Fiction - Multicultural Fiction
🏆 2025 American Fiction Awards: Winner for Family Saga; Winner for General Fiction; Winner for Multicultural Fiction
🏆 2025 International Book Awards: Winner for Multicultural Fiction
🏆 2025 Pencraft Spring 2025 Best Book Award for Historical Fiction
🏆 2025 Pencraft Annual Best Book Award First Place for Historical Fiction
🏆 2025 Autumn Readers' Choice Book Awards Silver Medal for Best Adult Book
🏆 2025 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY) Silver Medal for Multicultural Fiction
🏆 2025 Next Generation Indie Book Awards (NGIBA): Finalist for Multicultural Fiction
🏆 2025 National Indie Excellence Awards (NIEA): Finalizst for Multicultural Fiction
🏆 2025 Readers' Favorite Awards: Finalist for Multicultural Fiction
🏆 2025 BookFest Awards: 2nd Place: Women's Historical Fiction; 2nd Place: Pre-2010 Historical Fiction; 3rd Place: Historical Fiction Multi-Period Family Saga
Visit Apple An's Published Books
Visit Apple An's Published Books
Centennial Route 66 Journey
Centennial Route 66 Journey
Come and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road. I am writing a travelogue, Route 66, in my newsletter AABB, to capture the highlights of my long-planned journey.
[Note: you can (1) subscribe to my newsletter AABB below to read posts in your email when I send them out every few days, or (2) visit the AABB website to read the published posts directly without subscribing, or (3) see the entries from my Newsletters for each post.]
Travel with me in a Campervan
Travel with me in a Campervan
5in29 Summary is out!
For 29 days from December 11, 2024, to January 8, 2025, I traveled in a camper van to five (5) states in the southwest! I wrote a travelogue, 5in29, in my newsletter AABB, to capture the highlights of my long-planned trip to several Southwest states by vehicle.
This trip checks off several of my bucket list items: (1) visit and revisit several southwest states including NV, CA, AZ, NM, and TX, (2) revisit New Mexico State University (NMSU) in Las Cruces, NM I attended 35 years ago and the location of my memoir Las Crosses to give a talk and/or book signing, and (3) travel by an RV, a trailer, or a camper van for a new experience.
I traveled with my friend Roman who shares my travel passions and also wants to check off several of his bucket list items, especially traveling with a camper van and checking off a few states to complete his 50 states in the U.S. goal.
For this travelogue, I organized the daily trips by several themes in no particular order. I sent out the drafty posts every several days. I then revised and added more photos to the posts I sent out already but only on the website, which you don't get after you received the original email. So, if interested, visit the AABB website under the 5in29 tab to see more photos and updates.
A summary of the trip was posted on the AABB website. Welcome to share my experience, good or bad. Enjoy reading!
[Note: you can (1) subscribe to my newsletter AABB below to read posts in your email when I send them out every few days, or (2) visit the AABB website to read the published posts directly without subscribing, or (3) see the entries from my Newsletters for each post.]
Join Apple An's Literary Journey
Join Apple An's Literary Journey
Do you like to read books based on true stories and events? Stories that may span multiple cultures and in different eras or locations? Stories that may show the everyday lives of ordinary people who demonstrate extraordinary strength, spirits, and humanity that are inspirational?
If you answer yes to any of the above, you are at the right place. I write stories for people who want more inspiration, strength, and hope. Along the way, I hope you find a safe and interesting place to escape reality and learn things you didn't know before. My books span the genres of:
novels (historical fiction)
multicultural
women's
memoirs
self-help
anthologies
Come back to this website often to see new books. Sign up for my newsletters to keep up with the updates and get bonus materials exclusive to my fans. I hope to hear from you, and I respond to each email that reaches me.
email: Apple@AppleAnBooks.com
Sign up for the free Apple An's Book Bytes (AABB) newsletters and receive freebies (novellas, short stories, epilogues, etc.). Be the first to know about new books, events, or ideas! You can also get glimpses of what is behind the published books, and more!
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