A world traveler who’s worked with many luxury companies, author Orchid Bloom has now settled in Hong Kong with her husband and child. Her current locations serves as the backdrop for her latest book, “Papaya Tree”.
Orchid joins us for our Author Spotlight series to talk about her latest book and to share what inspires her as a writer. You can find “Papaya Tree online at Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble , and more. Stay connected with Orchid Bloom on Facebook.
What inspired you to become a writer?
Words are more powerful than swords. When I grew up, my voice was ignored and my opinion did not matter. I loved diving into the world of words to explore and express myself.
Your favorite author & why?
Daniel Silva (author of the Gabriel Allon series)- love the excitements and all the well-researched history among the story development.
Describe your book in 30 words or less
A Family Saga in an Indigenous Village in the Cosmopolitan City of Hong Kong, a botanical artist flies in and saves the day.
Why should we read it?
Written in a patriarchal society, Papaya Tree is an emblem of change and its elements in society. It traverses through the life of Jackson and Rose’s family that entails their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The entire family racks off diversity and also constitutes of rigid and adamant patriarchal elements. It is a tale of a different understanding of time and change by families. In one hand, women are despised, neglected, and have no voice, and on the other hand, they have a voice and are even given leadership positions. Time is portrayed as a master of change.
From marriages of the same sex, embracing property inheritance by girls and equal opportunities by both genders, Papaya Tree spans through five contexts that are symbolically represented by the five fruits in the Papaya Tree at the backyard of Jaguar’s house. These contexts are property inheritance, marriage, education, work, and gender equality.
Orchid Bloom succeeds in bringing out the entire aspect of change from rigid and patriarchal society into the modern society that embraces modernity. Through the family tree, Bloom can capture the immediate image of the changing times, perceptions, and traditions of the society. Ding rights are the central focus of the entire read as Orchid sets out to paint the real picture of the same for the audience.
The book is intriguing, captivating, and exciting to read as the content is well managed, and the flow is chronological. Through the smooth transition, the audience is deeply absorbed into the fantasy world and easily related and associates with the characters. Ironically, the papaya tree lasts for four to five years, but this one challenges the history, just like how the descendants of Rose and Jackson challenge their world. Thus, the unrecognized Papaya Tree at the backyard blossoms to a mature tree that feeds the village, symbolically.
List of other books you’ve written
My Roller Coaster Ride to Motherhood
Luxe is in the Air
The Extraordinary Fairies
You can find them all on Amazon.com
What books have influenced your life most?
Molecules of Emotion by Candace Pert