Xu Xi is the author of seven books of fiction and essays, and editor of three anthologies of Hong Kong literature in English. Her latest novel, Habit of a Foreign Sky, was shortlisted for the inaugural Man Asian Literary Prize in 2007. Her achievements include an O. Henry prize story and first prize in the South China Morning Post story contest. The New York Times named her a pioneer English-language writer from Asia and the Voice of America featured her on their Chinese-language TV series ‘Cultural Odyssey.’