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#RedefineAtoZ: Kevin Kwan's 'Crazy Rich Asians' gets the Hollywood treatment

Five years after making waves with his debut novel "Crazy Rich Asians," the bestselling book will become a major Hollywood film.
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NAME: Kevin Kwan

AGE: 44

HOMETOWN: Houston, TX

FACEBOOK: Kevin Kwan / TWITTER: @kevinkwanbooks / INSTAGRAM: @kevinkwanbooks

How do you introduce yourself?

Hi, I'm Kevin.

What inspires you?

Right this moment, I'm extremely inspired by all the brave journalists and young activists around the world who are risking their lives to give voice to truth and justice.

What challenges you?

To always create work — whether it's a book or a film or a TV series — that brings joy and healing to others.

Tell us about the biggest risk you ever took.

In 1995, I decided within one week to drop out of grad school in Houston, where I was getting my masters degree in creative writing, and move to New York to go to art school. I had no place to live, I knew only one person in the city, but I just had to shake up my life completely. I felt that if I ever wanted to be a good writer, I didn't need to keep going to school — I needed to dive into a big new adventure and live.

What are you reading/watching/listening to these days?

I'm reading Alan Hollinghurst's "The Sparsholt Affair," I'm watching "Trust," Danny Boyle's new limited series about the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III, and I'm listening to Kasbo's "Places We Don't Know."

https://www.instagram.com/p/BftWYtMn5p7

If you weren't doing what you're doing now, what career would you want to pursue?

I would love to study acupuncture, in particular Five Elements, a tradition of acupuncture that uses the Law of the Five Elements as a guide to healing the body, mind and spirit. I've been seeing an amazing Five Elements Acupuncturist for the past few years, and it's totally rocked my world.

What's your motto?

"Life is short. Buy the shoes."

I celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month because...

I think it's so essential to honor all the amazing contributions that Asian Pacific Americans have brought and continue to bring to this country.

NBC Asian America Presents: A to Z aims to celebrate the emerging voices and breakout stars of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. These individuals aren’t just reading the dictionary of what it means to be Asian American and Pacific Islander in America; they’re writing new definitions every day.

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