K-POP, LEE MIN-HO, & ASIAN ALIENS

I've had several people contact me through FaceBook to ask about the origins of my novel's two male characters, Kiel (pronounced Kyle) and Kim.  They were fascinted with my choice of ethnicity for the Caucasian heroine's love interests.  If the blog title didn't say it all, I will - they are both Asian. 

Actually, Kim is Asian, specifically Korean.  And yes, I realize that Kim is a Korean last name, not a first name.  Most American readers wouldn't know the difference, but I do explain his surname reversal  in the chapter "Seoul Kiss."  As for the character of Kiel also being Asian, well...HE IS and HE ISN'T.  Although his appearance may suggest otherwise, he can't be from Asia if he isn't from Earth.

Now, to get back to the original question.  How in the world does an "over-thirty" Caucasian-American writer decide that her teen novel's male protagonists should both be Asian?  Simple - I am the mother of a teen daughter who is part of the growing subculture of American females obsessed with Korean boy bands, better known as K-Pop.  I doubt there is another woman of my age anywhere in the USA who has been subjected to more hours of Korean television than I have.  Not that I'm complaining.  It's a taste that actually isn't all that hard to acquire (whether you use a fork or a pair of chopsticks.) 

I was indoctrinated a few years ago.  It began with a continuous barrage of Supior Junior songs blaring from our living room stereo.  Soon, other groups joined in - 2 PM, Shinee, B2ST, Big Bang, and MBLAQ to name a few.  Eventually, listening to the music wasn't enough, and I was required to watch hours of K-POP music videos.  I have to admit that looking at Super Junior's Choi Siwon isn't exactly torture (more on him later), nor is the opening sequence of MBLAQ's video "Give It To My Y."  So, as a loving parent, I willingly complied.  But our household's teenage females needed an even bigger Korean-boy fix and began indulging in Korean TV shows. I succumbed as well, watching every single episode of "Boys Before Flowers," "You're Beautiful," "Personal Preference," "Coffee Prince," "Naughty Kiss" and "My Girlfriend is a Gummiho." 

Asian overload, you might ask?  At times, yes.  Still, when I began writing my YA romantic fantasy, ZIA, I knew it would include Asian-American characters.  As I saw more and more of my daughter's now college-aged friends fall prey to K-Pop's undeniably handsome young men (they call it that "Asian Persuasion"), I knew it was time for an American teen novel to feature male love interests who were not your typical Caucasian fare.  Hence, Kiel and Kim were created.  And it is there, that I will finally answer the original question put to me on Facebook.  Were either of them based on real people?

The answer is no, not based on, but rather inspired by.  And I will tell you who they are - the basis for Kiel and Kim's physical descriptions. Kiel is a combination of actor Lee Min-Ho and singer Lee Joon (remember that opening scene in MBLAQ's video?); and Kim is a combination of actor/singer Kim Hyen Joong and singer/actor Choi Siwon ( I told you I'd mention him again.)

So, if you decide to read ZIA and need a visual image for either character, now you have it.  And if you don't know any of these Korean superstars, start Googling.  Like my daughter, you'll be glad you did!