Beware of the Chinese Mama

"Why don't you write about your mother? That's what I like when I read Amy Tan," suggested a friend.
That was why I read Amy Tan too. Still, I resisted the suggestions until I wrote the Hope Sze medical thrillers and a version of my family snuck onto the pages.
And now, wouldn't you know it I am a Chinese/Canadian/doctor/mother myself. So now, instead of grinding my teeth, I can write about my mom while grinding my teeth.
Tiger mother? Not strict enough. Dragon lady? Too disorganized. Girl yelling "Me love you long time?" Uh, try another era. My mother defies stereotype. She wants to help us so much, and yet...well, it's easier if you just read all about it.
For my friend, and for anyone else who likes, or fears, or is a Chinese Mama, I have collected Chinese mama-fioso scenes from my books (Code Blues, Notorious D.O.C., Dancing Through the Chaos, The List, and Buddhish) in this 7400-word sampler. So you can laugh and shudder and maybe love her a little too.