Amy Tan
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Bibliography
Biography
Asian-American novelist turned screenwriter/producer with her first novel "The Joy Luck Club" (1993). Tan began writing professionally in 1983 as a freelance business writer for IBM, AT&T and Apple Computers. In 1989 Tan published her first novel, "The Joy Luck Club," a rich, poignant story detailing the lives of Chinese women and their American-born daughters. The novel quickly became a word-of-mouth sensation before the publishers realized they had a potential major bestseller. With a little marketing push, the novel went on to garner near universal acclaim and sell over two million copies. A mainstay of "The New York Times" bestseller list for 75 weeks, "The Joy Luck Club" was published in 23 languages.
Tan's second novel "The Kitchen God's Wife" (published in 1991), told the story of an American-born daughter and her immigrant Chinese mother and the secrets that comprised their lives. This novel was another runaway success and also became the number one bestseller on the "Times" list. The next year, Tan wrote (in conjunction with illustrator Gretchen Schields) a children's book, "The Moon Lady." She made her screenwriting and producing debut with the film adaptation of "The Joy Luck Club" (1993). Directed by Wayne Wang (best known for "Chan Is Missing," 1982), the Disney-produced feature revealed an ethnically specific but universal story rarely shown before in the nation's multiplexes. The film opened to glowing reviews and healthy box-office returns.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Life Events
1983
Worked as a freelance business writter for IBM, AT&T, and Apple Computers
1989
Published debut novel, New York Times bestseller The Joy Luck Club
1991
Wrote second novel The Kitchen God's Wife
1992
Wrote first children's book The Moon Lady
1993
Made screenwriting and producing debut with Wayne Wang directed adaptation "The Joy Luck Club"; made cameo as house party guest
1996
Third novel The Hundred Secret Senses (1995) shortlisted for Orange Prize for Fiction
1996
Co-wrote non-fiction book Mother with Maya Angelou and Mary Higgins Clark
2001
Second children's book Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat (1994) adapted into PBS animated series
2003
Published non-fiction book The Opposite of Fate: A Book of Musings
2007
Featured in documentary "Hollywood Chinese"
2011
Returned to novels with Rules for Virgins
Family
Companions
