‘When Sleeping Women Wake’: Canberra’s next big book explores an underrepresented historical narrative

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If you’re looking for your next read that’s filled with heartfelt and hopeful narratives, mark your calendars for June!
Canberra’s own Emma Pei Yin is set to release her debut book When Sleeping Women Wake in mid-2025 and promises to take you on an emotional journey.
“The novel was inspired by stories I’d heard from my grandfather and other family members,” Emma shares.
“Discovering more about my Hakka heritage, especially how the Hakka people participated in the resistance movement during the Japanese occupation, deepened my connection to my roots and ancestors.”
The book centres on three spirited women – a mother, her daughter, and their maid, during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong.
Throughout the course of the book, we see how their lives each take drastically different paths as the Japanese forces invade, but each woman clings to the hope that the others are still alive.
For Emma, this is such an important story to tell as it addresses the “universal impact of war, a tragedy many have endured and continue to endure”.
“It highlights resilience and humanity in dire times and emphasises the significance of stories from often underrepresented perspectives.”
The Hakka ethnic groups from China are often underrepresented, with many citing the reason that there is little consensus over where the Hakka came from.
The most accepted theory today is that the Hakka are largely northern Han Chinese who progressively migrated south, fleeing war, poverty, and chaos.
While it’s a point of contention regarding the reason for migration, it’s agreed the hardships endured during these times have become a focal point in the Hakka creation story.
As there isn’t much documentation on the history of the Hakka, Emma had to find a variety of sources for her information.
“Much of the resistance movement in Hong Kong during the occupation remains undocumented.”
“Some great sources have been The South China Morning Post, The National Library of Australia and Google Scholar where I was able to read essays on the Japanese occupation and what daily life was like during those times,” Emma says.
“I researched a lot through history books … and blogs where relatives of resistance members have shared personal accounts to gather information.”
With a strong foundation of research behind the book, Emma believes this story will appeal to the historical fiction lovers amongst us.
“It presents an honest depiction of history without glorifying or romanticising violence. This story provides a deep, meaningful exploration of resilience and human spirit during challenging times.”
This story has been in the works for many years, with Emma trying to balance full-time work and full-time study, with writing sessions squeezed in during evenings and any days off.
“The essence of When Sleeping Women Wake has been with me for over ten years, marinating in heaps of research and endless drafts until I quit my full-time job and finished the final draft within six months.”
As for the book’s cover design? There’s a sweet story behind its creation.
“I had met the book designer, Hazel Lam, on Instagram. We connected instantly and learned that both our grandmothers had survived the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong,” Emma shares.
“There was no one else I wanted to take on such a task of creating the cover and Hazel has such a tremendous job.”
“The journey to date has been a dream come true, and I am thrilled to bring to light a lesser-known aspect of Hong Kong’s history and share it with readers.”
But you’ll have to wait to get your hands on the book!
When Sleeping Women Wake comes out in Australia on Wednesday 25 June, however it’s available for pre-orders at local independent bookstores.
And if you’re keen to have a chat with Emma and hear more about the book’s creation, keep an eye out for the book launch in Canberra with Harry Hartog ANU in June.
For more information, visit emmapeiyin.com
Feature image: Kannika Afonso.