Chinese Whisperings welcomes back the sparkling Emma (Em) Newman, author of The Red Book’s eighth story, Heartache, and the first writer for this year’s The Yin Book – the all female narrative strain of our ‘mated anthology’ The Yin and Yang Book.

According to Em’s grandmother, she started writing stories at the age of four. She wrote fiction throughout her childhood until she penned a short story that won her a place at Oxford University to read Experimental Psychology. Em has just realised her first anthology of short stories, From Dark Places and her debut novel Twenty Years Later will be released in October 2010.

When asked what she enjoyed most about Chinese Whisperings last year, Em replied:

The challenge and the anticipation. I was so nervous about being able to find something to write about, and weaving in a character from someone else’s imaginiation, but it was all so smooth, simply a joy to be involved with it. I’m thrilled to be able to do it again.

But is it just the thrill which brings her back for a second, and larger helping of Chinese Whisperings in 2010:

(It’s the ) experience of the first book, but also the excitement of the new format – I love how Chinese Whisperings has found another way to push the boundaries of the short story anthology *again*. I also wanted another opportunity to work with Jodi and Paul. They are inspirational and just the kind of creative, fired-up-with-crazy-writing-dreams people that I want in my life! I am also ever so slightly mad. But that seems to be a good quality to have here…

Read Em’s full bio, enjoy more of  her writing at Post Apocalyptic Publishing or read an extract of  Heartache from The Red Book.

Tomorrow we ask Paul Servini to step up and take his place on the stage.