In the history of contemporary Chinese literature, there is a short story that once broke through the silence of the times with sharp and realistic strokes, becoming the starting point of a whole generation's spiritual memory - that is "Scar" published in Shanghai's Wen Hui Bao on August 11, 1978. This work not only triggered a huge response in the domestic and international literary circles at that time, but also opened up a profound era of "scar literature". At that time, the author Lu Xinhua was still a young student studying at Fudan University.
Nearly half a century later, this writer who emerged from the Chinese literary world has never stopped writing in the flow across borders and cultures. Lu Xinhua, who worked for Wen Wei Po after graduation, went to the United States for further studies and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), settling overseas since then. No matter where he is or how his circumstances change, he always takes literature as his boat and continues to write the spiritual trajectory of the times and individuals in the waves of history and humanity.
Recently, Lu Xinhua's English version of the novel "WU LOU" published in the United States won the Silver Award at the 2025 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards. This epic work spans half a century of history, with the fate of three young people in the jungles of Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge period as the main theme. It depicts the life trajectory of wandering and reunion in the turbulent times, and ultimately extends the story to the real-life context of Los Angeles, presenting a narrative of rebuilding individual life meaning in historical cracks. At present, 'No Leakage' has been adapted into a screenplay and included in the filming plan.
It is worth mentioning that this novel was first published under the name "Miller" in a Chinese literary journal, but due to space limitations, nearly 30000 words were cut. Although it attracted high attention from the literary community back then and was even recommended to compete for the Lu Xun Literature Award, it also left a creative regret for the author. Years later, Lu Xinhua expanded it to over 130000 words and, with the help of readers and friends, translated it into English. Eventually, it was evaluated and awarded through the independent publishing system in the United States, allowing this literary journey that transcends language and time to be fully presented.
The author believes that the real breakthrough in overseas Chinese literature may lie in writers taking the initiative to step beyond the boundaries of language - either creating directly in English or translating their existing Chinese works into English versions, making them enter the mainstream publishing and award system. When these works are recognized by international mainstream literary awards, it not only means that the text itself has completed cross-cultural "regeneration", but also symbolizes the substantive dialogue and breakthrough of overseas Chinese literature in the global literary landscape. This process will undoubtedly become an important incentive for overseas writers to continue creating.
To congratulate Lu Xinhua on winning the international literary award and to further discuss his creative achievements and literary value, the Los Angeles literary and artistic community will jointly hold a "Famous Chinese Writer Lu Xinhua Literary Works Seminar" on March 1, 2026 (Sunday) from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Weibo Cultural Center in Los Angeles, USA (9645 Telstar Ave, El Monte, CA 91731).
This seminar was initiated by Ms. Liu Junmin, the 90 year old Chairperson of the World Chinese Culture and Arts Exchange Center, and co hosted by several literary, academic, and news organizations in Southern California, including:
Yan Xiaoyi, President of the Southern California Chinese Writing Association in North America
Zhang Wuxing, President of the Los Angeles Chinese Writers Association in North America
Wang Wei, President of the Los Angeles Chinese Writers Association
Director Ren Xiangdong of the Los Angeles Post
Duan Jinping, Chief Editor of Eastern and Western Cultural Media
Li Xue, President of the Literature Society of the Southern California University Alliance
Chen Su, Director of the East Asia Library at the University of California, Los Angeles
Liu Junmin, Chairman of the World Chinese Cultural and Artistic Exchange Center
Specially invited guests: Lu Xinhua, Mu Xiaocheng, Bai Ruiwen, Jiang Qiguang, Peng Dan, Peng Nanlin.
The conference is open to invited guests and registered literary friends, and no fees will be charged. At that time, Mr. Lu Xinhua will also be present to exchange creative experiences with literary enthusiasts face-to-face, and sign autographs for book buyers as a souvenir.
From "Scar" to "No Leakage", Lu Xinhua's creative process is not only a personal literary history of a writer, but also a cultural witness of a generation's continuous questioning, restoration, and reconstruction of the spiritual world in the process of historical changes. This seminar not only pays tribute to his literary achievements, but also provides an opportunity for in-depth dialogue and exchange for the Chinese literary community in Los Angeles. We sincerely invite literary friends to join us in this grand event, to meet again in the midst of words at the beginning of spring.
