Meet Author A.D. Sui Do you ever wonder how artists come up with their ideas? With any invention it’s interesting to think of how it came to be and who the person behind its creation was. When it comes to the work of local sci-fi author Anna Sui (writing as A.D. Sui) there are very interesting details behind her upbringing, her studies and her choice to live here in OEV that all come into play. The daughter of two well-read parents, Anna was introduced to whatever literature her parents could get their hands on (much of which had to be smuggled into the Soviet Union at that time). It was at a young age that she was introduced to the works of authors like Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury, which were translated from English into Russian and Ukrainian. Most of her literary tastes are shaped by the novels and stories she read in her childhood.
Anna always knew she wanted to write fiction and imagined she would do so when she was older and more established, maybe even retired. As she became more comfortable with the writing she was doing for her research, she also became confident in putting her own creativity to work. She began with short stories. Always a fan of sci-fi, she was keen on newer publications that were opening their doors to more diverse authors. In opening up to groups of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour), queer and disabled writers, the genre of science fiction was growing more inclusive than ever. After having some of her short stories published in both on- line and print magazines, she began working on her first novel. All the while, a short work, a novella (a book short- er than 40,000 words) was al- so in the works. The Dragon- fly Gambit was picked up by a D.C.-based publisher, Neon Hemlock Press. Since its pub- lication in April 2024, the no- vella has received numerous glowing reviews and made a number of ‘Best Of 2024’ lists. Anna’s first full-length novel, The Iron Garden Sutra , will be released by Erewhon Books in 2026. After years away, Anna and her partner found their way back to London, Ontario, knowing that it had the elements of home they were always looking for. The heritage status, and tight-knit community, and the local library right around the corner drew them to Old East Village. Their choice was confirmed when they came upon a hand-written recipe card found in the back of a drawer from a previous owner. Between the sense of community and their inaugural skunk adventures (maybe the subject of her next book), it’s clear to them that Old East was a great place to land.
Anna in Crimea
After immigrating to Canada from Ukraine, Anna’s family first settled in North York, Toronto. After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, Anna completed her Masters in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Western Ontario before exploring the West Coast for her postdoctoral fellowship. It was at this point in our talk that I wondered if her interest in the medical world was part of the inspiration for her writing. In fact, it was during the completion of her doctoral thesis that she began writing fiction as a way to distract and entertain herself.
Page 6 Old East Villager March-April 2025
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