A Mirror for the Blind: Reflections of a Digital Seoul received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Jeong Mu.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
A Mirror for the Blind: Reflections of a Digital Seoul was published on September 7, 2023. The original Korean version was published on May 26, 2023.
What’s the book’s first line?
“Just a Moment!”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
“A Mirror for the Blind,” by Jeong Mu, is a thought-provoking novel that explores the challenges faced by young adults in modern South Korea, grappling with the issues posed by traditional values and the widespread influence of the internet and social media. The book particularly focuses on the lives of office workers who struggle between societal expectations and personal dissatisfaction.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
Seeing my reflection in the bus window, as I waited for responses to a post I had made on an online community about my ‘specs,’ I felt a sense of pathos.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
The book informs readers about the often-overlooked negative impacts of social media, particularly how it spreads a culture of comparison and portrays success in a way that’s too familiar in everyday life.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
The character is aware of the contradiction of not wanting to be swept away by social media, yet finding themselves inevitably drawn to it. This aspect of the character reflects my own experiences as the author.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I think I became an author when I felt that I had so much to say that I couldn’t bear not to write.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
Yes, this is the first book I have written.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I work as a programmer.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
I dedicate at least an hour and a half to writing every day, regardless of how challenging it may be. On good days, I make a lot of progress.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The hardest part is not having anyone to review and give feedback, and having to handle all the minor tasks like taxes and accounting myself. However, having a high degree of creative freedom in choosing covers and editing more than makes up for it all.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
I would recommend ‘Demian’ by Herman Hesse, ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ by Ernest Hemingway, and ‘The Heart of Buddha’s Teaching’ by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
If a traditional publisher approached me, I would like to try publishing with them at least once, simply because it’s a path I haven’t yet taken.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
Although financial gain is a significant motivator, the most rewarding aspect for me is the empathetic responses from readers.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
I admire a South Korean novelist named Park Kyung-ri. I also respect existentialist writers such as Hermann Hesse, Sartre, Albert Camus, and Simone de Beauvoir.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
As someone with a background in physics, I want to write science fiction. My next work will be an attempt in the sci-fi genre.