History becomes her: Anchee Min delves into China's past to inspire her imagination.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

From: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service | Date: January 21, 2004| Author: Sivesind, Elizabeth | Copyright information

Byline: Elizabeth Sivesind

"Empress Orchid" by Anchee Min; Houghton Mifflin ($24)

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WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Chinese author Anchee Min is a long way from her native home.

Her new two-story house in Concord, Calif., is set in the rolling foothills of Mount Diablo _ the small mountain that drew her to Contra Costa (Calif.) County for the peace and isolation she craved for her writing. Two homes on Min's block are still under construction, ...

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