When Vanessa Chan set out to write her first novel, she had never intended to delve into the historical fiction genre. Her debut novel, The Storm We Made, centres around Cecily Alcantara, a Malayan mother who becomes an unlikely spy for the invading Japanese army during World War II and the horrifying torrent of consequences that befall her family and community.
The novel was released on January 2, 2024, to rave reviews, fast becoming a bestseller in the United States and the top pick of notable book clubs, including and BBC Radio 2. It has since been translated into 20 languages, with Chan even approached by Japanese publisher Shunjusha. “We should learn from stories of the women who were dragged into the war,” they wrote to Chan, who never expected
