X H Collins

X.H. Collins was born in Hechuan, Sichuan Province, China, and grew up in Kangding, on the East Tibet Plateau. Her short stories have placed in the Midwest Writing Center Iron Pen Contest and the River City Readers Flash Fiction Contests. Her writings have also appeared in the MOON magazine and its anthology Out of this World: The Best Short Stories from The MOON, and PastTen. She has a Ph.D in nutrition and is a biology professor at an Illinois community college. She lives in Iowa with her husband and son. Flowing Water, Falling Flowers is her first novel. To learn more about the author and her work, visit her website at https://xhcollins.com/, and follow her on Twitter @xixuan_c, Facebook @xhcollins, and Instagram xixuan_c.

Early Praise for Flowing Water, Falling Flowers

“Flowing Water, Falling Flowers is an engrossing, beautiful debut that glides through multiple times and places. Collins brings to life not only the complex cast of characters, but an entire culture, both of which come vibrantly alive through her storytelling magic. The Han, Wang, and Fang families take us on an enlightening, unforgettable journey.” –Kali White VanBaale, award-winning author of The Monsters We Make and The Good Divide

“X.H. Collins’s first novel is a family epic full of lush detail and characters who carry us effortlessly through a multi-generational mystery. Readers who love to travel and learn by reading will be fascinated by the story of early 20th century China and the Chinese railway. Weaving in and out of narratives and time, Collins unites research and imagination in this intimate story celebrating our unshakable bonds to family.” –Felicia Schneiderhan, author of Newlyweds Afloat

“The atmosphere for this book is masterfully set by a poem, a song, and a new-born baby’s cry. All too soon the child disappears into the night of 1891 China. In a modern-day Chicago the stage is set with Rose Ming’s breakup from a married man, the loss of her academic job, and the consoling trip back to California and her mother. Rose and her mother are drawn back to China and into a haunting mystery that spans generations.” –Mary Davidsaver, author of Clouds Over Bishop Hill

“The lyrical prose of X. H. Collins winds beautifully through the pages of Flowing Waters, Falling Flowers. Choices made through love echo from century to century in this touching story rich in Chinese culture.” –Tom McKay, author of West Fork, Another Life, and The Old Guard

“X.H. Collins crafts a masterful tale of intrigue and discovery that traverses lies, truths, spiritual intention, social interaction, and cultural revelation with an equally deft hand… Flowing Water, Falling Flowers offers a cultural, social, and psychological inspection that is as literary and compelling as its title. It is highly recommended as a journey of discovery and change that will appeal to anyone interested in the lasting impact of Chinese heritage and culture.” –D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review