Jennifer J. Chow Books In Order

Publication Order of LA Night Market Books

Publication Order of Magical Fortune Cookie Books

Publication Order of Sassy Cat Mystery Books

Publication Order of Winston Wong Cozy Mystery Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Cozy Case Files Mystery Sampler Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Jennifer J. Chow, also known as JJ Chow under her pen-name, is a Taiwanese American author who writes Young Adult and mystery novels. Very well regarded for her innovative and engaging style, she constantly keeps the readers guessing throughout her stories. Writing both short and long fiction, she’s a versatile novelist who’s come far in an extremely short amount of time.

Bringing in elements of the supernatural too, she writes from a very real place, something which has seen her receive a huge amount of accolades. Putting a lot of herself into her work too, her stories are highly personal, lending them a certain degree of authenticity that they wouldn’t otherwise have had. Definitely a writer to watch in the following years to come, she has a lot more planned on the horizon, with her strong and idiosyncratic voice.

Early and Personal Life:

Growing up with a keen passion for literature, Jennifer J. Chow would focus on her writing throughout her childhood. It would also be her upbringing that would inspire her, as she would draw heavily from it when looking for material for her next novel. This would see her come to create some highly authentic and down-to-earth stories, really resonating with readers worldwide through her wholly personable approach to the format.

Expanding upon this in college, she would later graduate from Cornell University with a Bachelor’s degree, and a Masters in Social Welfare from UCLA. This would see her working with the elderly, something which would also come to influence both her and how she viewed her writing. Constantly writing throughout, she’d come to find her own style over the years, as she would refine her own personal perspective.

From writing on her father’s typewriter as a child, to working as an editor for the school newspaper, she always knew that she wanted to write. Drawing from a number of writers, she would constantly be putting herself back into her work, and this would develop over time. Eventually she would reach the attention of publishers, as her first novel was released, and she wouldn’t look back.

Creating numerous series and titles since, she’s come a long over the course of her career, and she still has a lot more planned yet. Currently living in Los Angeles, she still continues to write to this day, with a lot more titles set-up for some time yet. This will carry on into the foreseeable future, creating characters the relate to readers regardless of their background and where they’re from, speaking on a universal level.

Writing Career:

First publishing ‘The 228 Legacy’ back in 2013, Jennifer J. Chow would first find her audience with her novel told from a Taiwanese-American perspective. Looking at three generations of a Taiwanese family living near to Los Angeles during the early 1980s, it would manage to draw heavily from her own life. This would essentially introduce her as a writer, making a strong impact in the process, showing readers what she was all about.

She would also write under the pseudonym of JJ Chow, which has been a pen-name which she’s put out mystery titles under. Creating the ‘Winston Wong Cozy Mystery’ series of novels, she would appeal to suspense fans with her ‘Encyclopedia Brown’ inspired collection of mystery novels. These would follow the former video-games tester turned sleuth Winston Wong, as he’d go about solving a series of different cases.

Creating a number of other series too, Chow has found an audience with younger fans, with her cleverly written novels that exude warmth and wit. In 2015 she would write the novel ‘Dragonfly Dreams’, which would also be a stand-alone children’s novel, with elements of fantasy this time. Looking at her work through a multicultural lens, her stories have a profound effect on the reader quite unlike any other.

Releasing short stories and flash fiction too, Chow has been published in numerous different publications, including the ‘Over My Dead Body’ magazine, and ‘Hyphen’. These have helped her to establish a name for herself, allowing her to become a more prominent voice within the industry. Winning awards and accolades, including the ‘Sacrifice Anthology Contest’, and the ‘Project Keepsake Contest’, she’s going to continue being a strong voice for a long time yet.

The 228 Legacy

Originally published in 2013 on the 25th of July, this would be the first book from Jennifer J. Chow, making it her debut release. Not being a part of any overall series as such, it would be a stand-alone title drawing from much of her own life. With an element of mystery to it, it uses a period setting, being based in 1980, documenting the time and the era well.

Looking at cultural identity, this book breaks down a lot interesting factors behind Taiwanese-American living. Bringing much of her own life to her work, Chow uses her own upbringing as inspiration for her novel, giving it a unique and interesting perspective in the process. From the characters to the central premise, it really manages to make the most of its setting, from its location to its period in time.

An all Taiwanese family consisting of three generations and entirely female, all live close to one another nearby Los Angeles in 1980. Looking after each others secrets, Grandmother Silk has discovered she has breast cancer, whilst the daughter Lisa has lost her job, and the granddaughter Abbey is dealing with a bully at school. That’s when the Silk’s past is slowly revealed and some shocking revelations come to light, with their past history showing the truth of their heritage. Which historical event that changed everything for them? Why was the grandmother left widowed? What is the truth behind the 228 legacy?

Mimi Lee Gets a Clue

Initially released through the Berkley publishing label this would first come out on the 10th of March in 2020. Setting up a new mystery franchise for Chow, it would be the first novel in the ‘Sassy Cat Mystery’ series, establishing the world and the premise. Looking at Mimi Lee, it sees her running a pet grooming shop in Los Angeles, but then having to deal with the murder of a local breeder, whilst sorting her own love life too. Can she find the killer? Will she be able to make her own business and life a success? What happens when Mimi gets a clue?