Can Stories Keep a Culture Alive? | Som Phin

What if fiction could do more than entertain us? What if it could preserve a culture, carry history across generations, and introduce an entire heritage to people who have never encountered it before?In this episode, I’m joined by Cambodian-American author Som Phin, a prolific independent author with more than 35 novels spanning historical fiction, fantasy, literary fiction, and romantasy.Som is on a mission to preserve Khmer history, mythology, folklore, and culture through stories that explore identity, family, resilience, romance, and belonging. Her work has received recognition from Kirkus Reviews and BookLife by Publishers Weekly, including multiple Editor’s Picks.We talk about her connection to Cambodian culture, the stories and traditions she believes more people should know, and the challenge of transforming real history and mythology into fiction that modern readers can connect with.We also go behind the books to explore where her ideas come from, how she develops and revises her stories, what it takes to write more than 35 novels, and why consistency matters when building a career as an independent creator.And beyond writing, Som shares lessons about publishing, marketing, building an audience, and what aspiring creators can learn from the process of turning an idea into something people genuinely want to experience.If you've ever wondered whether stories can preserve culture, or you've been sitting on a story of your own that you're afraid you're not ready to write, this conversation is for you.Discover and buy Som Phin's bookhttps://www.amazon.com/stores/Som-Phin/author/B0GJ47GBCD?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=db2c9757-056c-4ae0-8790-abaf76effcf3The James Ibezim Podcast explores the ideas, people, and questions shaping the world around us.