The story of love behind the Phoenix Tiger Press logo
The story of Phoenix Tiger Press as the name for the publishing company for my books started with my mother and father falling in love and getting married in Malaysia during World War II. My father showed good judgement in proposing to my mother.
About the phoenix
My mother’s given name, Fèng, means Phoenix, a mythical bird in Chinese legends known for its beauty and wisdom. It was a name befitting my mother, who was a beauty in her younger days, and a wise matriarch to the family when she was alive.
When my mother gave birth to me
My father, a Chinese scholar, named me Luán, another legendary phoenix-like bird to celebrate the mother-daughter relationship popularised by the special Chinese term — luán-fèng. The close relationship between my mother and myself is now showcased in the antique phoenix frame on my front door and serves as the image for the phoenix in the logo.
About The Tiger
The tiger in the logo is inspired by three generations of tigers in my family. My mother was born in the year of the fire tiger. My grandson, Matthew, and I were born in the year of the metal tiger. Chinese believe that having three generations of the same zodiac animal sign is rare and special. I have chosen the tiger to complement the phoenix in the logo, incorporating two generations of phoenixes and three generations of tigers!!
I hope that you enjoy learning about my family who provided the inspiration for the Phoenix Tiger Press and The Reading Journey captured in my books. The wise phoenix and the brave tiger are some of the leading protagonists with other Zodiac animals in my book series Lunar New Year Animal Books for Kids. I look forward to sharing this journey with you.
