At AuthorsWiki, we are privileged to have had the opportunity to connect with Sarah Jinhee, a Author from South Korea, whose unique voice and creative spirit shine through in their latest work, Arabica in Us. Their book, already making waves across leading platforms, invites readers into a world shaped by imagination, experience, and purpose.
Sarah Jinhee was born in Seoul and spent 17 formative years living in Malaysia, Singapore, and Canada — experiences that deeply shaped her multicultural perspective. She earned a diploma in Graphic Design and Visual Communication from Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore. Upon graduation, she began her career at Oak 3 Films, one of Singapore’s leading production houses, where she produced a range of award-winning television dramas and infotainment series.
Eager to deepen her expertise, Sarah later pursued Film Production Studies at York University in Toronto and completed a Master’s in Film Studies at Dongguk University, South Korea.
Determined to showcase her unique storytelling voice, she attended several prestigious film programs. She was selected for the NAFF Film School of BIFAN 2012, Talent Campus Tokyo by Berlinale Talents & Tokyo FILMeX 2013, and the KAFA-Indonesia Co-Production Prebiz 2014. In 2015, her Korea-China co-production project won the Project Development Grant from the Next Masters Support Program organized by Berlinale Talents Tokyo & Tokyo FILMeX, and it was later presented at the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Film Market.
In recent years, Sarah has expanded her creative journey into literary fiction. She completed her first sci-fi manuscript, which received mentoring through the Incheon Fantasy Convention’s Future Film Production Program 2020. In 2022, she was selected for the New Novelist Program by the Korea Creative Content Agency, and her debut crime-thriller novel was published in South Korea in 2023. Her next work, a science fiction anthology, is scheduled for release in 2026.
In this conversation, the author opens up about the deeper motivations behind their storytelling, their personal and literary journey, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you’re a fan of thoughtful writing or someone looking to understand the creative process, this interview promises valuable insight and inspiration.
AuthorsWiki : Apart from writing, what is your occupation for livelihood?
Sarah Jinhee : I teach English as a second language to Koreans, including working adults and young students. I also self publish ebooks on various topics, for English study and for self development as writer or director. I also teach short script writing class online to English speaking participants.
AuthorsWiki : Tell us something about your first book.
Sarah Jinhee : This is my first Romance Novel in English. The story was born after a short trip to Beijing years ago. Something about the city’s stillness, its layers of past and present stayed with me. It grew into a screenplay, which went on to win a Project Development Grant from Berlinale Talents Tokyo and Tokyo FILMeX in 2015. It was also selected as a Korea-China co-production project by the Korean Film Council and presented at the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Film Market in 2016.
Now, it has found new life as my first romance novel. I wrote this for those who are learning what it means to love, to lose, and to grow again. May this quiet journey find you, wherever you are. Happy reading.
“A Quiet Romance That Crosses Borders – and Heals the Heart” In a time when the world feels increasingly fractured, a soft, luminous novel reminds us of the power of connection, stillness, and love.
Sarah Jinhee, a Korean writer with a uniquely multicultural lens, makes her romance debut with Arabica in Us – a tender, cross-cultural story of grief, rediscovery, and love set in the hushed corners of modern-day Beijing.
“In the wake of loss, Aram travels to Beijing and connects with Siyu, a quiet rickshaw driver with buried pain. As they navigate grief and solitude, their quiet resilience blossoms into connection – two souls choosing to heal, love, and begin again on their own terms.”
AuthorsWiki : Would you like to tell us about your published books?
Sarah Jinhee : My debut crime-thriller novel was published in Korea in 2023, when I was selected for a New Novelist Program by the Korea Creative Content Agency. I received extensive mentoring by established authors and producers from a well known publishing company called Safehouse Publishing. Arabica in Us marks my first English-language romance novel. My next book, a science fiction anthology which is authored with 4 other writers, has been signed with another publisher and is scheduled for release in 2026.
AuthorsWiki : Where did you get the inspiration for publishing books?
Sarah Jinhee : Actually, the starting point as a novelist and to venture into book publishing was when COVID-19 hit. I lost all my source of income, and I had to rediscover how I could take my stories out to the world as efficiently as possible. Filmmaking is an enormous undertaking, and it takes many people, money, and time. Sometimes the story just doesn’t get made. But a book, I can write and even publish on my own. So I challenged myself to finish a story based on my original screenplay. Luckily, it was selected for the New Novelist Program by the Korea Creative Content Agency, and my first crime-thriller novel was published in South Korea in 2023. This opened doors for my literary journey.
AuthorsWiki : How do you manage your time to write a book?
Sarah Jinhee : I believe you have to squeeze out the time to write, no matter what. It takes persistence and dedication, and stamina to write and finish a manuscript. So I plan out a chunk of my time in between work and try to focus on writing every day.
AuthorsWiki : What is your favorite writing method — the one in which you write the most?
Sarah Jinhee : I used to write using notes and pens. But now, I use my MacBook more often. I carry it to cafes and write using its software, such as Pages. I still need a notepad in the early stages of writing, for brainstorming and working out the details of a plot. I also use Post-its to mark the flow of the story on my study room wall. When the overall picture is set, I start writing on my laptop.
AuthorsWiki : When did you start writing, and how did your interest in writing begin?
Sarah Jinhee : I began my creative journey with the dream of making films first. I did scribble stories into my diaries when I was young, but I had no idea what format they could turn into. I realized I wanted to make films after watching the film entitled “Farewell to my Concubine” by director Chen Kaige. It stirred up a powerful wave of emotions that I totally felt is what I’d like to deliver in my art as well. After working in a production company, I started learning how to write screenplays.
AuthorsWiki : Is there any special achievement in your life that you would like to share with us and your readers?
Sarah Jinhee : Well, you can tell I’m a tenacious storyteller who tries to get my story out into the world in various formats. So I can say my special achievement is that I managed to tell stories using filmmaking, screenplays, or novels. I think sticking to your aspiration is what you should be proud of.
AuthorsWiki : Are you planning to write or publish a book in the present or future?
Sarah Jinhee : Yes, definitely. I have a new SF feature manuscript ready to find a publisher. I’ve entered some writing competitions with it, so we’ll see how that goes first. My next stories are for films, but they may also turn into a novel in the future.
AuthorsWiki : Would you like to give a message to your readers and fans?
Sarah Jinhee : Thank you for reading my stories, or watching my films in advance! You make my dreams come true!
AuthorsWiki : Every writer has their own ideal. Do you also have an ideal writer? And what are your favorite books that you always want to read?
Sarah Jinhee : Some of my favorite authors are actually filmmakers who write and direct their own films. They include Chen Kaige, Wong Kar Wai, Bong Joon Ho, Denis Villeneuve, and so on. I do have a tendency to try and read up on classics and novels by acclaimed authors. Such as works by Oscar Wilde, Keigo Higashino, and Albert Camus come to mind. But I usually read factual books to learn about what is happening around the world. They include various categories of books in the field of anthropology, philosophy, economics, politics, history, humanities, etc.
AuthorsWiki : Apart from writing, what are your other hobbies that you enjoy in your free time?
Sarah Jinhee : I love traveling and spending time with my boyfriend. I wish I had time and money to do them permanently. LOL. Who doesn’t?
AuthorsWiki : Would you like to remain in the writing world in the future as well?
Sarah Jinhee : Yes, I would like that. I hope my writing mature as I age and they pave a unique path and create interesting worlds in the literary and creative universe.
How to Buy Author’s Book-
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It was a pleasure speaking with Sarah Jinhee, whose journey and reflections offer a meaningful glimpse into the creative life of a writer. We sincerely thank them for sharing their time and wisdom with the AuthorsWiki community.
If you enjoyed this conversation, feel free to explore more about the author’s work through the links above, and don’t hesitate to share your thoughts in the comments below.
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