Writer’s Block: PP Wong

All Lit Up: Tell us about your newest book Slice the Water. (Congratulations on being longlisted for the 2026 Canada Reads, by the way!) What can readers expect? 

PP Wong: Thank you so much for your kind words and support! Slice the Water is about Fred, a young man shaped by the disappearance of his father.Slice the Water is about Fred, a young man shaped by the disappearance of his father. It’s a story about loss and navigating opposing systems of rule that expose how power operates while testing the bonds of family, community, and love. At its core, the book asks what we choose to resist or preserve in the face of injustice, and how AI is reshaping human autonomy. Oh, and there is a stubborn pet frog, too!  

ALU: What book have you read lately that you can’t stop thinking about?  

PP: I re-read Girl Woman Other by Bernardine Evaristo. It traces the lives of twelve women whose paths crisscross across time and place, revealing the quiet revolutions of identity, love, and belonging. It is a stunning achievement, and I would highly recommend it.  

ALU: How has your perspective on writing changed over time?   

PP: I used to think that you had to write every single day, but I’ve realized that “thinking” and prep time are just as important. Sometimes I hike for hours or swim to solve a problem, and that helps when I finally settle into my seat. Now, I don’t beat myself up if I don’t write 1,000 words a day, which used to be my goal. Sometimes it’s better to take your time, be patient, and create a stronger story than to force yourself to hit a daily word count. 

ALU: If you weren’t an author, what do you think you’d be doing?  

PP: I love animals and being in nature. In fact, as a child, I dreamed of becoming a vet, but my science grades were not strong enough. If I could somehow magically bypass veterinary school and not have to take any exams, I would be a vet or work with animals, perhaps as a zoologist. 

ALU: If you could spend a day with one of your characters, who would it be and why?  

PP: It would have to be the protagonist, Fred, and of course, his pet goliath tree frog accompanying him. Fred is a thoughtful, observant, and sensitive young man, marked by curiosity and a strong sense of morality. He is empathetic and caring, with a deep love for his family and friends that influences many of his decisions. Though initially naïve, he shows resilience and courage when faced with danger and uncertainty. All while learning to survive in a complex and oppressive world. I think because you spend so many years with your main protagonist, you grow to love them like a close friend, which is how I feel with Fred.  

PP Wong is an author, screenwriter and editor. Her debut novel, The Life of a Banana, was nominated for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and was critically acclaimed in The Daily Mail, The Guardian, The Independent, Marie Claire, la Repubblica, and Vanity Fair. Wong has a degree in Anthropology and Law from The London School of Economics. She completed an MFA at the University of British Columbia, where she received the celebrated Cordula and Gunter Paetzold Fellowship. Born in the UK, PP Wong is now rooted in Vancouver. Slice the Water  is her second novel.