Le Loi Thu Dinh, the comic book author who almost became a nun

Although her family intended her to become a nun, Le Loi Thu Dinh (Lilywiu) chose a colorful path for herself: becoming a comic book author loved by young people with the series 'Fire Remnants'.

Author Le Loi Thu Dinh (Lilywiu) interacts with readers in Hanoi - Photo: T.DIEU

Tan Lua is a Vietnamese comic that has received a lot of attention from young readers recently, even though only 2/7 volumes have been released.

With a concise storytelling style, meticulous and detailed drawings, full of cultural and historical materials of the nation, Lilywiu has brought readers a unique comic work that satisfies both content and form.

Many people did not expect that the dramatic and engaging comic series about the Asia-Europe transition period in our country in the first decades of the 20th century was written by a Gen Z author.

From a pious child

Le Loi Thu Dinh, born in 1999 in a Catholic family in Ho Chi Minh City, has a mother of Chinese origin.

As a child, Thu Dinh was a pious child, very knowledgeable in the scriptures. Thu Dinh's parents were very happy because their "blessed" daughter, and wanted her to become a nun. At that time, Thu Dinh also followed her parents' lead, wanting to become a nun, serving God for her whole life.

But then one day Thu Dinh realized she could choose other horizons. She decided to try other lifestyles before deciding her fate. And Thu Dinh chose to plunge into the big world to explore new and colorful horizons.

After graduating from high school, Thu Dinh went to study abroad in Germany. She chose to study illustration at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg).

The first two volumes of the series Remnants of Fire - Photo: Kim Dong Publishing House

To the comic author

When the COVID-19 pandemic came, like many other international students, Thu Dinh had to experience a pretty bad period of disconnection.

She felt lost and didn't know what to do. Overcoming her negative emotions, she decided to try writing comics and posting them online. Unexpectedly, people supported her. She received many invitations to publish.

When receiving the comic project, Thu Dinh thought it must be a story related to Vietnamese people.

One day on her way to school, passing by the sculpture room next to her illustration class, Thu Dinh saw a sculpture with many arms. Some said it was an octopus, others said it looked like a spider. A statue that everyone saw differently.

Thu Dinh thinks everything should be relative, we should choose something positive. That is the idea for the comic series that Thu Dinh will write.

And The Remnants of Fire was born, a story about a wealthy family during the Asia-Europe transition period in the early 20th century in our country.

Thu Dinh said she has a special interest in special historical periods and value conflicts. These are periods that bring profound stories that grow from old and new conflicts.

Regarding the historical period of the country in the early 20th century, Thu Dinh was interested in the literature of this period since she was in middle and high school. She imagined a society full of conflicts through the literature of Vu Trong Phung and Nam Cao.

And for her first work, Thu Dinh chose to write a story set in the context of Vietnamese society during that special period.

Thu Dinh has participated in many international art and comic exhibitions, in which her short story Innocent Rabbit recently received the Standard Award of the Vietnam Manga Festival organized by Indent.

The book "The Remnants of Fire" is planned to be published in seven volumes. Volume 2 has now been released to readers, published by Kim Dong Publishing House.

However, Thu Dinh's dream does not stop at being a comic book author. She also wants to try her hand at being a television screenwriter.

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BIRD OF PARADISE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/le-loi-thu-dinh-tac-gia-truyen-tranh-suyt-tro-thanh-nu-tu-20250707094935863.htm