Meet Helena Ku Rhee | Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Helena Ku Rhee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Helena, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
It’s been my lifelong dream to be a published author, but I resisted pursuing a writing career for a very long time. I grew up in an immigrant family, where the unmistakable message was that artistic endeavors will lead to poverty, whereas a traditional career in law, medicine or finance will justify all the sacrifices my parents made (working so hard at menial jobs, not taking vacations, saving for our future, etc). I hate to be so blunt and unromantic about it, but those are the facts. That’s why I’ve always loved books so much, for their ability to provide an escape out of the confines of your own life and allow the imagination to run amok.

Even though I majored in English (with a minor in Studio Art) during college, I knew that my adult life would have to be centered on something extremely practical. So I went to law school and worked at a big law firm for a while as a corporate lawyer. I wrote a few short stories here and there “for fun,” as my well-meaning mother would say. To be honest, writing was a way for me to breathe, to hold onto my essential self, to resist allowing my dream to die altogether. After years of continuing in this fashion, I realized that this writing dream of mine was just not going away, no matter how “practical” I tried to be. In fact, the more practical I was, the more I needed to write. I wrote because I just couldn’t help it. Writing has always been the way I process my life and the world, and it’s when I write that I do my best thinking. I’m so focused and so “in the moment.” I guess I write because I have absolutely no choice in the matter, and I’ve finally embraced this aspect of myself instead of trying to resist it.

We’re all born with creativity and a need to create. And if you’re anything like me and you need to exercise your creativity in order to feel whole, then I would say to just do it. Whether it’s finding five minutes a day or an hour on the weekend, do something that brings you that joy and wonder that can only be achieved by exercising your creativity.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Except for the lucky few who achieve huge success right out of the gate, I would say that most professional creative work is about continuing forward — putting the words on the page or paint on the canvas, etc. — despite repeated rejection. Even if you manage to secure a good literary agent (no easy feat!), your manuscript still has to be picked up by a publisher, which isn’t guaranteed. And even if your book does get published by a one of the traditional publishers, there’s no guarantee that the next manuscript you write will be published. So I think that’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned: in the realm of professional creative work, prior success does not mean continual success.

It took me a long while to figure out that if I’m going to last in the business of publishing, I have to find joy in the actual work to sustain me, because the business side is so tough and unpredictable. It sounds like such a cliche when people say, “Enjoy the journey,” but it’s absolutely true. For a while, I was so focused on getting a traditional book deal, that I lost sight of the journey, which is ultimately what matters most: meeting my characters on the page, crafting a fulfilling story, processing life and its myriad wonders through the written word, improving my skills as a writer and thinker.

All that said, the one book that was like a miracle from start to finish was my most personal book, The Paper Kingdom. The story came to me in a flash, probably because I’d been living with it for so long. When I was little, my parents worked as night janitors in Los Angeles. They were new immigrants to the country, so the only job they could secure was cleaning a corporate building on Wilshire Boulevard. And because they couldn’t afford a babysitter, they took little me to work with them. Instead of a miserable time, I actually had a good time, thanks to the power of imagination. They told me funny stories about the people who worked in the building by day, zoomed me around empty wastebaskets like racecars, and just encouraged me to use my imagination to make our very plain surroundings into something magical.

The structure of the story was already in my head by the time I sat down to write it. And I knew I had something powerful because the words flowed in an orchestral way — meaning everything seemed to work together like instruments in an orchestra, with me as the conductor (trust me…that rarely ever happens!). That manuscript got me multiple offers of representation from literary agents. When I decided on the literary agency, my agent wanted to go out with the manuscript immediately with no modifications. And then, the manuscript sold to Penguin Random House at auction (meaning there were multiple bidders). I haven’t experienced anything like that either before or after, but it showed me that the publishing industry can move at lightning speed when it wants to.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Goodness, Los Angeles is still recovering from the widespread wildfires this past January, but the city deserves to be celebrated. I love L.A.!

L.A. is full of amazing spots, but the city is such a sprawling behemoth of streets and freeways and different neighborhoods with vastly different vibes, that I really recommend visiting with someone who knows the place well. I grew up here, and although I’m pretty comfortable with navigating through the city, I’m also a creature of habit. So when friends visit, I take them to my usual haunts (mostly on the Westside, because that’s where I live and work):

Great brunch spots:
– Ludivine Paris on Pico in West L.A. for excellent coffee, French pastries and a delicious salmon tartine. The owners are a French couple who used to practice law! Their baguettes and breads are excellent, so definitely buy some bread for later.
– S&W Country Diner in Culver City for a classic American breakfast of pancakes, eggs, grits, etc.
– Simonette in the Palihotel Culver City for French bistrot fare in a super charming patio setting
– Sirena by the Sea in the Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica for an elevated Euro-inspired brunch with panoramic ocean views on their outdoor terrace
– Gjelina in Venice for exquisite food and a great introduction to the super-hip Abbott Kinney Blvd.
– On the east side of town towards Los Feliz, Figaro Bistrot will transport you to Paris. Amazing pastries!

A great way to digest the big brunch is by strolling along Palisades Park in Santa Monica. It’s changed a lot since the pandemic, unfortunately, but if you start at the northern end of the park (for instance, near Georgina or Marguerita Ave), you’ll get great views of the ocean, the coastline towards Malibu to the north, as well as the Santa Monica pier to the south. I’d originally started writing this list before the awful L.A. Fires, so another suggestion would’ve been to go for a hike on the Temescal Canyon Trail — but it’s now closed indefinitely.

In the afternoon, I love going for a Matcha Rose Latte at Chitchat Coffee & Tea on Sawtelle, or a classic Milk Tea with boba at Yi Fang Tea on Sawtelle.

And of course, visitors must stop by one of L.A.’s premier art spaces. I was a Getty intern during a college summer, and they placed me at LACMA for a couple of months, so I’m partial to both the Getty and LACMA. For a first-time visitor, I would say the Getty Center is the first stop (the Getty Malibu is also spectacular, but the Getty Center offers so much more than the classical Greek & Roman art featured at the Getty Malibu). (Note: the Getty Malibu is closed temporarily due to the L.A. Fires). The Getty Center has astounding architecture, its elevated position offers fantastic views of the city, and their outdoor spaces/gardens rival the incredible art indoors. And I’m a big dork because I love the tram ride from the parking garage to the top of the hill — it makes me feel like a kid again, riding on the tram at Disneyland.

Speaking of the studios, I’ve been at Sony Pictures for over 15 years, and I highly recommend their studio walking tour! It takes you behind-the-scenes, and the tour is really geared towards movie and TV buffs who want to hear about the history of some of the most iconic Hollywood productions. You’ll walk among cast & crew & employees as they bustle about their workday. During the summertime, the studio also offers twilight walking tours.

The Conservatory is across the street from Sony Pictures and serves excellent coffee.

For visitors who prefer quirkier places, the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City is like a portal into a strange, delightful world of curios. You really need to let go of any preconceived notions of what you might normally see at a “museum” and just go with it. There’s a rooftop garden/tea salon with an aviary and free tea + cookies — a natural extension of this kooky, mysterious place.

At night, I love taking visitors to either Koreatown or to Santa Monica for a fabulous meal. In K-town, there are SO many amazing restaurants, and since K-BBQ seems to be a crowd pleaser, I would recommend Park’s BBQ or Chosun Galbee. For folks who aren’t huge meat eaters (like me), there are food courts within the Koreatown Plaza as well as the Koreatown Galleria with plentiful offerings — noodles, stews, vegetarian dishes, etc. Definitely check out their markets, too, for a vast array of Korean pre-prepared and packaged side dishes and other foods.

L.A. also has so many great Mexican restaurants! El Taurino on Hoover has authentic street tacos, Tere’s Mexican Grill on Melrose has tasty tacos and a grilled fish plate I love. Paco’s Cantina in Culver City is a great place for big groups and their wet burritos + fresh, handmade tortillas are delicious.

In Santa Monica, I absolutely love Tar & Roses for a fine, excellent meal. Their plates are meant to be shared, so it’s fun to order a variety for the table. Their enclosed back patio is a nice space if you’ve got a larger group. Bangkok West is next door to Tar & Roses, and their Thai dishes are a crowd pleaser.

I don’t stay out late these days because my dog likes to snuggle on the sofa with me and I absolutely love being at home 🙂 But back in the day, we used to hit a lot of the noraebangs (karaoke studios with individual singing rooms) in Koreatown, which are all open late into the night.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to give credit to my third grade teacher, Miss Neese, for helping me become a writer. When I first stepped into her classroom, I was an insecure kid who routinely misspelled the word “Wednesday.” But by the end of third grade, not only was I an excellent speller, I was also an award-winning writer – thanks to her, and thanks to her daily story time. Every afternoon, she sat on a chair in a corner of the classroom with a book in her hands, and we students quickly gathered to sit cross-legged on the rug before her. Most of the students—like me—loved this part of the day, and listened with rapt attention as she began a new chapter. But of course, a few kids goofed off. Those kids annoyed me so much! How dare they disrespect story time! How dare they disrespect Miss Neese! I was normally quiet and reserved, but unruliness during story time unleashed the hall monitor in me. I had no qualms about glaring at the noisy kids and hissing out a furious, “SHHHH! Pay attention!”

For me, story time was sacred. You see, my parents were struggling immigrants who weren’t fluent in English. They worked hard all day, and during their free time, they liked to relax with Korean-language TV. When they were especially exhausted, my never-ending questions and boundless curiosity probably frayed their already-frayed nerves. And though they saw the value in the books I brought home from the school library, they didn’t have the time, energy, or English skills to read aloud to me or to my little brother.

My home life was heavily focused on the practical, mundane details of living, not just because my parents needed my help to navigate American life, but also because I often had to watch over my little brother, who was six years younger. I really disliked babysitting a two-year-old while my parents had coffee with their Korean friends! All I wanted to do was live in the world of books. I wanted to travel with fascinating characters into other dimensions and to outer space, I wanted to know what it was like to solve a neighborhood mystery that stumped all the grown-ups, or to be the greatest child spy who ever lived. I was starved for stories, and especially loved the ones that made reality recede, that made my imagination soar, that gave me hope for a bigger, more interesting life.

One day, Miss Neese encouraged me to enter the school’s fiction contest with my own story. I wrote a silly tale about a talking chocolate bar who shouts weird things (“You’d better not bite my arm!” or “I’m melting!”) to prevent people from eating it. When I ended up placing in the contest and my story was published in a collection of winning entries throughout the school district, I remember that Miss Neese, my mother, and I attended the awards assembly together. After I went on stage to collect my ribbon and prize, I was walking back to my seat when I noticed that both Miss Neese and my mom were beaming at me through tears.

I’ll never quite understand why Miss Neese took such great interest in me. I wasn’t the sweetest student in class, nor the most popular. When I look at our old class picture, it’s also apparent that I was neither the cutest, nor the best dressed. But she saw someone special, someone worthy of her time and her best energy. And her profound interest in me, in what I had to say, gave me enough confidence to propel me forward throughout my life. She inspired me to major in English at Yale, to travel the world to fulfill my curiosity, and to go on to become a published author. She helped shape an insecure girl into a lifelong reader, writer, and thinker. She continues to be a top influencer throughout my life. I’ve even adopted her turtleneck-blazer combo as my own signature look!

Website: https://helenakrhee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helenakurhee/

Image Credits
Pierre Sattin

Eugene Rhee

Pascal Campion & Penguin Random House

Michelle Sterling

Benson Shum