Janice Y. K. Lee

Janice Y. K. Lee is the author of two novels, The Piano Teacher and The Expatriates. Both set in Hong Kong, the books examine love, loss, and the formation of identity in a foreign land. Born in Hong Kong to parents who were Korean immigrants, Lee moved to the United State to attend Harvard College, where she graduated with a degree in English and American Literature and Language.

In New York, Lee established a career as an editor, working at Elle and Mirabella magazines. She entered Hunter’s MFA program in Creative Writing, and after graduating began writing her debut novel, The Piano Teacher, published in 2009. The book received critical acclaim and became an international bestseller, spending nineteen weeks on the New York Times best seller list.

In 2016, Lee published her second novel, The Expatriates. Nicole Kidman’s production company, Blossom Films, optioned the book and adapted it into a television series for Amazon Prime, debuting in January 2024, with Kidman as executive producer and star.

Lee’s writing has appeared in ELLE, Mirabella, Glamour, and Travel + Leisure, as well as numerous other publications.