Hong Kong to the Heart of the World: The Multilingual Magic of Author Winston Zee

In a literary landscape where stories often lose their essence in translation, Winston King Tak Zee’s storytelling stands apart—bridging cultures, languages, and generations through the art of words. His writing embodies both intellect and emotion, revealing the power of language to connect rather than divide.

A Childhood Shaped by Story and Language

Born in Hong Kong into a Cantonese-speaking household, Winston was immersed from an early age in a world where stories carried the weight of memory, history, and identity. He grew up recognizing that language was more than communication—it was a reflection of who we are and where we come from.

As he later became fluent in both English and Mandarin, Winston discovered that each language offered a new lens through which to see the world.

“I think in multiple languages,” he says. “And each time I do, I rediscover a different version of myself.”

That continual rediscovery—of self and heritage—became the foundation of his literary voice.

“Mom’s Story”: A Bridge Between Languages and Lives

Winston’s debut work, Mom’s Story, exemplifies his belief that storytelling transcends linguistic boundaries. The book is presented in three distinct versions—English, Simplified Chinese (Mandarin), and Traditional Chinese (Cantonese)—each carrying its own rhythm, tone, and emotional depth.

Rather than simple translations, these versions represent different interpretations of the same narrative. The variations capture how meaning subtly shifts across languages and cultures, mirroring the author’s own experiences of living between them. Through Mom’s Story, Winston offers both a personal tribute to his mother and a universal meditation on love, memory, and identity. His prose invites readers to reflect on how emotion and understanding evolve as stories are retold through different linguistic and cultural lenses.

“Growing up in Hong Kong, then studying and living between languages, I realized that meaning changes slightly with every word you choose,” he says. “That’s the beauty of it—each language carries its own heart.”

“My Po Po, My Hero”: Honoring Generations Through Story

Winston’s upcoming children’s book, My Po Po, My Hero, continues his exploration of family, tradition, and intergenerational connection. Through gentle, evocative prose and vivid illustration, the story celebrates the warmth and wisdom that grandparents pass down to younger generations.

Although written for children, the message of My Po Po, My Hero resonates with readers of all ages. It reminds us that the love and values of those who came before us shape who we become and that storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to preserve those legacies.

“It’s really about how the people who came before us live on through the stories we tell,” Winston reflects.

A Voice that Connects Cultures

Across his growing body of work, Winston King Tak Zee demonstrates that literature is a form of connection. His writing, though rooted in deeply personal experience, speaks to universal themes of belonging, identity, and memory.

As a trilingual writer, Winston’s craft reflects a rare sensitivity to the nuances of language. Yet what distinguishes his work is not only his fluency, but his unwavering authenticity. He writes not to impress, but to connect—to his family, to his culture, and to readers who recognize themselves in his words. “Every story is a bridge,” Winston says. “Sometimes it connects cultures. Sometimes it connects generations. And sometimes, it simply connects hearts.”

A Storyteller for the Modern World

As Mom’s Story continues to reach readers around the world and anticipation builds for My Po Po, My Hero, Winston King Tak Zee is emerging as a distinctive literary voice—one who redefines how language and culture can coexist beautifully on the page.

His stories remind us that, while words may differ, the emotions they carry are universal. Love, family, and memory need no translation—they are the most human stories of all. Through his thoughtful, multilingual approach to storytelling, Winston invites readers to pause, reflect, and rediscover the shared rhythm that binds us across languages and generations.

He is not merely an author to watch—he is a storyteller for our time.