After the novel Hot Ca Chu Du Truong Sa (published by Kim Dong Publishing House) received three awards: the 2022 National Book Award, the Mai Vang Award (Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper) and the Children's Literature Award of the Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association, writer Bui Tieu Quyen decided to... temporarily leave the adult world, embarking on adventures with the animal world, the latest of which are two works that are very popular with readers: Gray Tiger Crossing the River and Gray Fool Going to the City .

Photo: NVCC

The writer said: "During a field trip to Thieng Lieng Island (Can Gio District, Ho Chi Minh City), I saw a cute, sturdy little dog sitting right on the bow of a boat, eagerly watching the river. When I got in the car, the title of a new book suddenly popped into my head, reminding me to immediately write Gray Tiger Crossing the River ."

So the adventures began with the dream of a little dog with tiger-like stripes on its body. The writer revealed: "The character of Gray Tiger is only a metaphor. The Southern land in the past was vast and full of grass and trees, and was home to packs of fierce tigers. In his dream, the dog met a young tiger and from there discovered many interesting stories about the history, culture and people of the coastal region, so I named him Gray Tiger."

In the book "Gray Stupid Goes to the City" , Bui Tieu Quyen takes Gray Tiger back to Ca Mau Cape - where his 4th generation ancestors were born - to expand the cultural and historical space that has not been fully explored.

"Gray Tiger will have further journeys that he has left unfinished. I will follow my character until he wants to stop," Bui Tieu Quyen shared.