We chatted with Grace D. Li, author of Portrait of a Thief, about her favourite books, writing habits, and more.
Which writer has had the greatest influence on you?
Weike Wang.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Read widely and joyfully, in any genre; find people who will cheer you on; editing makes the story better and more true; and write the stories you want to read.
What were your favourite books as a child?
The Immortals Quartet by Tamora Pierce, Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, and The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
What is your favourite book today?
Chemistry by Weike Wang.
What are your favourite movies?
Gattaca, Fast Five, Gran Torino, Hidden Figures, Crazy Rich Asians, Always Be My Maybe, The Farewell.
Why did you become a writer?
I've always loved to read -- in elementary school, my parents had a meeting with my school librarian because they were worried I was reading "too much" and not spending enough time making friends! And so it came very naturally that there were stories that I wanted to read that hadn't been written, and so I began to write. This was especially true when it came to stories about people who looked like me; I'd never read a book that felt like it was written by someone like me, for someone like me, until I got to college, and that opened my understanding to what literature could be. In short: I became a writer because I've always been a reader and because I know that words have the ability to change minds and to change lives.
Where do you write?
At my desk when I'm supposed to be studying for medical school, lying in bed with my laptop, on my phone while on a walk and the perfect line strikes me, or pacing around my room with a notebook and a messy handwritten plot.
What is the drink next to your keyboard?
Realistically I'm probably drinking water; on a good day, it's bubble tea (passionfruit green tea with aloe) or on a colder day any kind of tea latte!
What is your guilty pleasure book?
A few years ago, I'd never read romance novels before, and now I'll devour anything Talia Hibbert ever writes.
Grace D. Li grew up in Houston, Texas and is a graduate of Duke University, where she studied biology and creative writing. She currently attends medical school at Stanford University. Portrait of a Thief is her debut novel.
Want to know about Portrait of a Thief? Watch Grace D. Li introduce her novel:
-
A cinematic, entertaining and fast-paced debut novel that is part-Ocean's Eleven, part-The Social Network and part-Crazy Rich Asians, Portrait of a Thief is an addictive mix of heist and unlikely friendships by way of the politics of colonization.
Latest news
Father’s Day Gift Guide | 2026
From thrillers to history, inspiring memoirs to ground-breaking fiction, we have a great read for every dad.
Junior Book Club Guide for Eighty-Nine Questions for After
Lots for young readers to discuss in the touching middle-grade novel!
The Burn Book Tour
The Burn extract
Book Club Questions for The Burn
Reads with Rhythm
Dr Norman Swan The Brain Cliff tour
Myf Warhurst is going on tour!
Book Club Guide for Rat Daniels
Questions for your group to discuss this stand-out Australian debut.
Authors on the Road for Book Week 2026
A snapshot of just some of all the activity around Australia!
Read an extract of Alma Vampires
Start reading the new paranormal romance series!
Amy Remeikis is going on tour!
Enter the Fantasy Realm
Hachette Australia, with The Realm, presents ENTER THE FANTASY REALM! Join Tigest Girma, Louisa Carmody and Christy Anne Jones in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne to talk all things fantasy.
Read an Extract: Die to Love
The chaos continues in Hearts & Heathens Book 2!
Read an Extract: Middle Rage
Part confessional, part manifesto, Middle Rage is full of Myf Warhurst's humour, warmth and wisdom, with some tips thrown in to help women live their best middle-aged lives.
In the Good Books with Luke Bateman - Hachette Recommended Reads
Explore our featured reads on the In the Good Books podcast
Start Reading No One's Looking
Read an extract from No One's Looking, a comedic and uplifting novel from bestselling author Brooke Davis. Out October 13 2026!
Hachette Memories of Lost & Found
Our staff share how special Brooke Davis' debut was - we’d love to hear your memories too!
Brooke Davis' Letter to Booksellers
The lovely Brooke, a bookseller herself, checks in with her colleagues across Australia to say a big hello.
Alice Oseman is coming to ANZ!
Information on Alice Oseman's - author of Heartstopper - trip to Australia and New Zealand.
Read an extract from The Doubles
Dive into this fast-paced, genre-bending debut!
Q&A with Penny Sunday
Meet Aussie dark romance author Penny Sunday!
Read an extract from The Wretched Divine
From the bestselling author of Belladonna
.png?w=440&h=247&fit=crop&auto=compress%2cformat&dpr=2)
Ashleigh Barton's Letter to Readers
Ahead of Eighty-Nine Questions for After, Ashleigh shares her thoughts on why sad books are so important for kids.
Find a book you'll love, get our newsletter
Hachette Australia acknowledges and pays our respects to the past, present and future Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our head office is located on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
© Hachette Australia, All Rights Reserved · Site by Chook