Crystal Tai (盧琪綺), also known as Crystal Spring Tai, earned a Master's degree in Education Policy with coursework in Journalism from Stanford University in 2007. Since then, she has worked as a local news reporter, a communications specialist in the high tech sector, a YouTuber (via Crystal Blue Sky), and a freelance interpreter/translator. She translated Beijing: A Symmetrical City, which won two book awards in the US in 2020. She also translated her own maternal grandfather's memoir book, Nine Memorable Decades, which serves as research material in the Hoover Institution.Even more impressive as a writer than a translator, Crystal has creatively succeeded in both fiction and non-fiction. Her historical novel, Marco Polo in Love, has been selected by the Indie Author Project to be available at public libraries all over California. As for non-fiction, Crystal has authored a few books that introduce traditonal Chinese culture to Westerners.Among Crystal's non-fiction books, A Poetic Portal to Chinese Culture has brought her a certificate of commendation from California's Santa Clara County government for contribution to cultural diversity. Insights into Suzhou Gardens unprecedentedly analyzes all the fascinating features Suzhou-style gardens have in common. Yangzhou portrays a scenic waterfront city with more than 2,500 years of history and superb local cuisine. Chinese Couplets is the first-ever book that presents Chinese couplets in English as an art form. Seasonal Living with Splendid Poetry is the first bilingual book that explains how the 24 micro-seasons defined by ancient Chinese astronomers can promote environmental awareness and bring health benefits today.
