GrubStreet is thrilled to congratulate instructor Yu-Mei Balasingamchow! Yu-Mei's debut novel, Names Have Been Changed, will be published in 2026, by Tiny Reparations Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. She thanks her students and colleagues for their support and encouragement.

We asked Yu-Mei how her time at GrubStreet influenced her accomplishment:

"My students at GrubStreet inspire me with their writing and their questions, and my fellow instructors with their savvy advice, determination and good cheer! Whenever I hit what felt like an insurmountable roadblock while revising my manuscript or querying agents, it was encouraging to know that I wasn't alone, that lots of us are working on our stories and trying to tell them as best as we can. It's invigorating to be part of this community that values the power of storytelling and art."

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