Amy Tan's professional life was defined by several transformative events. Her **immigrant upbringing**, as the daughter of Chinese immigrants, greatly influenced her writing. Early family tragedies, particularly the death of her mother and her relationship with her father, shaped her themes of **identity and cultural conflict**. When Tan published *The Joy Luck Club*, it became a bestseller, propelling her into the spotlight. Additionally, her experiences as a **woman in a male-dominated publishing industry** highlighted the challenges of representation and diversity in literature, leading her to advocate for underrepresented voices.