Women Writers of Color: Wendy Wan-Long Shang

Full name: Wendy Wan-Long Shang

Hometown: Fairfax, Virginia

Current location: Falls Church, Virginia

Website/Blog: wendyshang.com; I also belong to a blog of middle-grade writers called fromthemixedupfiles.com

Genre: middle-grade fiction

WiP or most recently published work: The Great Wall of Lucy Wu

Writing credits: The Great Wall of Lucy Wu, plus some legal publications. I have an article in The 4:00 Book Hook, a monthly e-newsletter on children's books, coming out next month.

How frequently do you update your site? monthly

Is your site designed for reader interaction? no

Post of note, something in particular you want readers to check out:

On the Mixed-Up Files, we really pride ourselves on covering everything related to middle-grade books. I was very proud to showcase a children's book club for teachers at my son's school. Here is the link.

Top 5 books that turned you into a writer?

Blubber, by Judy Blume: This was the first book I ever read that had a contemporary, Chinese-American character. This book taught me the importance of having characters that children can relate to.

Interpreter of Maladies, by Jhumpa Lahiri: Her prose is so delicate yet powerful. I have to say that the first time I read her work, I felt as though I was reading in a whole new way.

Take the Cannoli, by Sarah Vowell: Her work makes me laugh and think in equal measure. I would love to have that effect on a reader.

Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster: For me, Juster didn't color outside the lines. He invented new colors, and molded the lines into new dimensions. Rarely a day goes by without some quote from that book popping into my head.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E.L. Kongisburg: Everything about this book is a marvel to me: the structure, the voice, the style. I love that in the midst of an incredible story, the author never lost sight of the hearts of the children.

100 words or less: How would you describe your work?

My work is about the modern Chinese-American experience, frequently with a humorous touch. In my book, Lucy Wu thinks she is about to have the best year of her life: she is about to rule the school as a sixth-grader and get her own room. When her dad announces that he's invited a long-lost aunt from China to stay in Lucy's room, however, she thinks that year is ruined. Lucy discovers that, just like the Chinese saying that things that look to be bad often turn out well, and vice-versa, her year may yet be wonderful.

100 words or less: Please share your thoughts on children and reading.

I believe that writing for children is a form of service. When you give a child a chance to see himself or herself reflected back in a book, whether it is by appearance or circumstance, you are telling that child, you are valued, you are not alone. When you give children the chance to see the world from a different point of view, you are also doing something valuable – you are allowing them to expand their perspective, their knowledge, their imagination and their heart.

How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy

How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy by Crystal Allen 2011
Favorite quote "But around two o'clock those curls droop and dangle as if Sergio's growing black noodles on his forehead and girls love that too. Once I tried some of that mousse stuff in my afro. I squirted a pile of that extra hold foam in my hand and rubbed it through my hair. For ten minutes, I waited for black noodles to dangle on my forehead. Instead my afro held an old-school slant as if me and Frederick Douglass had the same barber." Lamar pg. 24

Don't ask me why but the above quote tickled me pink, I actually burst out laughing. well ok, I know why. I've always been amused by Frederick Douglas's' hair, extraordinary guy, but oh man, that hair. *shakes head* Reminds me of Cornel West too. Anyway this book is about Lamar who is the baddest, maddest bowler at Striker's Bowling Paradise. He is King of Strikers. Sure Lamar is one of the best bowlers around, but he's not so great with girls, in fact he's constantly striking out with them. While Lamar is doing all his bowling, he also has to deal with his older brother, Xavier the Basketball Savior. Xavier is revered in their hometown of Coffin, Indiana and Lamar's father is quick to go to Xavier's basketball games and go over strategy with him, but it's been years since he bowled with Lamar. Lamar's tired of being ignored so when bad boy Billy Jenks invites him to take part in his bowling hustle, he accepts. Here's a way to make enough money doing something Lamar loves in order to buy a Pro Thunder (expensive pro ball) and maybe even impress his hero, famous bowler, Bubba Sparks. Oh and Lamar just may get the girl.

Some of the 'lingo' is rather cheesy in this book. In fact, at times it seemed outdated. On the very first page Lamar is listening to his best friend Sergio 'bump his gums'. I've never heard that expression before so I asked my dad who knows a lot of slang. He said that expression was older than he was (he grew up in the '80s), but hey, maybe it's popular in Indiana? There are a few other examples of really cheesy dialogue/comebacks but in the end, I think it all adds to Lamar's charm. I was amazed at Lamar's confidence, but being totally honest, it's not at all surprising. I think (for some reason) it's a lot less surprising to see a young and confident main character. In middle school, I think many guys think they are invincible, whereas many girls are a bit shyer. Regardless, Lamar reminded me of my brother and all the other young guys I know who love to trash talk. Although I did think Lamar's constant strutting was a bit much. The author juggles a lot of storylines and I do think the ball was dropped a few times. Each storyline is interesting and starts off well developed, but a couple were quickly wrapped up, much of the action occurring off the page (*cough* Sergio and Tasha *cough*). Lamar and his father clearly have issues they need to work out and everything seemed to get really happy really fast, but Lamar is just so gosh-darn adorable that you can't help but want him to have a cheesy ol' neat ending.

As you can probably tell, I love Lamar. I want to meet Lamar (actually I've already met Lamar and been annoyed by him but guys like Lamar seem less annoying in books). Lamar is one of the most well rounded characters I've come across. He has seriously debilitating asthma and he managed to tug at my heartstrings when he wanted to play soccer to impress a girl (Makeeda), but his doctor said that based on his health that was just not possible. I love soccer so I was able to sympathize with wanting to play (just not for the same reason) and I would be crushed too if I was told I couldn't play because of asthma. Lamar has two personalities, at home he is quiet, afraid of his brother, trying to help out his dad anyway he can since money is tight. Xavier borders on only being a jerk, with no shot at redemption, but there are enough minor details given to make Xavier slightly more well rounded. Lamar lives in absolute terror of X and it's not unjust, X has anger management and refuses to take his medication. But X's anger management is not used as an excuse for his meanness towards his brother and I appreciated that X does not get off easy. A person can only take so much before they snap and Lamar's breaking point is realistic and frustrating. Readers will be covering their eyes hoping that Lamar will not actually go through with his plan (encouraged by Billy Jenks), but unable to look away.

How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy is a jolly, globful of laugh-loud (as Lamar would say) read that still manages to effectively portray more serious topics. Lamar's mother has died and his father has not exactly been a comforting presence to either of his boys. It was refreshing to see a contemporary book where the father wasn't outwardly cruel, instead Lamar's father is drowning. He's so busy working not just to keep food on the table, but to pay for a few luxuries. Lamar is working class/middle class, he's not going to go hungry, but his dad works a lot to make sure Lamar can bowl and Xavier can continue to play basketball. Unfortunately, he doesn't help Lamar with much else. There are underlying class issues as well. Lamar's best friend, Sergio is rich and he can't understand why Lamar joins in Billy's bowling hustle. But many readers can understand it. Sergio gets a lot of extra things, pocket money, nice clothes, two loving parents, etc. Lamar has his bowling pass and the same old clothes, who wouldn't get tired of always being around someone who has so much more? I had feared that Lamar would fall into a pity me trap since he seems relatively innocent but he gets himself into some severe (well severe for a thirteen year old) scraps and he is held accountable. The consequences kind of stink, even though they are realistic. In addition to Lamar's trash talking about his bowling skills (he's so proud of his bowling, awww), his falling in-like with Makeeda is great (it's so wrong but I almost cried when he saw Makeeda who has apparently changed significantly since he last saw her and he called her 'Fivehead' to her face. After he tried to step to her. Oh Lamar :) I want more books like this. Funny with a more unusual sport played and a diverse cast. Sergio is Latino, Lamar is Black, but their story is universal. In fact, there are only slight hints that Lamar is Black and I love that.

This review originally ran @ Reading in Color

Women Writers of Color: Jennifer Cervantes

Full name: Jennifer Cervantes

Birth date: 12/30

Location: San Diego, Ca.

Website/blog: www.jennifercervantes.com

Genre: Middle-Grade Fiction

WiP or most recently published work: TORTILLA SUN

How frequently do you update your site? It all depends on events, press, reviews. Some months are busier than others. But I'd say at least once every couple of months.

Is your site designed for reader interaction? Only via email and I always answer back :) Also, my facebook page is definitely interactive and I invite readers to friend me and fan the Tortilla Sun fan page.

Post of note, something in particular you want readers to check out: check out my tortilla making video on my website. Nothing like 'em. :)

Top 5 reads you’re looking forward to reading in 2010?

1. THE DREAMER

2. ESCAPING THE TIGER

3. THE HEALING SPELL

4. MOCKINGJAY

5. BLEEDING VIOLET

100 words or less how would you describe your work?

My writing is centered on heart. I try to create authentic characters with depth and complexities that kids can relate to. Ultimately, I want to engage readers with my writing in a real and meaningful way whether you are 8 or 98.

In Tortilla Sun, you feature elements of magic. Why did you decide to add magical realism to the novel instead of simply making it realistic fiction? There is so much mysticism and beauty in the Hispanic culture and in order to authentically highlight the characters, setting, and plot of tortilla sun, I knew I wanted to draw on the elements of magical realism to make the story come to life.

Does your Latina heritage have a big influence on your work? If so, how? Absolutely. The Hispanic experience is broad and diverse and for me, my own experiences of growing up with one foot in one culture and one foot in the other influences my characters and even their need for belonging. I often draw on my own memories, like eating homemade tortillas in my grandmother's kitchen. Also, my love for my culture whether it's the food, religion, holidays, or traditions is something I want to share with others.

100 words or less please share your thoughts on children and reading:

Children's reading literacy is something I hold close to my heart. I was an avid reader as a child; reading enriched my life in so many ways. It carried me to other worlds where my imagination soared. One of my goals as an author is to contribute what I can to not only improve literacy but to get kids excited about reading, even if it's in one child's life. For this reason, I am participating in reading rock stars (an arm of the Texas Book Festival) and working on other local efforts to ensure that children have the opportunity to let their imaginations soar.

Thank you so much for this interview Jennifer! I highly recommend Tortilla Sun, but be warned: you need to have tortillas and other Mexican food items near you :) The characters are authentic, the magic adds a nice spin and the author's pride in her heritage shines through. Color Online review of Tortilla Sun

Women Writers of Color: Grace Lin

Full name: Grace Lin

Birth date: Year of the Tiger!

Hometown: New Hartford, NY

Current location: Somerville, MA

Website/Blog: www.gracelin.com; www.outergrace.blogspot.com; www.facebook.com/authorgracelin

Genre: children's books for kids pre-school to 6th grade

WiP or most recently published work:

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same!, an early reader (1st, 2nd grade)




Writing credits:

Author/illustrator of over a dozen picture books, including Dim Sum For Everyone! and The Ugly Vegetables. Author/illustrator of middle grade novels, including Year of the Dog and Newbery Honor Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

How frequently do you update your site?

I update my blog approx. 3-4 times a week, my website twice a year.

Is your site designed for reader interaction?

My blog and Facebook page are, especially the Facebook page. The website, not so much.

Post of note, something in particular you want readers to check out:

For more about me, I was recently interviewed at the Smithsonian's BookDragon blog.

100 words or less: How would you describe your work?

For me, my work is not meaningful unless there is a personal element to it. Most of my books are Asian-American as that is what I am and is a part of what I want to share with my audience. But even before the multicultural aspects of my work, the most important thing is that the book is greatly enjoyable. So, I'd like my work to be described as fun and entertaining, but still meaningful & heartwarming.

100 words or less: Please share your thoughts on children and reading.

Sometimes writing for children gets looked down upon as lesser writing, especially for the younger reading levels. I can understand the fallacy as, of course, the vocabulary, sentence structure, and style is simpler. However, anyone who has studied haiku poetry knows that simpler does not mean less skillful or less important. Writing for children is perhaps the most important writing any author can do, it is the skill of a children's author that changes "a child who can read" to "a real reader." In other words, please do not look down on authors of children's literature. We are writing so that kids will love reading books so much that they will grow up and read forever!


Author photo credit: Alexandre Ferron

Author Interview: Candy Gourlay

This interview was originally posted at Asia in the Heart, World on the Mind on November 30, 2009.



Tall Story is about Bernardo, an 8 ft. tall boy (a giant!) in the Philippines, and his half-sister Andi in the UK. I really enjoyed reading Tall Story. It's an interesting story and I love so many things about it: How it is about family, Filipino legends and superstitions, and basketball. Its melding of British humor and Filipino humor. Andi's strong and fresh voice. How the main characters seem so real that a part of me thinks there really is an 8 ft. tall boy named Bernardo in the Philippines with a sister named Andi in the UK. I love how in Tall Story there is the question of how belief in legends and superstitions affects how one reacts to events... And does something happen (or not happen) because of a person's belief (or lack thereof) in a legend or superstition?

Tall Story is for children aged 10+ and will be published by David Fickling Books in the UK (June 2010) and the US (early 2011), and by Cacho Publishing House in the Philippines (date to be announced). Today, I am excited to present an interview with Tall Story author Candy Gourlay!

Candy is a Filipino writer who lives in the UK. In the Philippines, she was a journalist for the Philippine Daily Inquirer. In the UK, she was the London correspondent for the news agency Inter Press Service and editor of the pan-European magazine Filipinos in Europe. Candy moved to the UK in 1989 after she married Richard Gourlay, who was the Manila correspondent for the Financial Times of London. Richard and Candy have three children.

Hi, Candy!

What was the spark that set you off writing Tall Story?

I have always been fascinated by gigantism and had the germ of an idea - a teenager who suffers from gigantism.

As an awkward teenager, I felt like a freak - a lot of teenagers, the uncool ones like me, feel like that, don't they? I thought: what if you really were a "freak"? Maybe, a giant?

And then, my sister (Joy Ramos) told me the story of Ujang Warlika.

When her husband, Bong Ramos, a former PBL (Philippine Basketball League) player turned PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) basketball coach, was coaching Aspac Texaco, an Indonesian team, he was asked to turn Ujang into the equivalent of Yao Ming, the Chinese giant.

The thing was, Yao Ming at 7 feet 6 inches was genetically tall ... and Ujang who was 7 feet 4 inches was not tall, he was a giant - he suffered from the disease called gigantism, caused by an overactive pituitary gland that overproduces growth hormones. Ujang ended up spending a lot of time hanging out with my sister's daughter Camille, who is a tiny but formidable basketball player. Camille now plays for La Salle [University] and the Philippine Women's team. Poor Ujang died of his illness.

Please guide us through your writing process, particularly the writing process you used for Tall Story. What influences and inspirations (both literary and non-literary) did you draw from while writing? What were the challenges and rewards from writing Tall Story?

The Philippine legend of Bernardo Carpio is an important part of Tall Story. Can you tell us a bit about the legend and why you incorporated it into the novel? Did you do a lot of research on the legend, or did you rely on the stories you heard growing up?

When I started writing Tall Story in September 2008, I only had that tiny idea - about a teenager with gigantism. I thought of setting it in the UK, but the UK is not a basketball playing country (even though my sons love it, they discovered basketball watching PBA games in the Philippines).

I thought of setting it in the United States - but that would have been super risky, never having lived in the States.

I asked myself what I did know?

I read everything I could find about giants, all the folklore and all the legends. This brought me to Bernardo Carpio, the Filipino legendary giant. I read all the different versions of the Bernardo Carpio story and realized that through the years it had been adapted by storytellers to suit the times - Bernardo Carpio was a metaphor for the resistance against Spain, he was an explanation for a lot of geology in the Montalban area, and he was even a Christ metaphor in the early 1900s. Nick Joaquin wrote a wonderful time travel story featuring Bernardo Carpio in Pop Stories for Groovy Kids, retellings of Filipino stories published in the 80s. That decided me - I was going to tell my own version of Bernardo Carpio and other Filipino folk tales.

I really set out to reflect a Filipino sensibility, despite the story being set partly in London. I had a fear that some Filipinos might not like the way I portray them, given Pinoy sensitivities about their image in the rest of the world. But I set out to capture that unique sense of humour that I miss so much living abroad - our love of poking fun at the way we have domesticated English, the spiritualism that borders on superstition, the rich storytelling seam, the showbiz dramatics, the sense of family and belonging. I hope Pinoy readers will recognize how lovingly I wrote it .. fellow expatriates might feel the undercurrent of homesickness that underlies the whole novel which is the lot of the Filipino abroad. I suspect this will be a constant feature in all my novels!

Was it difficult getting an agent? What was the path to publication for Tall Story?

I have been trying to get published for nine years. I know this because I recorded the date when I started writing my first novel. Tall Story is my fourth!

That first novel was set in London with English characters and had a gripping enough first chapter to have the whole manuscript invited back whenever I sent it out. But I didn't know the ups and downs of plot or in-depth characterization, and had a slew of rejections. I had so much to learn.

I decided to throw myself into the process of learning. I joined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and tried to attend every event and volunteered for anything going. I thought I would also use my journalistic skills and report on what I learned in a blog - which continues to this day - Notes from the Slushpile.

But it was only when one agent told me, "Why are you writing about English characters? A first novel should reflect the author's experience." that I realized that I was not mining the wealth of experience and story that my heritage had to give. It was only when I started setting my stories in the Philippines and using Filipino characters that my writing really came alive. After that flurry of rejections with my first novel, I became more cautious. I didn't submit my novel to every agent I ever met or heard of. I concentrated on learning to write rather than getting published.

In 2008 I won a place in SCBWI's inaugural Undiscovered Voices anthology with an excerpt of Ugly City, my dystopian fantasy set in a city suspiciously like an extreme Manila. The agent Hilary Delamere had already read another novel of mine and called to tell me she liked it BUT ... after a bit of discussion, she asked if I had anything else. I sent her Ugly City and three days later she signed me up.

Where were you and what were you doing when you found out that your novel was going to be published? What were your first thoughts and feelings? How did you celebrate the good news?

I'm afraid I didn't believe it. I was sure I'd heard wrong and it was only when I actually met my agent at an event a few days after she told me that I felt I had permission to tell the world. Over the years, I guess I'd become overcautious and my default position was rejection. It was really hard to take in the news. I celebrated in little ways with my family and friends. I think it was only the reaction of my 10-year-old friend Hugo that convinced me it was really happening. Last summer I read chapters of Tall Story to Hugo and a bunch of other children.

Candy: Hugo, my book is going to get published.
Hugo: (slightly bored) Which one?
Candy: Tall Story.
Hugo: (genuinely thrilled) TALL STORY? THE ONE YOU READ US LAST SUMMER? THAT IS SO COOL!

And after that I thought it was so cool too!

How are you going to promote Tall Story? What are your plans for its release?

I have not really made plans that far ahead, although June 2010, the launch date in the UK is coming very fast. I want to do some fun stuff online, maybe make some YouTube videos with the kids which I love doing anyway. I will have to redesign my website of course ... and I am hoping my brother Armand Quimpo who is a cool motion graphics animator will make me a book trailer. [Ed. note: See book trailer at the beginning of this post!] I'm definitely going home to the Philippines for the Philippine launch but it's still early days so watch this space!

The two main characters in Tall Story, siblings Bernardo and Andi, make important wishes on a wishing stone. What are your wishes for Tall Story?

Do I get three wishes?

One of my big wishes has already been answered: that a Filipino publisher will take it to a Filipino audience. That has always been so important to me and I made that clear to my agent from the moment we started talking about selling my books. My second wish would be that my readers would love my characters as much as I have come to love them. And my third wish? That the book might inspire kids to read more ... and to write.

THANK YOU Tarie!

Thank you, Candy!!! I can't wait for the world to read Tall Story.

Tortilla Sun

Tortilla Sun
Jennifer Cervantes
ARC

Tortilla Sun tells the story of twelve-year-old Isadora (Izzy) Roybal and what happens to her one summer. Izzy finds an old baseball belonging to her father with the words "because...magic". Izzy is on a mission to figure out the two missing words in the phrase. She never met her father, who died before she was born, and she hopes that filling in the phrase will help her to learn more about her father and to connect with him. Izzy's mother doesn't talk about her father, but when she sends Izzy to New Mexico to stay with her Nana, Izzy learns about her family, magic, friendship and how to make tortillas.

This is another one of those books where you need to eat while you read. Preferably, Mexican food. You should also eat tortillas when writing your review of Tortilla Sun. OK ok, I'll stop talking about food (now I'm hungry). Anyway, Tortilla Sun really is a cute, magically delicious read. Izzy is a kind main character and you will be anxious for her to discover the truth about her father, including how she died. While I read the book I grew frustrated at Izzy's mom for keeping secrets from Izzy and refusing to tell her how she died, however by the end of the book I understood why she kept it a secret. Besides being kind, Izzy is a good athlete and tough. She's got a good arm and she can run very fast. While she doesn't play on any teams she does play sports for fun and I enjoyed reading about a girl athlete in a middle grade book :) Mateo was sweet as well. My only complaint was that he wasn't really necessary. I liked him, but he could have easily been a girl friend of Izzy's, but then again, twelve is the age when you start to figure how "being in like" and having crushes. The cutest character though is Maggie and her cat, Frida. Maggie is six and an orphan, she loves with her grandmother and is utterly precocious. Her cat Frida is having an identity crisis and thinks she's a dog. Finally, Nana is the piece de resistance (I will continue to make food metaphors throughout this review because I can *evil cackle*). She's the typical Mexican grandmother; small, wise and loving. She also likes to tweak known sayings "But I am just pink and joy that you are here for the entire summer."
"You mean tickled pink?"[Izzy asks]
"No. [....] Those cliches are just for unoriginal people. I use words that feel right, not sound right." (pg. 43). The other characters are lovely as well, they add humor (especially Mateo and his mother, Mrs. Castillo), sadness, magic and even more heart to the story.

I admit, at first I wasn't so sure how I would like magic being inserted in Tortilla Sun. But it works. The magic has more to do with the works of curanderas and legends being passed down along with listening to ancestors. I grew to really enjoy the magic scenes, especially as the mystery of Socorro (a curandera with white streaks in her hair who can see a tortilla in the moon) unravels. I also really wanted to know the missing words and I began guessing along with Izzy and the clues are all there as to the missing words, but I somehow managed to overlook them. Izzy is also an aspiring writer and I think the advice she received on writing is quite useful, we both struggle with finishing a story and I just may take the advice Izzy receives about writing down an idea and powering through to the end.

Tortilla Sun is a savory story that brims with family, friends, fun, magic, tortillas and baseball, this combination makes for a very satisfying read. With a genuine group of characters, the beautiful setting of a New Mexican village and lots of food, this book left me eager to read more by Jennifer Cervantes. She is a very talented debut author who manages to cleverly weave together a few different storylines and the result is heartwarming.

Disclosure: Received from publisher. Thank you!