Interview with Cynthea Liu, author of The Great Call of China

I am very happy to be doing the very first author interview for my blog, and what a great person to be interviewing! Cynthea Liu is the author of Writing for Children and Teens and runs the debut children's author site, Authors Now.

Cynthea’s debut young adult novel, THE GREAT CALL OF CHINA, is about a Chinese-born American adoptee who jumps at the chance to travel to Xi’an, China to learn about anthropology and to explore her roots. The Great Call of China comes out tomorrow, February 19th!



Congratulations on your book, Cynthea! First of all, tell us, what inspired you to write about China? Have you been there? If so, did the places you saw make appearances in your book? What did you do to make the settings in The Great Call of China authentic?

Actually, the idea to write a book set in China came from my agent. The publisher had notified her that they were looking for proposals for a series featuring teens traveling abroad. So I said, "why not?" My brother lives in Xi'an, China, and when I read more about the series, I knew I'd set the book there. Many of the places my brother took me to in Xi'an are in the book!

Though in some cases--Beijing in particular--I had to do a lot of reading and verifying with other people to make sure I got the details right.


What kinds of troubles does your main character, Cece, run into?

As one can imagine, looking for an orphanage in a city you are unfamiliar with, in a country you have never been to, where everyone speaks a language you don't understand poses some huge challenges. On top of that, Cece learns something about her past that makes it difficult for her to want to uncover more. There's also complications in her romantic life, but as you can imagine those issues get worked out. :)


This book is part of the S.A.S.S. series. What does S.A.S.S. stand for? Will you be writing more books for the series?

S.A.S.S. stands for Students Across the Seven Seas. It's a program for students to travel abroad. Main characters apply for the program and get whisked off to a foreign land filled with excitement, adventure, and romance. I don't know if I'll be writing more books for the series. At the moment, I owe Putnam another original MG or YA book, so I'll be busy.


Alot of writers would be interested to know, how many agents did you query before you found 'the one'? How has your writing life changed since you found an agent?

After about a year of submitting on my own, I did a couple of queries at first--to feel out the market. I got some nice responses but no offers. A little after that, I finished PARIS PAN, and editors seemed to be responding positively to it, so I decided I'd do a full round of agent queries. That was about five or six agents. Ironically, the agent who had rejected me the first time I queried (I queried picture book manuscripts initially) offered representation for my novel.

Since I've gotten an agent, I spend WAY less time obssessing over editors. I get to focus on other things, which is kinda nice. In fact, without an agent, I'm not sure I'd be able to further my career by much. A baby underfoot, book deadlines, and two releases this year leave me more than occupied.


How many manuscripts did you write before you sold one? Have you found that your writing style meshes more with one genre than another?

I had written a little bit more than ten manuscripts, I think. I've got three completed novels, two chapter books, several picture books, and some easy readers. I find that I get the most enjoyment from writing younger works because I can get a little wilder with the humor. But young adult books are a great challenge, too!


You run a very prolific and interactive personal website, run the AuthorsNow! debut authors website that features over 100 authors, and are a part of the 2009 Debutantes– plus you're a mom! How on earth do you find the time to write?

This is one of the most popular questions I've gotten since I started doing interviews! The answer is simple. I have part-time help from a wonderful college student named Julia. Lots of coffee. And I don't sleep very much!


Well, I guess you get that question alot because we are amazed by all that you do! You have another book coming out this summer--PARIS PAN TAKES THE DARE (Putnam, June 2009). Could you give us a sneak peak?

Here are the first lines...

Looking back I should have been suspicious from day one, but now I know that if you want something bad, you'll do anything to get it.

You'll lie to your friends.

Steal from your family.

Eat a whole box of orange Creamsicles.


Last but not least, if you could live in any book, which one would it be and why?

Oh, dude. I think I like the real world just fine! Seriously, there is too much tragedy in fiction novels. I'd never survive as a character!


Thank you, Cynthea, for frolicking over to answer some questions! Best of luck with THE GREAT CALL OF CHINA.

Please stop by Cynthea’s launch parties tomorrow at taralazar.wordpress.com and at www.cynthealiu.com. All day, February 19, 2009. Writers should hop on over to Tara's site to see what Snoop and Cynthea are doing for writers. Nonwriters can join Cynthea at her own website where there will be party favors for everyone and some good ole fashioned fun.

THE GREAT CALL OF CHINA is available online at Amazon.com , Borders, B&N.com, Indiebound, and throughout bookstores across the country.

The Journey

I had to do it. I had to send out paper submissions. As a paper lover myself I understand the desires of agents and editors who prefer paper submissions. After all, you can take a piece of paper anywhere, read it anytime. Yet, as a writer, I do prefer to submit electronically. It’s so much simpler. The fussing over printing pristine sheets, labeling the envelope, making sure everything is in the envelope correctly, and with kids around, making sure that no one dirties my masterpiece, is enough to stress a person out. Then there’s getting the manuscript to the post office, that’s where the real adventure begins…

I have a big army green backpack that I have to put all the supplies I need for town in. My boots, water, chapstick, money, snacks. Thankfully there’s a separate pocket I can use for mail or else things wouldn’t be pretty.

After I bundle up, sling on my backpack, and put on my skis, I slide out into the snowy tundra. My story is outside in the fresh air gliding along. Destination: post office. The woodpecker pecking the tree trunk doesn’t even notice as we glide by, my story and me. He just keeps on peck, peck, pecking. I wonder if woodpeckers get headaches.

I get to the steep hill, ever tempted to ski it. I know better. I’ve broken bones before trying to downhill on cross country skis. I don’t want to injure my manuscript. Reluctantly I take off my skis and walk the steep slopes. Dreaming of shooshing, remembering crashing.

I ski and walk, ski and walk, until I reach my car. I make a grand entrance scraping to a crash on the ice. I hope that my manuscript isn’t injured. I don’t check. There’s nothing I can do about it now.

I drive down the icy hill like a child driving a car on a track at an amusement park, jostled back and forth every time I hit the edge of the deep rut. Then I slurp out onto the muddy road. Sloshing, sliding, back and forth, careful not to got too fast and slide off the road, all the way to town.

At the post office, I open my pack. The package has a long line down the front, a sort of indentation. I sigh. These things and worse could easily happen on it’s journey through the mail system I tell myself.

And so I send it, and I wonder what sorts of journeys other manuscripts make on their way to try to find someone who loves them.

A space of their own!

Not too long ago I was talking to my librarian about how bookstores are setting up young adult reading areas. I thought it would be nice if the young readers in our library could have their own area surrounded by books they like with some comfy seating and maybe something hip on the wall. I didn't have much hope it would happen. Our library is extremely small. It's tricky to create spaces. The children's book area butts right up to the computer use area. There just isn't alot of room.

But, my librarian loved the idea and ran with it. She found a way to make a "junior reading area". Collections are being condensed. Shelves are being cleared. It's a big job, shifting books around, but it's going to be worth it.

There's a nice spot in the back corner where people love to gather. It's offset from the rest of the room, tucked behind a long shelf/reference desk. The chairs are comfy. It's warm and cozy in the winter and nice and cool in the summer. This prime spot is being dedicated to our junior readers. The collection of middle grade and young adult novels will surround them on three sides providing all sorts of reading inspiration and will be a nice little nook for the kids to gather. I hope they won't mind if I hang out back there every once in a while.

So You Say You Hate Talking on the Phone...

This is where I do my talking. This chair is in the perfect spot where the phone gets five bars--usually. I bundle up, hike up the hill, and take a seat. I'd like to get one of those awesome red phone booths one day and put it there. Cozy.

A Report

This is Heather Burnell, reporting to you live from my frosty bedroom where the temperature is a brain-numbing 22 degrees fahrenheit. Why would a person choose to work in an icy-cold bedroom instead of by the toasty fire? Because they are dedicated to their craft, of course, and I find the bedroom to be the best place for me to think. So what am I thinking?

Why does my bed desk not come with a drink holder? It's really quite unsafe to have my drink precariously perched next to my laptop on the soft, unstable surface of my bed.

Did you know that a book is a lethal weapon? A 500-page one is anyway. Book to throat--not a good thing.

Why, when I have a night to work, is my three-year-old not at all sleepy even though it's way past his bedtime?

Why have I had to write thirty different versions of my query letter before I finally, maybe, get it right? I've had the Frog and Toad meets Toy Story part for ages. It's the writing the rest of the letter that's giving me trouble.

Why don't I submit more stories? I know the answer to this one already; because I have to make a choice between subbing or writing with the time that I have. And I will choose writing, at least until I get too irritated with myself and have to get something out. I have two somethings out right now. It's not nearly enough.

Why am I blogging? I should be working.

Authors Now!

I've neglected to mention something. I have a new link on the side of my blog. It's to Author's Now! --a group of debut children's book authors and illustrators. Our founder, Cynthea Liu, says it best:

AuthorsNow! is a collaboration of debut children’s book authors and illustrators who are the fresh and emerging voices in children’s and young adult literature today. Created with the parent, teacher, librarian and bookseller in mind, AuthorsNow! is a one-stop-shop to learn about all of our authors and illustrators. Here you’ll be able to …

• get up-to-date descriptions of forthcoming books
• read the latest on our authors
• download supplemental resources such as teaching guides, quizzes, and other materials
• book an author or author panel for your school, library or organization
• participate in contests and giveaways
• find out about debut author events
• and much, much more.

We’ll also be serving up a fresh cup of content on a regular basis related to children’s literature and what’s happening in the field today.
Our authors range from picture book authors to teen novelists, fiction and nonfiction alike, and all are published by major trade publishers in the United States.

If you are a qualifying debut author you may apply here.

If you have any questions or suggestions for AuthorsNow! please do not hesitate to contact us. We welcome you to explore everything AuthorsNow! has to offer and hope you enjoy the site.

Thank you!

Cynthea Liu
Founder, AuthorsNow!
Author of PARIS PAN TAKES THE DARE, Putnam (06/11/2009)
and SASS: THE GREAT CALL OF CHINA, Puffin (02/19/2009)
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You'll find tons of great content and lots of books you'll put on your to read list. I'm there too--waiting for 2010.

What Have I Been Doing Anyway?

Obviously, I haven't been blogging much. And I haven't gone anywhere since the 17th of December--I'm snowed in. So this begs the question, what the heck have I been doing?





That is hard to say, really. It seems being snowed in requires alot of extra work. I make almost all the food from scratch. We stocked up on basic supplies before we got too much snow so we wouldn't have to carry them in. So, every day I'm cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Have cereal for breakfast, you say. Sure, after I make the cereal. Make sandwiches for lunch. Okay, I'll make some bread. At least I've gotten to where I can make a decent loaf of bread. And I have an awesome batch of sourdough starter. But, I want you to just take a moment and imagine all the dishes it takes to make everything you eat from scratch. I dream of dishwashers.

There are other things to do besides cook when you're snowed in. We don't have a washer and dryer either. So guess what! I get to wash the laundry--by hand. Isn't that fun? My 7-year-old thinks it is. But only for a little while. To make the laundry washing even more exciting, we get to go out and fill huge tubs full of snow, bring them in, and melt them on the woodstove so we have enough water for washing. At least there's plenty around.

I'm also homeschooling the kids. Obviously, we can't get out very easily to take them to school, so they are now all mine once again. They're happy. They get their work done and go out and play in the snow--when their friends are still in class. They've pointed out the amounts of time wasted waiting for everyone at school. I hope they're not bored when they go back. I know they'll be happy to see their friends, but the one on one education is good for them.

Cooking, laundry, school. Throw in some snow shoveling, some sledding, a little cross country skiing, alot of staring out the window, and a bit of late night writing, and that's winter. My husband hikes out around once a week to get fresh vegetables and stuff like that. It's a 55 minute hike uphill from the car. We're hoping the snowmobile that we just finally got running will eek it's way through winter. If not, that's okay. We can live without it.