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Interview with author, Cynthia Chin-Lee
by Aline Pereira*
Cynthia Chin-Lee is the author of five children's books, including Amelia to Zora: Twenty-six Women Who Changed the World and Akira to Zoltán: Twenty-six Men Who Changed the World. She lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband, two children, and a bunny, and can be reached by email. She is available for school visits and library programs. For more details, visit her website.
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You are now an established writer of several highly praised and award-winning books. When did you first experience the "writing bug" and how did it affect you? I began writing for pleasure in the sixth grade, often kept a journal, and really enjoyed writing poetry. Part of my indulgence in writing was trying to understand life, its upside and downside. Writing is free psychotherapy for me!
Your first children's picture book, Almond Cookies and Dragonwell Tea, tells the story of American Erica Howard and Chinese-American Nancy Hong on a first play date at Nancy's house. Both girls start out apprehensive — Nancy about being different, and Erica about her ability to feel comfortable and behave properly in a new cultural environment. Was the story based on your experiences of growing up in a Chinese household, in a white neighborhood in Washington D.C?
Yes. I had a real incident that inspired the story. When I was in 5th grade, I asked a friend (European American) to come to my house to play. She had to ask her mother, naturally. Instead of her mother just saying yes, she came over to "inspect" (or so it seemed) our house. I have no idea if this woman would have done that if we were not Chinese. It just registered with me as being a bit unusual.
Amelia to Zora: Twenty-Six Women Who Changed the World is your most popular children's book to date (and Akira to Zoltan, released in June, seems to be following on its footsteps). The theme you chose, true-life tales of women who have had a great impact on our world, is a much needed and welcome one. What inspired you to write it? Does being a mother of two have anything to do with it?
Funny, you should ask. I have always been a feminist, one who felt that the contributions of women were woefully underappreciated in the world. It's not surprising that I thought of the book. What I originally did not recall, until I stumbled on one of my journals, is that I actually started working on the idea when I was going through my divorce. I definitely felt a loneliness then and a yearning to explore why men and women approached the world differently. And yes, being a mother, does influence my writing. I first started writing for kids after I became a mother. I wanted to share my Asian heritage with them.
In Akira to Zoltan: Twenty-Six Men Who Changed the World, Akira Kurosawa, the famous Japanese filmmaker, opens the inspiring line-up of men who have had a positive impact in the world. Was it hard to decide which ones to highlight? What were the parameters you set for yourself.
Yes, it was a challenge to decide on which men to feature. The original manuscript began with Albert Einstein, but the agency that protects his image wanted too much money. The publisher was not happy with the negotiations so even though I admire Einstein a lot and felt his name recognition would help the book, I had the opportunity to pick someone else. Akira Kurosawa was someone I looked up to since college. The parameters for both books (Amelia and Akira) were more or less contemporary people (living or having lived in the last century) with a contribution to the world, especially those who lived for others. Peacemakers are a theme in the men's book.
I looked for a variety of professions and interests, as well as races, religions, and ethnic groups.
One reviewer has called Amelia to Zora and Akira to Zoltan the "ABCs of Visionary Men and Women". What were you hoping would be the main impact of these two books in children's minds? Have you had much feedback from the children themselves?
I was hoping the book would give children a broader picture of people who had accomplished something and overcome hardships than is currently available. The books are meant to be a stepping stone to more research on their part. From my school visits, I've gotten a lot of positive feedback, especially, that I've introduced some noteworthy people who are less famous. Most of the people featured in the book had to overcome a lot of naysayers and lived a life of courage to accomplish what they did. I hope children who read the biographies will get a message of hope.
Do you have a new book or book idea in the works?
Yes, one nonfiction proposal is under consideration now. And then there is my middle grade/YA novel that I have been working on for years!
Posted November 2006
*Aline Pereira is PaperTigers Managing Editor/Producer
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