When you go to your local boba shop, you’re probably there to meet a friend or indulge in some delicious bubble tea. Not author Cindy Pon --- that’s where she goes there to work on her novels (OK, and for the great drinks).
Cindy answered some questions about her snacking habits --- and her new book, SERPENTINE, which follows handmaid Skybright as she discovers she’s part serpent demon --- in the blog post below. Read on and discover this awesome book for yourself!
Question: For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about SERPENTINE and the characters?
Answer: SERPENTINE follows the life of Skybright, an orphan who was given to her mistress Zhen Ni as a handmaid and companion. They have a very close relationship, like sisters, but because of class, there is a power difference in their dynamic. One night, Skybright wakes to find the lower half of her body has morphed into a serpentine coil. She soon learns that she is part serpent demon --- a temptress of lore.
Q: Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?
A: My favorite character to write was definitely Stone. He appeared on the page as a surprise and I was trying to suss him out even as Skybright was! I definitely found Kai Sen, the hero of the book, more challenging to write. It was a matter of understanding his motivations better.
Q: What is your favorite passage/scene in SERPENTINE?
A: My favorite scenes are probably the ones in which Skybright is in serpent form and within nature. They are lush, freeing and visceral scenes.
Q: What kind of research did you have to do for the story?
A: Much of it was based on reading up on Chinese houses as far as the setting, and also being inspired by the Chinese classic DREAM OF THE RED CHAMBER by Cao Xueqin.
Q: How was writing SERPENTINE different from writing your other published novels?
A: I wanted the focus of SERPENTINE to be on character and relationships, the main one being the sister friendship between Skybright and Zhen Ni. My Phoenix books were more driven by plot, so this was something I needed and wanted to work on as a writer!
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your writing process? Are you a pantser or a plotter?
A: I don't outline. But before I start a novel, I will have percolated about if for some time. I will usually begin writing when I have maybe five or six scenes in my head (or typed various notes in a document). When I am rough drafting, I will aim for 1,000 words a day. That is a great writing day for me. It could take 40 minutes or it could take four hours.
Q: What are your must haves while writing? (Coffee, snacks?)
A: Yes and yes --- ha! I love writing at the boba shop. Delicious drinks AND delicious taiwanese food, too!
Q: What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?
A: I just finished L.W. Gregorio's NONE OF THE ABOVE and Renèe Ahdieh's THE WRATH OF THE DAWN and I loved both novels! I'm looking forward to reading Stephanie Kuehn's latest, DELICATE MONSTERS and Cinda Williams Chima's FLAMECASTER!
Cindy Pon is the author of SILVER PHOENIX (Greenwillow, 2009), which was named one of the Top Ten Fantasy and Science Fiction Books for Youth by the American Library Association’s Booklist, and one of 2009′s best Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror by VOYA. The sequel to SILVER PHOENIX, titled FURY OF THE PHOENIX, was released in April 2011. Her first published short story is featured in DIVERSE ENERGIES, a multicultural YA dystopian anthology from Tu Books (October 2012). Cindy is also a Chinese brush painting student of over a decade.
