Sushi for One? Character Tell All (With a little help from Camy Tang!)
How did you come up with the Asian Chicklit idea?
I basically decided to write what I wanted to read. I like Amy Tan,
but I wanted something funny and light-hearted and a little stupid. I
enjoy both chick lit and romance, so I wrote a story about a single
Asian American girl and the last man on earth she’d ever want.
Is the “Oldest Single Female Cousin” totally fictional or is there a thread of truth in it?
Truth really is stranger than fiction sometimes. In most Asian
families, you do garner more attention if you’re the oldest single
female cousin–aunties demanding who you’re dating and why you’re not
married yet.
My family isn’t like that (thankfully), but I have tons of friends who
had to endure that during their single years.
Is your family as big as Lex’s?
Nope! But my husband’s is, almost. 🙂
How about Lex’s aversion to babies and children? Is it autobiographical?
Most of the food flinging children actually are autobiographical–I
took my worst experiences with kids, exaggerated them, and gave them
to poor Lex. However, I like babies (years of being a biologist made
me rather immune to the spit-up and poopie).
Which one of the cousins do you most identify with in Sushi for One?
I don’t write based on real life characters, I tend to write from
archetypes, so I can’t honestly say the cousins are very much like me.
If I had to choose one, I’m most like Venus because I’m very efficient
at work and I don’t suffer fools with much grace, but I’m nowhere near
as fashionable, glamorous, (and skinny!) as she is.
Which do you least relate to?
Probably Jenn, because she’s good in the kitchen (I burn *something*
every time I cook, without fail), she’s quiet (they don’t call me the
loud Asian chick because I’m introverted), and she’s observant of
others (I’m not really detail oriented, so don’t be offended if I
don’t notice you changed your hairstyle or have a new necklace on).
Which one of Lex’s dates is most like your husband and why?
Aiden, of course! Because he’s the only normal one!
How would each of the four cousins answer the following questions (and let us hear their voice, please)?
What’s your favorite thing to do?
Lex: Volleyball, duh!
Trish: Uh … I like lots of things.
Venus: Video games. I’ll challenge anyone to Halo 3.
Jenn: Working on my recipe for the perfect chocolate truffle.
You surprised me by your answers. I thought for sure Venus or Trish would say shopping!
If you had to go without food, a shower or a boyfriend, which would it be and why?
Lex: Boyfriend. I don’t need another person in my life to tell me how to run it.
Trish: What choices! You’d kind of die without food. And stink without
showering. And shrivel up from loneliness without a boyfriend. Are you
basically asking someone how they want to expire?
Venus: Is this a trick question? Anyone who goes without a shower
needs psychological help.
Jenn: I’d go without a boyfriend, unless he happened to be Tyler
Florence–he’s cute and he can cook!
LOL! Love Trish’s answer!
Who is your favorite cousin and why?
Lex: Jenn. Because she feeds me.
Trish: Well, I used to be close to Lex but not as much anymore, and
Venus thinks I’m a ditz, and Jenn makes me feel unspiritual. Do I have
to pick?
Venus: Did Trish put you up to this? She’s so insecure.
Jenn: I couldn’t pick one. Besides, we all love each other.
How do you really feel about Grandma?
Lex: She is evil personified.
Trish: I actually get along with Grandma really well … except when
she’s being stubborn about something, then things get kind of icky.
Venus: I’m happiest when Grandma leaves me alone.
Jenn: Well … she comes over to the house a lot to visit my mom, and
she can be very insistent and it’s hard to say no, even when I don’t
want to do something for her.
Do you really want to get married and why?
Lex: No.
Trish: Yes! Little Trishs running around.
Venus: No.
Jenn: Uh … I’m not sure …
Thanks Camy for letting us into the heads of your characters. Can’t wait to read the next one!
