We are very happy today to share an interview from Cara Chow, author of Bitter Melon. Jessica asked Cara some questions about her writing her novel, and here they are for your reading pleasure!
Jessica: What was your biggest factor in inspiration for Bitter Melon?Cara: My mom. For those who have read Bitter Melon, that may sound like a back-handed compliment, but I don’t mean it that way. Though I have a very positive relationship with my mother today, we struggled a lot when I was a teen. My mother wanted me to be the best, and her way of motivating me was by being very hard on me. Unfortunately, I was a sensitive kid, so I took my mother’s words and actions personally. This not only strained our relationship for many years, but it also affected my confidence and self-image well into my twenties. As I got older, I felt compelled to understand how we became the people we became and how our relationship had gotten so bad in my teens. Bitter Melon, in part, reflects that journey of understanding.
My mother was also a source of inspiration because she really supported my writing. Not only did she supply me with good cultural information, she was also an endless source of encouragement. Many times she said to me, “There are two things I want for you. I want you to have a baby someday, and I want you to finish and publish your book.” She respected my writing so much that she could mention it in the same sentence as a baby. Many times she flew down from San Francisco to my home So Cal to babysit my son for weeks at a time so that I could do revisions for my editor.
Jessica: How often did you find yourself drawing real life experiences into the book?
Cara: All the time. Emotionally, I drew upon the tumultuous feelings I had as a teen, like the times I was upset with my mom, or the crushes I had on boys. Geographically, the book is set where I grew up, so I was constantly running the mental version of Google Earth as I plotted each of Frances’s moves. I also drew on real events, like the Loma Prieta earthquake and the publication of the Newsweek article “Asian-American Whiz Kids.”
Jessica: Who was your favorite character to write?
Cara: I loved writing all of my characters, but perhaps my most fun character is Nellie. I love her loud, friendly voice, her Afro perm, and her hot pink, leopard jogging suit. I love her inability to be subtle and sophisticated, e.g. the way she whistles for Theresa after she delivers her speech, and the way she nods and winks as she hints to Frances—in Gracie’s presence—that she is keeping Frances’s secrets. What makes her so frustrating and embarrassing is also what makes her so lovable.
Jessica: What is your least favorite part of writing in general?Cara: When I’m feeling stuck, uninspired, and sleepy. Suddenly, running errands, baking banana bread, and surfing the internet become very urgent matters I must attend to right away!
Jessica: Are any of your characters based off real people in your life?
Cara: All my characters are composites of various people, real and imagined. For example, Ms. Taylor was inspired by my own high school speech coach, Mrs. Willson, but if the two were standing next to each other, they would not resemble each other much. Ms. Taylor is in her late twenties and is single, whereas Mrs. Willson was in her fifties and was married with two grown children and a grandchild. Ms. Taylor looks somewhat like the actress, Yasmine Bleeth, when she played Caitlin Cross in Nash Bridges (I don’t know why, that’s just how she appeared in my imagination). As for Ms. Taylor’s wardrobe, I got her big black boots from an NPR reporter who trained at a Pilates studio in Culver City where I used to work in 2003. That said, Ms. Taylor does have Mrs. Willson’s voice, soft and silky yet audible across a crowded room. Ms. Taylor also has Mrs. Willson’s captivating presence.
Jessica: What do you hope readers will get from this book?
Cara: For readers who identify with Frances, I hope that the Bitter Melon gives them validation, solace, and inspiration. I hope it gives them a voice in society. I also want readers to understand and appreciate the cultural and economic factors that influenced Gracie’s and Frances’s attitudes and behaviors. Most of all, I want readers to have fun reading. I want them to get engrossed in the book and not be able to put it down!
Jessica: What is your favorite stereotype to write?
Cara: Judging by Bitter Melon, I must enjoy writing about Tiger Moms and overachieving Asian-Americans, so much so that I was willing to spend a decade working on it!
Jessica: What's next for you?
Cara: Rest! More sleep, more time with family, and more time for activities that keep me inspired: reading, watching movies, gardening, photography, and hiking. Then, I begin the next book. Stay tuned!
i loved bboook
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