Here’s
a blurb from Goodreads:
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A heroine like no other, ancient magic unleashed, a fated
epic battle--the first book in an enchanting YA fantasy duology inspired by
Vietnamese lore, weaving magic, sisterhood, and self-discovery.
Jolie Lam, a high school
sophomore in San Jose, is known for two her bizarre freakout at last year’s
swim meet and her fortuneteller grandfather with visions of dragons and
earthquakes. Friendless and ostracized, Jolie's life takes a dramatic turn for
the better when she saves the school's it-girl, Huong Pham, during a haunting
vision of her own. Taken under Huong's wing, Jolie's world transforms, in more
ways than one.
As Jolie and Huong's bond
deepens, they unlock long lost telepathic abilities, fluency in Vietnamese, and
eerie premonitions. This leads them to a shocking they are the reincarnates of
legendary queens and goddesses, the Trung Sisters. While a thrilling discovery,
it also sets them on a perilous journey.
The girls must navigate
dreams and portals to piece together their past lives and reclaim their
immortal elements before their ancient enemies strike again. But all is not
what it seems, and Jolie must determine friend from foe, truth from lie, and
ultimately right from wrong in this battle for all she loves and the fate
of the world.
Before we get to Aimee’s interview, I have my IWSG Post.
Posting: The first Wednesday is officially Insecure Writer's Support Group Day.
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
The
awesome co-hosts this month are: Feather Stone, Janet Alcorn, Rebecca Douglass, Jemima Pett, and Pat Garcia!
Optional Question: Some common fears writers share are rejection, failure, success, and lack of talent. What are your greatest fears as a writer? How do you manage them?
My greatest fear is having to write a manuscript on a contract deadline. The thought of it totally stresses me out.
Here’s how I manage it. For now, I write for myself, my critique partners, and a few friends. I really don’t want another career, especially a stressful, up-and-down one. I like my life the way it is. This way, I enjoy writing with no pressure.
Interview
With Aimee Phan
Hi Aimee! Thanks so much for joining us.
1. Tell us about yourself and how you became a writer.
Hello! I have always loved to write. Since I was little, I would obsess over fairy tales, children’s books and even bible stories, and want to rewrite the endings. In college, I studied journalism and then realized that creating my own characters and worlds were much more appealing and liberating!
2. Where did you get the idea for The Lost Queen?
I was inspired by the legend of the Trung Sisters and wanted to write a book that I wished I could have had when I was a young girl. When I learned more about the Trung Sisters mythology, how they met their deaths after ruling Vietnam for three years, I began fantasizing what if they hadn’t died? What if they reincarnated as young teenagers in San Jose, California?
Your Writing Process
3. You’ve written two other books, The Reeducation of
Cherry Truong and We Should Never Meet, both adult historical fiction. What
made you decide to write a YA novel and to write a fantasy?
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I think it was an important step for me as a writer. My last two books also had young adults as protagonists, but they were deeply rooted in realism. When I began this novel, I didn’t realize it would be young adult or fantasy. I started the book imagining two teenage girls reincarnating as ancient Vietnamese warrior queens. From there, it felt very natural to explore the story through the young adult fantasy genre, where the girls could fully rediscover their histories through adventures, time travel and magic. It has felt incredibly fun and liberating to write in this genre, knowing that I didn’t have to be pulled back by realistic limitations. Like my main characters, I felt like I could do anything in this genre.
4. It’s interesting that you didn’t originally see this story as YA. What research did you do into the Vietnamese lore that inspired your story?
The Trung Sisters appear briefly as footnotes in Chinese historical texts that cover the Han Empire. The Vietnamese have various folk and myth tales on the two sisters. There are temples and statues in Vietnam dedicated to their contributions to Vietnamese society. Phong Nguyen published The Bronze Drum in 2022 which explores the Trung Sisters as historical fiction.
5. You’re an associate professor in writing and literature as well as an author. What is your writing schedule like and how long did it take you to complete The Lost Queen before submitting it?
I usually write in the summers when I am not teaching. I write whenever I can. Sometimes I will go away for a few days to an airbnb with other writer friends, or a writing residency, in order to get writing done. I worked with my wonderful agent Janine Kamouh for many years before the book was ready to go on submission! I am glad it took that long because with each draft, the manuscript got better.
6. Readers have said they were sucked into your story right away. What are your tips on engaging readers from the first page and making them want to keep reading?
This was the big lesson I learned about writing young adult literature. Start as fast as possible. Sometimes you have to write ten, twenty, thirty pages and realize it was all prewriting to get to what will ultimately be your first sentence!
Your Road to Publication
7. That’s great advice. What was your road to first getting published and getting a publishing contract for The Lost Queen?
I have a wonderful agent Janine who specializes in children and young adult literature. She and her assistants provided crucial editorial feedback to prepare my submission to send to editors. It happened fairly quickly, but then the pandemic hit and everything, including publication, slowed down. So while I got this contract in 2022, it is only appearing now!
Promoting Your Book
8. You had to wait a long time to see your book published. How are you planning to promote The Lost Queen? Has your approach to marketing changed since you were first published?
It has changed SO MUCH. I am still learning. Booktok is fascinating but also incredibly fast paced, so I’m trying to get myself situated there. Instagram is a tiny bit more manageable. I think for young adult literature, there is more of a focus on the community and schools, which I just love.
9. What are you working on now?
I am working on the sequel to The Lost Queen! You haven’t seen the last of Jolie and Huong….
Thanks for sharing all your
advice, Aimee. You can find Aimee at:
insta and tiktok:
@aimeephanwrites
Giveaway Details
Aimee’s publisher is generously offering a hardback of The Lost Queen for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by May 17th. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.
If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or follow Aimee on her social media sites, mention this in the comments, and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book giveaway is U.S.
Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops
Monday, May 12th I have a guest post by author Leah Stecher and a giveaway of her MG A Field Guide to Broken Promises
Wednesday, May 14th I have an agent spotlight interview with Analía Cabello and a query critique giveaway
Friday, May 16th I’m participating in the Moms Rock Giveaway Hop
Monday, May 19th I have a guest post by author Carol L. Pauer and a giveaway of her MG Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost
Wednesday, May 21st I have an agent spotlight interview with Isabel Lineberry and a query critique giveaway
Sunday, June 1st I’m participating in the Berry Good Giveaway Hop
Wednesday, June 4th I have an interview with author Aaron Starmer and a giveaway of his YA Night Swimming and my IWSG post
Monday, June 9th I have an interview with author Nancy McCabe and a giveaway of her MG Fires Burning Underground
Wednesday, June 11th I have an agent spotlight interview with Mark O’Brien and a query critique giveaway
Monday, June 16th I’m participating in the Dad-o-Mite
Giveaway Hop
Monday, June 23rd I have an interview with author Michael Spradlin and a giveaway of his MG Threat of the Spider
I hope to see you on Monday!
27 comments:
Writing a manuscript on a contract deadline WOULD suck. And good luck to Aimee on the new book!
I love the idea of creating your own writing retreat with friends at an AirBnb!
When I wrote for PRH, my editor would ask for a full outline of a couple of books before I signed the contract. So then, it was really just a matter of delivering. One time I couldn't make the deadline and they totally worked with me. But still...I wouldn't do anything you're not comfortable with! Sometimes, it's better just to avoid the pressure.
Woman after my own heart! Deadlines freak me out, too.
Not just deadlines - after that first book comes the pressure to produce something not only on time but better.
Having a deadline would probably throw me over the edge! I guess being an indie author works for me in that way. LOL.
Deadlines can be scary :-)
The books sounds awesome -- I've added it to my TBR!
Ronel visiting for IWSG day A Refresher on Book Marketing
I truly believe it is more important to chase happiness than to accept anything else. I'm glad you know what you want and how to keep it. :-)
Anna from elements of emaginette
I like using contest deadlines or submission windows to keep myself on track and get some things finished, but that's still more of a loose thing and not the same as having a contract deadline. Yikes!
Deadlines, I hear you! Whew! And things always get more intense right before them -- it's a law of the universe.
The Lost Queen sounds fascinating. I'm betting my girls would love it.
The Lost Queen sounds fascinating AND great cover.
'Lo, Natalie.
I'm the weirdo that likes deadlines. It lights a fire under my behind to get the job done. ;) I try to keep my deadlines a bit flexible because we all need a little grace when life stuff pops up.
I have this book on my wish list--it sounds amazing and so unlike other books I've read. I follow Natalie on Twitter and shared this post on Facebook, Twitter, and tumblr.
Congrats to Aimee--I love the fact that the heroine is a swimmer! Natalie, I didn't think about the fear you mentioned, but that would stress me out as well. Another advantage of self-publishing!
I'm so averse to hard deadlines that it's a big part of why I self-publish and don't even want to try for a trad contract! Nothing wrong with refusing to add stress to your life.
That's wonderful her agent worked with her for so long on that book.
Just continue to write for fun, Natalie.
I'm with you on that fear. I panic under time pressure, so I'd never make a deadline. End of writing career.
Thanks for introducing Aimee. Her book with its magical elements sounds so very interesting.
https://substack.com/@cleemckenzie/p-16283568
I really like what you said about fear and how you've found a way to manage it. I also get stressed out thinking about deadlines. I've had a few for magazines, and that was challenging. I really like that Aimee's book is based on Vietnamese history. But please count me out of the drawing, as I have won quite a few lately.
Aimee's books sounds awesome, Natalie! I'd love to enter the giveaway. Writing a book on a deadline would definitely put me over the edge! 😂. You always amaze me, Natalie! Love your understanding of yourself and what matters to you! ❤️
Deadlines can be stressful…but they also keep me from wasting time and help keep me focused, so I have mixed feelings about them. @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
Another impressive post, inspiring and informative. I still wonder how you get so much done! Your comments on how you write for yourself and just a few others are exactly a neatly specific way to reduce stress. Also, the interview (and book summary) of Aimee Phan offers much insight into her writing process and how her story develops. My to-read list just keeps growing! Thank you.
Congratulations to Aimee, your book sounds amazing. I like your no stress way of writing best. Keeps all the fun in it. Thanks for the opportunity. I follow via blogger, email and on X
'Writing with no pressure' - what a wonderful concept. I can totally get behind it.
A decade ago we had a writer's retreat about 3 hours west of me at a quaint Germany villa. It was a wonderful weekend. Congratulations to Aimee; The Lost Queen sounds captivating. Best of success.
Great post, Natalie
I really enjoyed this post. As a historical fiction novelist I understand the need to stick to the facts. How cool to then make the switch to fantasy. I'm not sure I have it in me...but I appreciate the creativity involved in going that route.Congratulations, Aimee
"Writing with no pressure". I like it!
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