Bernadette' Hammelman
asked
Jamie Ford:
This might be one of the most asked-to-author questions. Sorry in advance. When did you decide to write your first book, & why the topic you picked? More importantly to me, how did you hear the story in the first place? I admit to not having read anything yet by you, but this book has piqued my curiosity for sometime. (so why haven't I yet read it? SO many books, such little time) oops, that was a question for me!
Jamie Ford
Hi Bernadette,
My dad, who was Chinese American, was 13 at the time of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Afterward, he was given a button to wear that read "I AM CHINESE" because kids would think he was Japanese as he walked to school and throw rocks at him, he'd get in fights, etc.
My first book is a love story between a Chinese American boy and a Japanese American girl during WWII. But it's also the story of the Japanese Internment, seen though the eyes of this Chinese boy.
The story began after my dad passed away and I was exploring his childhood. I happened to go to a writers workshop in 2006, led by an author named Orson Scott Card, who challenged me to write something very personal, which I did :)
My dad, who was Chinese American, was 13 at the time of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Afterward, he was given a button to wear that read "I AM CHINESE" because kids would think he was Japanese as he walked to school and throw rocks at him, he'd get in fights, etc.
My first book is a love story between a Chinese American boy and a Japanese American girl during WWII. But it's also the story of the Japanese Internment, seen though the eyes of this Chinese boy.
The story began after my dad passed away and I was exploring his childhood. I happened to go to a writers workshop in 2006, led by an author named Orson Scott Card, who challenged me to write something very personal, which I did :)
More Answered Questions
Donna
asked
Jamie Ford:
We discussed "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" at my book club last night. In our discussion it came up about Samantha finding long lost Keiko through the Internet. In 1986 internet obviously was not what it is today and several members did not feel that part of the story was accurate time wise. Your view please since you are the writer. Would Samantha have been able to find Keiko so easily?
Kristin Henry
asked
Jamie Ford:
Hi! I am so disappointed to miss my local bookseller's discussion of The Many Daughters of Afong Moy tonight, which I believe you are going to be a part of. I was wondering if you have notes posted for this book? I have been working to understand nervous system development (The Body Keeps the Score sits on my pile of books to read), and I very much enjoyed this take!
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