Annabelle
asked
Jennifer Hallock:
Hello Jennifer, you did a great job with "Under the Sugar Sun!" I'm from Dumaguete, and I think your descriptions of both locations were so precise. I suppose you must have lived in Dumaguete or Bais at some point?
Jennifer Hallock
Thanks for the question, Annabelle! And I am so glad you enjoyed the book and the setting! :)
Unfortunately, I have only visited Dumaguete, not lived there, but I so easily could live there. It is one of my favorite cities in the islands, which is saying a lot! I did live in Laguna, up in Luzon, for four years, during which time I visited both Negros and Samar for my research. I also read a LOT of first hand accounts written in the early American period and found as many photos as I could. The Silliman press, the Silliman museums, and several Negros Chronicle articles were essential to my research.
The hardest part of describing the city was reconciling the pre-Rizal Boulevard beach line of 1900 with what I saw in 2010. Such a seemingly trivial difference, but it really added a whole block onto the shore. I wrote about this (and other locations) on my blog: http://jenniferhallock.com/2016/04/07...
You can also see the seeds of Silliman University in my books, though I called the school Brinsmade because I wanted to use some artistic license to shape the characters as my novel needed them to be. I discuss this in my blog post, too. I love using real people, places, and events as inspiration, but when I start bending them to my story purposes, I need to change their names to separate truth from fiction!
I do LOVE Dumaguete, Bais, Tanjay, and all the places I mentioned. I'd love to do a reading or signing there sometime. Dare to dream! Thanks again for reading!
Unfortunately, I have only visited Dumaguete, not lived there, but I so easily could live there. It is one of my favorite cities in the islands, which is saying a lot! I did live in Laguna, up in Luzon, for four years, during which time I visited both Negros and Samar for my research. I also read a LOT of first hand accounts written in the early American period and found as many photos as I could. The Silliman press, the Silliman museums, and several Negros Chronicle articles were essential to my research.
The hardest part of describing the city was reconciling the pre-Rizal Boulevard beach line of 1900 with what I saw in 2010. Such a seemingly trivial difference, but it really added a whole block onto the shore. I wrote about this (and other locations) on my blog: http://jenniferhallock.com/2016/04/07...
You can also see the seeds of Silliman University in my books, though I called the school Brinsmade because I wanted to use some artistic license to shape the characters as my novel needed them to be. I discuss this in my blog post, too. I love using real people, places, and events as inspiration, but when I start bending them to my story purposes, I need to change their names to separate truth from fiction!
I do LOVE Dumaguete, Bais, Tanjay, and all the places I mentioned. I'd love to do a reading or signing there sometime. Dare to dream! Thanks again for reading!
More Answered Questions
Carol Fleischer
asked
Jennifer Hallock:
Hi Jennifer, I'm American (living in NZ) born and raised in Dumaguete City, Philippines. My Grandfather was sent out in the US Army to fight in the Philippine American War and I was thrilled to read on FB that you have written a set of historical novels on that era. Can't wait to read them! Just searched Manila bookstores online and can't find any that stock them; will be going there soon, where can I buy your books?
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