Q&A with chick lit writer Michele Gorman discussion

On moving to Hong Kong to research Misfortune Cookie

Would you like a glimpse of Hong Kong as I saw it when I moved there to research the book?

http://hongkong.michelegorman.co.uk/

What was your favourite experience in Hong Kong?

Hi Hannah, thanks for asking. My favourite single experience was going to the Dragon Boat races (there are some photos on the http://hongkong.michelegorman.co.uk/ blog. It wasn't seeing the boat races themselves though that was the most fun. It was the experience I had because I randomly met a man on a bus ... no, it's not THAT kind of experience!

It's a national day off for Hong Kongers so the buses were jammed with people heading to Stanley (though there are dragon boat races all around the island). I waited with hundreds of others at the terminal to get on a bus. They are double-decker red buses, an odd sight on Hong Kong's roads. Hong Kongers don't queue though like Brits do - the old timers use their elbows a lot so it took awhile to actually get on a bus, since I was reluctant to shove grannies out of the way. But when I finally got on I ran upstairs and lucked out when I spotted a free seat right at the front. Two young men, clearly friends, sat across from each other. Politely I asked whether I could take the empty seat and one said, 'Sure, as long as you talk to us' in an American accent. That sounded like a fair trade!

That's how I met Jon and his friend, who was DJ-ing on one of the junks for the day. The DJ was living in Hong Kong and Jon was visiting from NYC. When they invited me to join the junk I jumped at the chance. Unfortunately the pontoon dock where we were to get the little dinghy to the boat had collapsed under the weight of too many people (there were thousands of people; it was one of the most chaotic scenes I've ever seen!). To get to the dinghy I had to wade chest deep in the choppy water across the pontoon dock to cram on to an overcrowded rubber dinghy. An hour later I found myself on the Mexican Embassy's junk, so I got to see the races from the water, and spend the day with a lot of very nice people. At the end of the day I thanked everyone, hailed a dinghy and never saw any of them again. It was one of those random series of events (catching that bus, looking upstairs for a seat, talking to Jon and friend, and accepting their invitation) that resulted in an experience I'd never have had otherwise. I like to think that Hannah (the character, not my goodreads friend!) would have done the same thing.

That's a very long-winded answer to your very short question! In terms of daily experiences, it would have to be the small wonders of the city. Down every alley, around each corner and in all the shops I found things I'd never seen, heard, smelled, tasted, touched before. It was magical, but I do think those small wonders exist every place, not just exotic locales, if our eyes are open to them. I try to find at least one small wonder every day. Yesterday it was a flower shop that sells cupcakes! They are very good cupcakes.

Goodreads friends, what's your small wonder?

This sounds so exciting! I think you must be very brave to go somewhere new, try something new. Making your own future...how long will you stay in Hong Kong and how will you support your trip?

Hi JJ, I took a brief sabbatical from work and moved there in 2010 to immerse myself in the city as Hannah would have. That meant no guidebooks or preparation beyond renting an apartment off the internet. Then I did my best to try living in my 'adopted' city. Though I like to think I have a bit more common sense than Hannah does, I did try to see everything through her eyes. It was a very fun, and daunting experience.

I didn't actually spend that much money there, since it can be very inexpensive if you're not out at the fancy bars every evening. And as I was all alone there, I promised my mom that I wouldn't go out to bars alone :-) However I had one friend who I allowed to visit on the condition that she'd let me throw her into the dating scene and see what happened. I wasn't single so needed a guinea pig, and she was more than happy to oblige! I needed to see what the dating scene would be like for Stacy and Hannah. It was eye-opening!

That's a very interesting answer to my short question! It sounds like an incredible experience.

Another short question for you. What was your favourite thing you ate/drank while you were there?

My small wonder. Hmm, that's a tough one. Discovery new things that you end up loving.

Favourite thing I ate in Hong Kong ... this will sound weird (surprise!) It relates to your small wonder actually.

I was invited to dinner by a Hong Konger and his wife, who were very interested to feed me a traditional Chinese meal. "It can be kind of weird," he said. "We don't usually eat Chinese." (He'd been schooled in the US). Not realising that humour doesn't always translate, I said, "Well all right then, how about chicken's feet, and pig's knuckles, and, oh maybe some cat?" He said, "Er,... I don't know whether we can get cat, but we can make the rest of it." They were so nice, and obviously thought I was serious. So I went to eat a dinner of pig's knuckles, chicken feet, and a dish I fell in love with (no, not cat).

1,000 year eggs have been coated with ash and buried in the ground for months until the yolk turns black and creamy. They're not much to look at but they are delicious! And they were a small wonder.

For the record, chicken's feet taste like chicken wings, with less meat and no blue cheese sauce, and pig's knuckles are like any other slow roasted pork dish with a bone. However, they look like chicken's feet, and pig's knuckles, so not for the faint-hearted!

Oh wow, that sounds...interesting. Well, when in Hong Kong I suppose you have to try things like that!

Will Hannah be trying any of this weird food in the book?

Hannah is pretty out of her depth in Hong Kong! Nearly every experience is new, but I didn't torture her with too many weird foods :-)

Wow Michele sounds like fun! I need me some Hannah!!!

Wow sounds like you had a blast in Hong Kong Michelle x