The Great Call of China by Cynthea Liu is here!
About the Book:
Chinese-born Cece was adopted when she was two years old by her American parents. Living in Texas, she’s bored of her ho-hum high school and dull job. So when she learns about the S.A.S.S. program to Xi’an, China, she jumps at the chance. She’ll be able to learn about her passion—anthropology—and it will give her the opportunity to explore her roots. But when she arrives, she receives quite a culture shock. And the closer she comes to finding out about her birth parents, the more apprehensive she gets. Enter Will, the cute guy she first meets on the plane. He and Cece really connect during the program. But can he help her get accustomed to a culture she should already know about, or will she leave China without the answers she’s been looking for?
About the Author:
Cynthea Liu spent her formative years in Oklahoma and Texas where she was a Whiz Quiz member, an Academic Decathloner, and a spelling bee champion. (Yes, she was very popular.) After attending college on the East coast, she worked at a corporate job where she mastered PowerPoint and racked up thousands of frequent flyer miles. Eventually, she traded in her suit for sweats to do the fun stuff–writing for children.
The Interview:
Cynthea, of all your favorite books, which one do you wish you had written?
I’m not sure I’ve read that book or maybe it’s not something I think
about much. Usually, I find myself wishing I could write humor like
that person, do suspense like this other person. It would be nice to
be able to acquire the strengths of each author and be like this
super-author that does it all just right.
What fictional character do you wish you could be?
None of them. Fiction characters have it pretty bad, though they
usually get good endings. I like the real life just fine– good things
happening all the time!
Ah, spoken like a well-adjusted artist. Does this have anything to do with your sidekick, Snoop? I’m thinking, yes.
After chocolate what do you eat to make the writer-block pain go away?
I don’t get writer’s block really. If I get stuck, I’m just “stuck.”
Thinking of it that way may actually help prevent a real writer’s
block from setting in for me. A long bath usually helps me get
unstuck.
What led you to write a story about a teen in search of her Chinese roots?
My agent asked if I wanted to write a book set in China for S.A.S.S.
series. I said, sure! In the publisher’s concept letter there was a
small mention of possibly writing a book about a girl who returns to
China in search of her birth parents. That’s what I used to start
writing the book.
Do you have any personal thoughts about the adoption of Chinese baby girls that you’d like to share with your readers?
I’m just really excited for adoptive families who are giving great
homes to girls (and boys) who need them. Not just abroad but within
the U.S. as well!
Cynthea is a go kind of person. Her websites are fabulous and her energy boundless. Kudos, Cynthea on your book and all that you do to inform authors and present new books to the public.
She’ll be appearing for another interview tomorrow with Saundra Mitchell, so check it out.
nanmarino says
Great questions! Great answers! But I would expect nothing less from a collaboration between C Lee and Cynthea. I enjoyed the interview.
Irene Latham says
Double kudos to Cynthea and Snoop. Nice interview! And looking forward to SLIDING. Getting close!!
cynthea says
Thanks for spreading the word about my book!
Snoop sends furry kisses. Mwah, mwah!