Author Interview with Gueh Yanting, Claudine

The DMS was lucky enough to interview Gueh Yanting, Claudine. Fairday reviewed her book Little Orchid's Sea Monster Trouble, and we are excited to learn more about this story. So, without further ado... take it away, Claudine!

What inspired you to write Little Orchid’s Sea Monster Trouble?

My first piece of amateur writing + a dream.

Little Orchid’s story originated from her mother’s – Mother Lee (whom I’d called Moon Flower when I wrote her story more than five years ago). It was the first piece of fiction I’d written and it was an adult story about a 70-year-old mother losing and regaining her relationship with her youngest daughter, Little Orchid. She, the mother, lived alone in a crooked house on the family farm and had a heart attack. I never completed that story but it was always tucked at the back of my mind. By the time I’d gone into children’s literature, I knew I could tell Moon Flower’s story by telling Little Orchid’s first. One day, I will get to Moon Flower’s story again.

As for the dream I had, it was about a Malay princess bride escaping onto a train and transforming into a cuttlefish. A bizarre dream. I don’t know any Malay princesses and I certainly don’t know anyone who’s turned into a sea creature. But there it was. Too vivid to be forgotten. I’m blessed to be able to remember some of my dreams. Anyway, I wrote this as a short story, which didn’t work, so I tried it on Little Orchid. Their combination works so much better than I was expecting!

How long did it take you to write Little Orchid’s Sea Monster Trouble?

Taking into account the setting-research done on Moon Flower’s story, about five years. The actual change of it into a children’s story took two years.

Snow Queen/Edmund Dulac

What is your favorite fairy tale? Who is the character that you most relate to?

The Snow Queen. (I have a thing for stories that are a little sad in the cold way. There’s mystery in the aloof appearance and the frosty heart.)

As for the character I relate the most to, it’s Pinocchio. It shows on my face when I’m lying (not the nose, though), and there’s also this inexplicable understanding towards the puppet’s need to be a real boy.

What inspired the personality traits for the characters in this story (sea -dwelling and human)?

There is a bit of me (the ‘me’ in childhood) in Little Orchid. As for the Baby Lobster, he is loosely based on a young girl I tutor – energetic, sometimes timid, but strongly supportive and honest.

If you could befriend a character from one of your stories, who would you befriend? Why?

 Buffalo Brother – he tries to fit in the Lee family, works hard, and takes care of the girls like a real brother should. But on another level, he’s pretty much on his own. Part of the family, but not really.

Where do you like to write? Do you have any writing rituals?

I do most of my work at home but I like writing at my local library’s café. Just some music (acoustic folk or piano) and I’m off.

If you could live anywhere, fictional or real, where would it be? Why?

A small town, preferably by the sea, with a good coffee shop, like the setting of Gilmore Girls or Ghost Whisperer (not that I’m a huge fan of these shows, just a huge, huge fan of their settings). So I could dress pretty and write pretty. The sea will make me feel pretty. (I’m quite vain ...)

The illustrations are whimsical and fascinating. Who is your favorite illustrator? What element of their creative style do you enjoy?

Thanks, I’m glad you like the illustrations. I can’t pick just one favourite illustrator, so here goes: Alison Jay (the quiet warmth in her colours, and her attention to details); Chris Van Allsburg (details and sense of grandeur); Chiaki Okada (the soft tones and portrayal of adorable Japanese girls and rabbits); Pamela Zagarenski (her sense of wonder), and Kate Greenaway medalist Helen Cooper (the strokes, the colours, the way she makes living in that cabin in the woods adventurous).

Illustration by Gueh Yanting, Claudine/ Little Orchid's Sea Monster Trouble 

If you were to turn into a sea creature, what would you wish to be?

When I first received these interview questions, my thought on this one was “a prawn” for I love eating them. But that can’t be good for me! So I’m going to go with the sea turtle. I’ll get to bring my home everywhere, and I’ll always have a place to sleep in.

Where can we purchase your books?

From my website at an early-bird offer of US$1 {for 5 days only: 9^th – 13^th April 2014}: CarryUsOff Books 

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