After reviewing Of Buds
And Blossoms, I had the opportunity to interview Liwen Y. Ho and ask her a few
questions about her writing.
How long have you been
writing?
I’ve loved writing since
childhood, but started regularly pursuing it when I started a blog in 2011. I
started writing fiction for adults in 2014.
Have you always wanted
to be a writer?
I’ve always wanted to
publish a book, so I guess the answer is yes. ☺
How do you come up with
your ideas for stories?
A lot of my inspiration
comes from real life, from my own experiences or those around me, as well as
the TV shows I watch.
Do you have/Have you had
any other careers besides writing?
Does being a
stay-at-home mom count? ☺ Before I had kids though, I worked in Human Resources
at a biotech company and later on as a therapist at a couple of non-profit
organizations and an elementary school.
Let’s talk more about
your recent new release, Of Buds And Blossoms. Tell me about it:
This story is about one
of my favorite themes of best friends falling in love. I just adore the
familiarity of “old love” and how someone right in front of you can turn out to
be “the one”.
Give us a Synopsis for
the book:
Librarian Chloe
McAlister finds solace in her books—and hats—but doesn’t know where to turn
when her longtime crush gets engaged. On a whim, she signs up for a
speed-dating mixer and convinces her best friend, Dill Thomas, to attend. All
goes as planned until she realizes Dill means more to her than she thought ...
and he goes and falls for someone else.
This 10,000-word short story is perfect for your lunch break, workout, or while
you wait in line at the mall. Read it today to experience a hint of spring any
time of the year!
What was the inspiration
behind this story?
The male MC, Dill, was a
very minor character from the second book in this series. He had one line in
that story (“Men were made to appreciate fast cars, cool electronics, and hot
girls.”), but intrigued me enough to give him his own story.
Tell us about your main
characters:
Dill and Chloe met in
college. He’s an ex-football player and a social butterfly. She’s a librarian
and an introvert. They’re perfect opposites in the sense that they complement
one another well. Chloe also has a cochlear implant as a result of losing the
hearing in one ear after she got meningitis.
Which is your favorite
minor character and why?
Macy, Chloe’s cousin,
has shown up in two of the books in this series so far and is a fun and
faithful friend. Spoiler alert: she’ll be getting her own story next!
Your character is at a
bookstore. What book is in his/her hand right now?
Oh! Chloe works as a
librarian, so this is right up her alley. She’d be holding Nicholas Sparks’s A
Walk To Remember.
Please share a few favorite
lines or one paragraph:
“Does this help?”
She stilled as a minty breeze blew across her forehead. Swallowing
slowly, she opened her eyes to see Dill leaning over her with his lips
puckered. It was a sight to see—a 170-pound brawny man, brows drawn together in
concentration, blowing soft, gentle puffs of air over her. Air that caressed
her skin like the cool side of a pillow. Wowsers. She couldn’t believe her eyes
… or the way her heart was melting at his sweet gesture.
“You all right?” Dill brushed some hair off her face, the ends of
which were damp with sweat. He studied her, remarking with concern, “You look
confused. What’s on your mind?”
Honestly? She had a crazy urge to smooth the lines on his forehead
and hold his face in her hands and kiss him, bristly beard and all.
Of all the books out
there, why should readers choose this one? (What makes your book stand out from
the rest?)
It’s the perfect short
read for when you need a quick pick-me-up in your busy day. ☺
Let’s shift gears and
talk more about your writing.
What is your favorite
song(s) to listen to while writing?
I usually listen to love
songs—emotional, slow, upbeat or hopeful ones, I love them all.
Have you ever named a
character in honor of someone you know?
Yes, actually I do it
quite often, but shh! ☺
At what moment did you
feel like you could say, “NOW, I'm an author?”
Wow, great question. I
think I finally felt like a real author after I was asked to join a boxed set
last year. Also, more recently when a parent of my daughter’s classmate came up
to me and said, “I overheard you’re an author!” I was both amused and shocked
that someone was talking about me!
What is one of your
favorite/go-to writing resources?
The thesaurus!
What other project are
you working on now?
I have one more story
(the summer one) to write in my Seasons of Love series. I also have two other
books I need to write, which I’ll be able to share about later on this year!
Have you always liked to
write?
Yes!
What book are you
currently reading?
I wish I had more time
to read. The last book I read was Someday With You by Ines Bautista-Yao
(it’s a good one!).
Do you write/read every
single day?
I do some
writing-related thing every day, whether it’s brainstorming or marketing or
actually writing.
Do you have any furry
writing buddies? (Or scaled or feathered?)
Haha, we only have a
guinea pig now and she is not a snuggler.
Liwen Ho, thank you for
joining us today and for sharing your stories and your writing experience!
-Julie L. Spencer
Author Bio:
Liwen Y. Ho writes sweet
and inspirational romance infused with heart, humor and a taste of home (her
Asian roots). She lives in California with her techie hubby and their two
munchkins.
Follow Liwen on social
media:
