Name: Julie Tieu

Website: www.julietieu.com; Twitter: @julietieu

Asian background: I’m a 2nd generation Chinese-American. My parents have roots in Vietnam and Cambodia and came to the U.S. as Khmer Rouge refugees.  

What is it about your experience and upbringing that inspired you the most to write? 

Like the main character in my current manuscript, I grew up working in my parents’ donut shop. While my manuscript is primarily a romcom, I wanted to also highlight some of the dynamics of working with your parents and the range of experiences that come with supporting your family’s small business. Also, my character’s background is similar to my own and I chose to do so because I wanted to write about what it’s like to talk to your parents who might weave in three languages into one sentence. 

Name 3 authors and 3 books

EMERGENCY CONTACT by Mary H.K. Choi
THE KISS QUOTIENT by Helen Hoang
FRANKLY IN LOVE by David Yoon

What do you think is the best quality a writer can have? 

I think it’s really important to be able to process feedback in a healthy way. The truth is, no writer gets things 100% right in the first draft and gathering constructive feedback is so crucial to improving your writing. Of course, some feedback stings more than others and it’s important to have a way to cope with that. I tend to lean on my network or try to process the feedback with an open-mind before coming to any conclusions about it. 

Any last words? (Fun facts, comments, something you’d like to share with the world, etc.)

My current boba order is either brown sugar milk tea or black sesame milk tea. I recently started watching Kdramas (send recommendations my way!). I have a ukelele and skateboard collecting dust in my closet.

Challenge: Write a one-sentence story! 

Julie thought quarantine would offer her more time for hobbies like playing her ukelele, but she found herself spending all her time wishing for boba while watching Kdramas.