Amber Chen’s latest Young Adult Fantasy novel immerses readers in a captivating world of dragons and Asian mythology, guaranteed to grab your attention from the very first page. Amber shared insights into her writing process behind the scenes, revealing the inspiration, challenges, and creative journey that brought this enchanting story to life.
What inspired you to write “Of Jade and Dragons,” and how did the idea for Aihui Ying’s story come about?
I really like reading up on history, and one of my hobbies is speculating about the lives and times of historical figures and filling in the gaps in historical records, so that’s what happened with Of Jade and Dragons. OJAD was inspired by the story of the first emperor of the Qing Dynasty and the woman he loved the most, Harjol, and there are plenty of easter eggs in the book that draw from real historical events during the transitional period from the late Ming to early Qing Dynasty of China.
Of Jade and Dragons was also inspired by the classic Chinese tale, The Butterfly Lovers. In that story, the FMC, Zhu Yingtai, disguises as a boy in order to study at a boys-only academy, because only boys were allowed to receive an education during that time period, and she managed to do all this because she had a supportive father who was willing to indulge her and support her dream. I loved that father-daughter dynamic, and it was what inspired Ying’s relationship with her father in OJAD!
Aihui Ying is a strong and determined protagonist. How did you develop her character, and what aspects of her journey do you think readers will find most compelling?
I think Ying’s character arc came quite naturally to me, because a lot of her experiences as a girl trying to establish herself in a male-dominated profession resonate very much with my own. The idea of empowering girls to not only take on but also excel in traditionally masculine fields, like engineering, is an important theme in OJAD, and a theme that is particularly close to my heart. When I crafted Ying, one thing that I made sure to keep in mind was to always keep her personal beliefs and motivations as a priority, and have that guide her actions as she navigates the world around her. I think readers will find Ying’s wit, determination and steadfastness in holding on to her beliefs something that they can root for!
How did you go about creating the antagonist and the various threats Ying faces? What motivated their actions, and how do they enhance the story’s tension?
A lot of the threats that Ying faces in the book are a consequence of the broader political developments taking place in the background. As the story progresses, we learn that there are certain challenges and obstacles standing in the way of the Antaran people, and Ying needs to make many decisions about how to navigate her way forward in a world fraught with these challenges. In a way, I think this is something that will resonate with many young people, as they begin to figure out where they stand vis a vis the rest of the world, and must decide for themselves what path they are going to take.
How did you approach writing character relationships, and what do you think they add to the story?
When I write character relationships and interactions, a lot of it will draw from the back stories and experiences of each individual character. I personally believe that we are shaped by our unique experiences, and what we’ve gone through in the past plays a critical role in influencing the way we become and the choices we make in the future. Take Ying and Ye-yang for example—their stories don’t begin at the start of the book; their stories have already begun from when they were born. Ying grew up in a loving family, with parents who were willing to indulge and support her, whereas Ye-yang grew up in the palace, suffering the trauma of losing his mother from a young age and then having to fight to survive all the cutthroat court politics. In crafting their character arcs, I would always keep in mind how these different upbringings would have given them vastly different outlooks on life, and manifest itself in the way they behave and make decisions. This then influences how they interact with each other as well as the other characters in the book.
Trust is a significant theme in “Of Jade and Dragons.” How did you explore this theme through the various relationships?
When it comes to trust, I think one key thing I wanted to highlight in Of Jade and Dragons is how fragile it can be. Trust can readily be given, and it can also easily be lost. The theme of trust is explored through the different family relationships in the book—the strong familial bonds and high trust within Ying’s family is meant to contrast significantly with the low trust within Ye-yang and the High Commander’s family, because the struggle for power has weakened the family bonds. Also, as there are many secrets being kept by the various characters, we get to see how these different secrets end up either strengthening or eroding the trust between the various characters, and how this influences their relationships with one another.
What were some of the most challenging scenes to write in “Of Jade and Dragons,” and how did you overcome these challenges?
I think the ending scenes of the book were probably the most challenging to write, because it requires all the plot threads to come together in a natural and satisfying manner, while at the same time ensuring that sufficient tension is maintained in order to keep up the excitement! It took several rounds of re-working before I got the ending to a state that I was personally satisfied with, and I think what helped was to try to intentionally draw out the action so that it created space to weave the characters’ internal thoughts into the picture, allowing for a more emotionally resonant ending.
The story combines elements of fantasy, adventure, and a touch of romance. How did you blend these genres to create a cohesive narrative?
When I draft stories I don’t really worry too much about what genres they encompass, so whichever elements fit the story will end up being thrown in. For Of Jade and Dragons, the setting is very much science-fantasy, while the plot is an adventure/mystery. A little romance is thrown in because it felt natural to the character development of the main characters! Overall, I think all these elements were required in order to form a complete narrative, so they naturally wormed their way into the book. In terms of ensuring cohesion and suitable pacing, I typically use a reverse outlining method to ensure all the different plot threads are suitably spaced and paced!
What do you hope readers will take away from Aihui Ying’s determination and resilience?
I do hope that Ying’s story inspires young girls, in particular, to have the confidence to pursue whatever interests them, even if society and those around them may tell them otherwise. I would very much like a reader to pick up Of Jade and Dragons and think “hey, maybe a girl like me can build airships and mechanical beasts one day” and then go on to do it the way Ying has—because why not?
The book explores themes of family legacy and personal ambition. How do these themes influence Ying’s decisions and actions throughout the novel?
Family is definitely a very important part of Ying’s life, and her interactions with her family members, particularly her father, has played a great part in shaping her into who she is. However, I think those same relationships can also be viewed as a barrier in some ways, preventing Ying from establishing her own identity and becoming who she wants to be. In OJAD, Ying very much abides by her father’s teachings and places family first, but in Book 2, we will see her grow past that and step out of his shadow, to define for herself who she wants to be and what she is capable of. I think this is a theme that will be particularly relevant to many youth, because we all go through a phase where we’ll need to find balance between family expectations and legacy, and our own personal ambitions and dreams.
Can you describe your writing routine? Do you have any specific habits or rituals that help you stay productive and inspired?
I have a day job, so writing typically takes place only after the sun sets! It works for me, because I’ve always been a night owl and I am most efficient with writing when night arrives. One habit I have is always having a cup of tea by the side while writing (yes, I’m stereotypical that way!), because I am very much a tea addict. I also try to make time for some “fun” writing at least once a week—a story that I’m writing purely for myself, just to work those writing muscles without the pressure of having to deliver under contract!
What was the most surprising thing you learned about yourself or your writing process while working on “Of Jade and Dragons”?
That I can, actually, edit a book! I must confess that I’ve never been the best at developmental editing, because I typically edit as I draft and the first drafts end up being quite clean. The problem with drafting clean is that I often think “hmm this looks good enough” and I’m so tempted to just leave the draft as is, without doing anything more to it! For Of Jade and Dragons, I experienced several rounds of developmental editing for the very first time, first with my Pitchwars mentors, then with my agent, and finally with my editor. Each time, I thought the draft would be the last, but then I’d surprise myself by being able to tear the manuscript apart once again and then use editorial feedback to put it together in a way that was even better than before!
How do you handle writer’s block or moments of creative doubt?
I find the best way for me to counter writer’s block is to consume plenty of other media, in all forms. I believe ideas generate ideas, so by exposing myself to lots of new content from other creatives, it can sometimes help to spark a new way forward for the story I’m working on!
What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are trying to write their own fantasy or adventure novels?
I think it’s useful to not insist on chasing perfection in your writing, because that perfect product you spend years and years working on will still have to undergo surgery once you get your agent, and then more surgery when you sign with an editor. There will always be more chances to refine your work at later stages of the publishing process, so go easy on yourself and learn to let go of your book baby when the time is right!
Who are some of your favorite authors or books that have influenced your writing, and how have they inspired you?
One of my favourite series as a kid was Tamora Pierce’s The Song of the Lioness series. I absolutely loved following the journey of Alanna as she trains for knighthood, and the struggles she faces in the process being a girl disguised as a boy—which somewhat parallels the journey of the main character in Of Jade and Dragons, Ying. I think this series really resonated with me because it reflects some of the common struggles and challenges that young girls face growing up, so Alanna was a very inspiring character for me. Some of my other favourite authors are Jasper Fforde, Ken Liu and S.A. Chakraborty, who have written some of the most imaginative books I’ve read!
Can you share any hints about what readers can expect next from you? Are there any upcoming projects or sequels in the works related to “Of Jade and Dragons”?
Yes, there is a sequel coming up for Of Jade and Dragons! I’m currently working on edits for the sequel, so hopefully we are on track for publication one year after Of Jade and Dragons is released. Book 2 will continue the character arcs for our main characters, while introducing a host of new side characters.
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