In this enchanting debut YA fantasy, a young tea-maker travels to the capital city to take part in a cutthroat magical competition that could be the key to saving her sister’s life.
We chat with debut author Judy I. Lin about her novel A Magic Steeped In Poison, along with writing, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Judy! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m a Taiwanese-Canadian author and I write books inspired by the mythology and folklore I grew up with. I’m drawn to stories that are fantastical, spooky and/or strange. When I’m not writing, I like to cook and bake, play board games and watch Chinese period dramas.
How has the start of 2022 been for you?
2022 is my debut year and it feels like it has taken forever to arrive! The Book of Tea duology sold in 2019, so it’s been a long time coming. I had my second baby earlier in March though, so preparing for that has kept me busy instead of anxious for my book release.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I moved from Taiwan to Canada when I was eight years old and was very shy. I wasn’t confident in my speaking ability and found that it was easier for me to express myself through writing. Since I was also an avid reader, it didn’t take long for me to start writing my own stories.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
The first book that made me actually want to become a writer was “The Chosen” by L.J. Smith. I remember picking up the book and seeing a girl dressed in black on the cover standing in a fighting pose and thought she looked really fierce. After I read the book I immediately devoured the other books in the Night World series. I loved the action, the romance, and the idea of a secret society of supernatural beings existing alongside us.
Your debut novel, A Magic Steeped in Poison, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Magic tea, dangerous competition, secrets
What can readers expect?
A Magic Steeped in Poison is about a girl who will do anything to save her beloved sister. There is a beautiful palace that holds treachery and betrayal within its walls. There are banquets and feasts and all sorts of delicious food to accompany the tea. It is a story about leaving home to discover yourself, and finding the strength to continue even when the path is hard.
Where did the inspiration for A Magic Steeped in Poison come from?
Initially, I wanted to play around with the concept of tea magic, and as the world grew in my mind, I started to incorporate elements of Chinese history and culture into the story. I’ve always been fascinated by the Song Dynasty because of the various economic, cultural and agricultural developments that occurred during that time period. Much of the worldbuilding in terms of the court, the palace, the capital, was influenced by that era.
Can you tell us a bit about the challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
It’s been a dream of mine for a long time to write a YA fantasy novel, but for years I struggled with actually writing it. I wondered if readers would even want to read fantasy stories inspired by Chinese and Taiwanese cultural elements that are familiar to me but may be foreign to them. It’s because of Asian authors like Cindy Pon, Malinda Lo, Julie Dao, Elizabeth Lim and Joan He that I kept going. They paved the way for me to feel confident in writing the story that I want to write. When I was finally able to overcome that initial self-doubt, the actual writing was the easier part!
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
One goal I had while writing A Magic Steeped in Poison was to incorporate nods to some of my favorite genres and I had so much playing around with those elements. You’ll find the backstabbing court politics of Chinese dramas where the battles are fought with words and not fists. There is the struggle against oppressive regimes of wuxia films, as well as rooftop scenes and scuffles in alleys. Readers of YA fantasies will see a few familiar tropes too that I love – the mysterious stranger who is not what they first appear to be is definitely one that makes an appearance!
What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
I enjoyed writing in high school but becoming a published author seemed like a distant, impossible dream. I would not return to writing until years later after I graduated from university and started to write fanfiction. I fell in love with writing all over again and I started writing with the goal of traditional publishing in 2016 and got into a mentorship program that year. I found my agent through that program. Even though that manuscript didn’t sell, I worked on various projects until A Magic Steeped in Poison found a home with my fabulous editor and imprint.
What’s next for you?
The sequel to A Magic Steeped in Poison comes out in August – A Venom Dark and Sweet. I hope readers will enjoy the conclusion to Ning’s story! I have a few things in the works I can’t talk about yet…but I am definitely working on something magical for my next book.
Lastly, do you have any 2022 book recommendations for our readers?
There are some beautiful retellings that came out this year. Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan is one, and The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh is another. I also love variations on common mythical beings like the fae, so I am looking forward to reading Road of the Lost by Nafiza Azad which comes out later this year.
