We chat with author Kara H.L. Chen about her debut novel Love & Resistance, which is a funny, whip-smart YA debut about love, resistance, and the enduring friendships that make it all worthwhile.
Hi, Kara! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I currently live in the Bay Area with my husband and two daughters. I drink too much boba tea. I love to watch K-dramas and am trying to learn how to keep succulent plants alive.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I have been writing since I was little. I remember I used to make little novels out of construction paper, and checked out bags of books from the library every week.
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 I remember reading was this picture book with alligators in it. I can’t recall what it was about, exactly, but I suspect it had something to do with the ABCs and the letter A.
The book that made me want to become a writer: probably THE WESTING GAME. It was clever, funny and I read it a million times. I still love it.
The book I can’t stop thinking about: the one I’m currently reading—YELLOWFACE.
Your debut novel, Love & Resistance, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Nerd secret society starts revolution.
What can readers expect?
Sarcasm, shenanigans, romance, Asian American representation. French fries.
Where did the inspiration for Love & Resistance come from?
I had a random idea one day about a secret society of nerds that covertly thwart the school bullies. The book grew from there!
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing the romance between Heidi and Will. Their will-they/won’t-they energy was really fun.
What was your journey like in getting Love & Resistance published?
I first had the idea for LOVE & RESISTANCE exactly ten years ago, in 2013. It went through many, many rounds of revisions and was the first novel that I had actually finished. (I had many incomplete manuscripts before then—an attempt at a fantasy series, a literary fiction novel, many short stories.) I signed with my agent (the amazing Alex Slater of GreenburgerKids) in late 2020 and I was lucky enough that the manuscript was picked up by the brilliant Jen Ung of Quill Tree/HarperCollins in the summer of 2021.
What’s next for you?
My next YA contemporary, ASKING FOR A FRIEND, comes out next year! It’s about a seventeen-year-old girl named Juliana Zhao, who starts a dating advice column with her childhood frenemy. It has a grumpy versus sunshine romance and lots of banter (!!). At its core, however, it’s about the friction that happens when you are raised with the values of your immigrant parents’ culture, but live in a country where the belief systems are quite different. Part of Juliana’s journey is unpacking what she has always been told and believed to be true and discovering what she truly wants. I hope people like it! J
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
I’m honored to be a part of two groups, the Class of 2k23 Books and the 2023 Debuts. Both websites feature information about great books by debut authors, across a variety of genres and age groups. Please check them out! I also particularly love FAKE DATES AND MOONCAKES by Sher Lee, IT’S BOBA TIME FOR PEARL LI by Nicole Chen, and IN THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY by Jane Kuo.
