We chat with author Roselle Lim about Celestial Banquet, which is a dazzling YA fantasy debut, following a young noodle chef who competes in a cutthroat cooking competition for the gods, think Iron Chef meets The Hunger Games.
Hi, Roselle! Welcome back! How has the past three years been since we last spoke?
It’s been great. I’m exploring more writing in the fantasy space and am pretty happy. Three years, breezed by. Night for Day was released, and that was my first adult fantasy. I’ve taken on more craft hobbies and continue to be distracted by the multiplying plot bunnies in my yard.
Your YA fantasy debut, Celestial Banquet, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Cooking competition for the gods.
What can readers expect?
Fun, mayhem, adventure, excitement, food—lots and lots of food. I want readers to feel like they’re in for the most fantastic ride when reading Celestial Banquet. I wish for readers to be screaming at the twists and upside-down spirals.
Where did the inspiration for Celestial Banquet come from?
It came from watching Iron Chef, the original series. I watched this show with subtitles and my fave chef has always been Chen Kenichi. I love how spontaneous it is and wondered how the contest would be if it was set in a fantastical setting with magical ingredients. The Chairman would be replaced by a god or a set of gods, and their judgment would mean life or death. I wanted to write a culinary fantasy and it a palpable thing!
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
While Cai is the star, Kama was my favorite character to write. He is so fun and inspired by all the drunken masters of kung-fu movies. Kama is the life of the party, and I wanted to show that. On more serious topics, I also wanted to explore the inequalities of a class system where the poor struggled to fend off starvation and didn’t have access to the finer ingredients given to the rich.
Can you tell us a bit about your process when it came to worldbuilding?
After I craft an elevator pitch, blurb, and synopsis, I bullet journal all my world-building. I find pics that inspire the vibes and the characters and use that as a jumping point for exploration. I think about the societal structure, economics, and government, build a historical timeline, and vaguely plan out the rest of the series. I geek out with charts and diagrams. I try and be efficient about not spending too much time in the planning stage.
This is your YA fantasy debut! What was the shift like from adult to YA?
At first, I thought I had to write differently. I went into this thinking my writing voice had to change, and that went terribly. I learned the lesson that my writing voice carries over genres and categories. YA means more intense emotions. I had to dig deep and remember what it was like for me as a teen and how angsty every minute was.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
It’s always that jerk called impostor syndrome. Over time, his voice becomes softer, but he’s still there. The only way to shut him up is to continue writing and keep my eyes in my own lane. Comparison tends to accompany the jerk and the two of them are more trouble than what they should be. Impostor syndrome is the cockroach that never dies and Comparison, the mosquito that always bites.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on an adult speculative that is ONCE UPON A TIME meets BIG FISH. I also have an idea for another YA series with a culinary bent. Three more ideas are competing in the background. It’s a matter of getting my agent’s thoughts on what to work on.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?
I loved Grady Hendrix’s newest, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. I’m definitely seeking out more horror and fantasy lately. I want to read Mia P. Manansala’s DEATH IN THE CARDS. I love her adult Filipina mystery series.
