Frankly in Love meets Shark Tank in this feel-good romantic comedy about two entrepreneurial Korean American teens who butt heads—and maybe fall in love—while running competing Korean beauty businesses at their high school.
We chat with debut author Sarah Suk about Made In Korea, as well as her writing process, inspiration, and more!
Hi Sarah! Thanks so much for your time! Would you mind telling us a little bit about yourself and what you love to write the most?
Thanks so much for having me! So I’m Sarah *virtual wave* and I live in Vancouver, Canada where I write books for kids and teens. I love film photography, spending time by the water, and making souffle pancakes. As for what I love to write the most, I’d say I have a soft spot for natural dialogue, character relationships, and food descriptions that make me hungry.
It is so exciting that Made In Korea is your YA Debut! How do you feel about your first ever book being out in the world?
Oh man. Exciting is definitely the word for it! I’ve dreamed of being a published author since I was a kid so it feels very surreal that my debut novel will soon be hitting shelves. It also feels quite vulnerable to have my work going out there, knowing that it won’t be just mine anymore, but will now belong to readers. It’s both wonderful and scary. But overall, incredibly exciting.
Can you tell us what this book is about?
Made in Korea is a young adult romcom about two teens selling Korean beauty products at school and going head to head to out-sell each other… and maybe falling in love along the way.
If you could describe Made In Korea in one sentence, what would it be?
Come for the high school rivalry, stay for the Hi-Chews.
Who was your favorite character to write? Do you see yourself in them?
Would it be cheating to say all of them? Haha. I loved writing from the POVs of both my main characters, Valerie Kwon and Wes Jung. They’re so different from each other, yet I feel like I see parts of myself in both of them. I relate with Valerie’s ambition and tendency to define herself by her goals, as well as Wes’ passion for the arts and people pleasing nature. I love them both a lot, in all their quirks and character flaws.
What inspired you to write Made In Korea?
My inspiration for Made in Korea began with the desire to write a fun, contemporary, unapologetically Korean diaspora story. It started with the thought, ‘I want to write a story about teens selling K-beauty products at school, but I don’t know what else they do yet’ and it just kept on growing from there!
What was / were the biggest aspect(s) you learned while writing your book?
One of the biggest things I learned was how my characters can sometimes know the story better than I do. I was surprised by how much they ended up guiding the plot and showing me what the story was meant to be. Even though I started off with a chapter-by-chapter outline, I found that things changed as I actually started writing and there were moments where I felt like a character was telling me, “No no I would never do something like that” or “I think this should happen instead.” I found that occurred a lot in my process. Writing, especially in the first draft, is largely discovering, and my characters end up being my teachers.
Did 2020 in any way positively or negatively affect your writing process?
I’d say both. On the negative end, I found it really difficult to focus on anything, let alone writing, in the midst of all the pandemic news, especially in the early days (though, to be honest, even now at times). I also really miss writing in cafes and libraries, which I used to do often. On the positive end, I’m very grateful that the pandemic didn’t affect my job situation too much and that I can keep on writing. That’s a real privilege and I’ve been trying to make the most of the extra time I have at home. 2020 was also the year I got an ergonomic chair which has done wonders for those long writing days!
Do you have any advice you would give to aspiring writers who want to take their work into the world of publishing?
Keep on writing. It sounds simple, but there are days where that can feel really hard and all you want to do is quit for good. Just remember that you’re only going to get better and better with each thing you write so don’t give up. No one can tell your stories the way you can.
What are your favorite reads and what recommendations can you make to readers?
If you’re looking for more young adult romcoms, I would highly recommend Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon, When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon, and Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo. For recent releases that I absolutely loved or am eager to read: The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim, Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney, and Like Home by Louisa Onomé. Finally, for some of my all-time favorites: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan, and Pachinko by Min Jin Lee.
Lastly, do you have any other projects in the works?
I do! I can’t share too much about it yet, but I will say that it’s quite different from Made in Korea in that it’s not a romcom, though it still focuses heavily on Korean family dynamics. It also takes place in a setting that holds a very special place in my heart. I hope I can share more soon!
