Author Interview with Roselle Lim – Wikathon 2022

What is your pastry and beverage combination of choice?

SHEALEA: Hi, Roselle! It’s a wonderful honor to have you on the blog today, especially for Wikathon 2022, which aims to celebrate Filipino authors and literature. Thank you for your time!

I’m a little rusty with author interviews, so let’s ease into it with a few opening questions: Let’s imagine that we’re having this interview in a beautiful café. What pastry and beverage would you order from the menu?

ROSELLE LIM: This would have to be leek and parmesan pastry with an iced matcha latte made with almond milk. Savoury pastries are my jam, and the almond milk also means I’m one of the common Asians with lactose intolerance.

SHEALEA: Delicious! I personally love a well-made iced matcha latte myself.

What are three quick tidbits about yourself that most of your readers might not know yet?

ROSELLE LIM: First, I went to art school for a year, which may or may not be evident in my social media posts. Second, I can’t make or bake macarons for the life of me. I can make a soufflé and that’s comparable difficulty-wise, but for some reason, I keep failing at them. Last, I’m a trivia nut. I love Trivial Pursuit, escape rooms, and logic puzzles. This is a big hint for Book 4.

Are there any media that you’ve been avidly consuming lately? Can you share a few titles with us?

ROSELLE LIM: Right now, I just finished The Bear and I’m totally obsessed. I love this show so much. I’ve also watched The Boys and The Summer I Turned Pretty recently. I’m under a ton of stress at the moment, and I’m in a bit of a reading slump. It’s easier for me to consume visual media lately.

If Sophie Go were to be stranded on a deserted island, what 3 personal items would she take with her?

SHEALEA: You’re doing great so far! For the rest of this interview, I’d love to know more about your latest book, Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club, which coincidentally releases today. Talk about kismet! So, let’s get to know its leading lady. If Sophie Go were to be stranded on a deserted island and could only bring 3 personal items, what would she take with her?

ROSELLE LIM: A snack vault because she can’t live without sugar, an electric toothbrush for all the candy she’ll consume, and something to listen to The Beatles on whether it’s an old-fashioned record player or a digital one.

What differentiates Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club from your other published books?

ROSELLE LIM: [Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club] is a novel that’s a balance of light and dark. In contrast, it’s about as heavy as Nat Tan in one way and as fluffy as Vanessa in another. I wanted to show how life can be equal parts pain and joy — that the coexistence of both is necessary to show the realistic narrative I wanted to portray.

How does your own relationship with food influence your writing in Sophie’s book?

SHEALEA: As I’ve read much of your work, I’ve noticed a recurring emphasis on food. How does your own relationship with food influence your writing, particularly in Sophie’s book?

ROSELLE LIM: Sophie’s book is reliving all my childhood snacks. Before I sat down to write this, I thought about food — what kind to feature and what suited the main character best. Because Sophie had such a childlike wonder approach to life, candies and snacks were the perfect fit.

On a personal note, I love food so much I have to write about it. It’s my way to express how I see the world in all its delicious glory.

How did you navigate abusive parents and toxic households while writing this story?

SHEALEA: Despite the cheerfully bubblegum-esque book cover, Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club delves into deeply complex issues, namely, abusive parents and toxic households. How did you navigate this while writing the story?

ROSELLE LIM: This was something I wanted to explore since Natalie and Vanessa had supportive parents. I wanted to delve into the reality of the other side — to explore what could happen if your parents were to demand everything from you, including your own happiness. The struggle to please your parents and fulfill filial piety is such a complex problem that is universally relatable.

What was your process in writing the Old Ducks? Did any of them give you a difficult time?

SHEALEA: The Old Ducks are such a hilariously entertaining bunch of characters! I definitely grew to love them all. What was your process in writing them? Did any of them give you a difficult time?

ROSELLE LIM: Believe it or not, they came out pretty fleshed out in my head. They had distinct personalities and all I had to do was imagine conversations with them or put them into situations they could react to. Each of them had a quirk or trait from my own grandparents.

The trickiest part in this book is making sure I don’t refer to any of these Old Ducks by anything other than their codenames and that Sophie doesn’t mention said names to them or anyone else around except for Yanmei.

SHEALEA: I loved the creative use of codenames in the book. I can definitely see the challenge in incorporating them seamlessly while protecting the characters’ real names throughout the story! I’ve got to ask, though. Among the codenames that you’ve bestowed upon your characters, which was your favorite one?

ROSELLE LIM: Mr. Durian. It’s all about the stinky fruit that tastes better than its scent. It’s such a distinct and unmistakable smell that even now, I can sniff it. I love that it evokes such a visceral, physical response.

Did you draw any celebrity or real-life inspiration for Mr. Particular’s character?

SHEALEA: Let’s get the tea! Did you draw any celebrity or real-life inspiration for Mr. Particular’s character? (Asking because he’s a dreamboat!)

ROSELLE LIM: Mr. Particular is a cross between Harry Shum Jr. and Manny Jacinto in looks. The way he dresses is like he’s stepped out of the pages of Vogue Hong Kong. He’s the type that you want to bury your face in his sweater because he smells heavenly.

Can you share one or two of your favorite passages from the book?

SHEALEA: What were your favorite scenes to write? Can you share one or two of your favorite passages from the book?

ROSELLE LIM: This is from Chapter 19 and it deals with Mr. Sorrow.

Can you tell us about your upcoming projects?

SHEALEA: I’ve noticed that some of your answers allude to the main characters (Natalie and Vanessa) from your previous books – and how Sophie’s story contrasts with theirs. It’s really cool that Book 3 looks into specific areas that weren’t depicted in Books 1 and 2, despite all of them being standalone novels. Having said that, as an author, what are you planning to explore next? Can you tell us about your upcoming projects?

ROSELLE LIM: I’m jumping into an [entirely] new universe next — more fantastical than the ones in the three books. It involves two exes trapped with gods and ghosts. These two have to work together while dealing with their baggage. It also has spicy scenes — which is a first for me. Also, I’m also working on a YA fantasy that I hope I can share details of soon. I’m so excited about this project.

SHEALEA: Hold on. Spicy scenes, you say? 🌶🌶🌶

What feeling or message do you hope to impart to readers after they finish this book?

ROSELLE LIM: I’m hoping readers will understand Sophie’s choices and her life, and why she is the way that she is; that loneliness is something we all experience from time to time, and that every person is deserving of love and that wanting to be loved, is nothing ever to be ashamed of.