Yong Takahashi Q & A

#author #authorinterview

What is your name?

Yong Takahashi.

When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?

I wrote when I was a child but started studying the craft in 2009.

What genre books do you write?

General/commercial fiction.

What is the name of your book/books?

Intersections (March 2020)

Were there alternate endings you considered?

No, usually I know the beginning and the ending before I start.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Don't worry about the rules.

Does your family support your career as a writer?

Only my husband.

What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?

How they think and solve problems.

Does writing energise or exhaust you?

I get energized from writing songs and poetry.

What items do you surround yourself with when you write?

I write on legal pads at Starbucks. I have a chai tea latte every morning.

What is your favourite genre of books to read?

Commercial fiction, short stories.

What is your favourite childhood book?

Any Judy Blume book.

Do you have a favourite author or one who inspires you to write?

Louise Penny - she started writing later in life and she still writes a novel a year.

What words of wisdom would you give to someone who wants to be an author?

Just write it. Worry about editing later. Writing is subjective. One personal will love it. Another will hate it.

You can find out more about Yong Takahashi and their writing here.