1. What's your hidden talent?
I have about six different handwriting types. Unfortunately, I didn’t discover this hidden talent until I had finished school and couldn’t use it for useful things like writing my own excuse notes.
2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
You can’t go past the delicious evilness of Harry Potter’s Dolores Umbridge. I think she is so much more sinister than Voldemort or even the likes Hannibal Lecter. Also a big fan of Cruela de Vil (mostly thanks to the catchy song!)
3. You're hosting a literary dinner party, which five authors would you invite? (alive or dead)
(I wrote this question! Why did I write this question? Authors who have thus far answered this question, I’m so sorry!)
Okay, my list is Virginia Woolf, Stephen King, George R R Martin, Maya Angelou and Neil Gaiman. If we had time for a game of charades, that would be awesome.
4. Which literary invention do you wish was real?
Talking animals.
5. What are five words that describe your writing process?
Discovery. Comfort. Frustration. Gouging. Heart.
6. Which are the five words you would like to be remembered by as a writer?
Relatable. Inventive. Generous. Touching. Human.
7. Picture your favourite writing space. What are five objects you would find there?
Cup of coffee. Notebook and pen. Laptop. And a charger (because nothing sends me into a greater fit of anxiety than my battery running out.)
8. Grab the nearest book, open it to page 22 and look for the second word in the first sentence. Now, write a line that starts with that word. (Please include the name of the book!)
I’m reading When Michael Met Mina at the moment. The word is ‘had’.
Had he arrived at the junction just two heartbeats later, he would have missed the window rolling down and the flash from the muzzle.
9. If you could ask one author one question, what would the question be and who would you ask?
Can I ‘poke the bear’ and ask George R R Martin when the next book is coming out?
10. Which would you rather do: 'Never write another story or never read another book'?
Definitely never write. I could never write without reading anyway, my mind would just turn stale.
Wai Chim is an US-born children's author living in Australia. Her previous books include the junior fiction Chook Chook series published by UQP. Her latest book is her debut YA novel Freedom Swimmer, published by Allen & Unwin. Visit Wai Chim's website and Facebook page for more information about her books and writing including a collection of Asia Literacy Resources for the Australian Curriculum.