Interview with Sapphire Chow's Estate

A debut book’s publication is a time to celebrate just like Mid-Autumn Festival! In a sad turn of events, Sapphire Chow, who had been battling lung cancer, passed shortly after signing the contract for this book. This book launch, then, is also a time to remember and honor her. Sapphire Chow’s creative talent and love for books will forever be remembered with this book, and Dunham Literary is pleased to present this interview with Rosalind Chow, daughter of debut author Sapphire Chow.
 
Sapphire’s story MESSAGE IN THE MOONCAKE centers on Mid-Autumn Festival, which is coming upon us this season! Did you celebrate this holiday when you were young? What about now? Do you know what about it inspired your mother to write a story set during this holiday?
 
As a family we did not celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with any formal traditions. Each year we celebrated by visiting family in Toronto and purchasing mooncakes to share, and the family-gathering aspect of it was wrapped up together with our Canadian thanksgiving celebrations.
 
Sapphire was always looking to learn more about Chinese history and traditions, which was the inspiration for writing this story. She wanted to share stories and folklore around her heritage as she felt the material deserved to be shared, and she enjoyed learning more about it herself during the research process.
 
What do you think will draw other readers to Sapphire’s work?
 
Message in the Mooncake is such a unique retelling of an old folktale.  The historical setting and possible plausibility of events helps the reader feel like they are with Su Ling on her journey – like they are part of the Chinese resistance with her.
 
Can you share anything about your mother’s writing process? Did she discuss what she was working on or share pages with you?
 
My children and I were the test subjects for Sapphire as she developed the early drafts of her ideas for new stories. She would have us read through the drafts and note what the kids did and did not like about the story, and we would discuss them together at length around the dinner table, looking for ways they could be fine-tuned.
 
Sapphire has said that books were scarce during her childhood and that she really began appreciating children's literature when she became a mother. What can you tell us about your mother’s early life?
 
Sapphire was born in Calcutta, India (now Kolkata) as the youngest of five siblings. There she grew up speaking both English and Hindi.  The family later moved back to their ancestral home,  China, where she learned Cantonese in Hong Kong and became fully immersed in Chinese culture.
 
During her childhood in Calcutta she has said that households owning children’s books was not commonplace and that libraries were not established.  My aunt recalls that on occasion there was a man who came around their neighborhood who would rent comic books to residents.  She told us he would carry around a big bag of these old comic books on his bike, and serviced multiple local communities in the area.  And these were the earliest types of books that were available to their family.
 
Were there books that you remember reading together as a family that you loved?
 
Back when my brother and I were growing up, when children’s audiobooks were not as popular and available as they are now, my mother would borrow a tape recorder and children’s books from the library to record herself reading aloud so that she could play them for us on long car trips.  She was very animated in her readings with voices for each character and sound effects.  She read a lot of books to us, and it is hard to pick favourites – although I can recall many of the Robert Munsch books were regular requests of ours, such as Thomas’ Snowsuit and Stephanie’s Ponytail.
 
We know that Sapphire loved her grandchildren and dedicated this book to them. Can you share anything about their reaction to the book?
 
Garrett and Heather are 7 and 6 now that the book is being released. The words had been read to them before during Sapphire’s first drafts of the book, and they enjoyed the story - but since they are older now, and of course seeing it all put together in that first physical copy with pictures, it seemed to take on a whole new spin for them. It sparked a lot more curiosity and questions, followed by imaginative comments about what it must have been like to live in ancient China.
 
As you’ve stepped into the role of managing Sapphire’s literary estate, what have been some of the things about the publishing industry that surprised you?
 
Luckily for me, before Sapphire passed away she had secured Anjanette as her agent, and had already established a relationship with Barefoot Books.  Having the help of industry insiders removed all of the questions and guesswork for me - Anjanette has been so key in keeping me on track and the team of editors and marketers at Barefoot Books made it a very seamless transition for me.  
 
Thank you for taking the time to share with us! Is there anything that you would love for reader to know about your mom in closing?
 
When Sapphire realized her dream of becoming a children’s book author she committed herself to it fully.  She took courses, attended webinars, connected with other aspiring writers, and borrowed oh so many children’s books from the library to study herself. She was determined to achieve that dream, and didn’t let anything get in her way.
 
But above all else, she was the best Pho Pho. She absolutely captivated Garrett and Heather with stories, dancing, cooking, outings, and endless crafts and games. She will always be remembered by her close family as caring and full of zeal for life.