About the Book:
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| Check out the Book on Amazon |
Not yours, Truly is a collection of ten short stories that centre around ten different women in very different circumstances. Through uncensored and haunting prose, the reader closely follows each woman's battle against the inner and outer demons of her life. While some women emerge triumphant, some women don't. Not yours, Truly explores issues of abuse, sexism, and mental health of the women around us.
Interview with Giselle Chan
When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?
I used to hate creative writing. I thought I was awful at it, but I started developing a love for writing when I was 9. I sat next to a boy in fourth grade who got really invested in one of my creative writing assignments about a piece of cotton candy named Sir Pink. He kept on asking for “updates” as I wrote the story, and honestly, that made me realize that creative writing wasn’t so bad after all. (Thanks Matthew!)What inspires you to write?
I am inspired by the women in my life and their stories that they may not always be able to tell.How did you come up with the idea for your current story?
My book is a collection of short stories, so each story is inspired by an issue that affects real life women on a day-to-day basis. I try to be as clear and organic in my prose to give the reader a distinct understanding of the issue from a woman’s point of view.Are there some stories tucked away in some drawer that was written before and never saw the light of the day?
Definitely! As an author that writes short stories, I have at least 30 story drafts labelled “Untitled document” in my Google Drive Drafts folder. I have another 10 in my “Drafts I might actually consider” folder.Tell us about your writing process.
I tend to be inspired by something, and then I’ll mull on the inspired idea for as long as I need to—this can be a couple of days or even a couple of months. When I finally have a story starting to form, I immediately start typing. However, the stories tend to form mostly when I’m on public transit which can be rather inconvenient, so I’ll usually draft and jot down what I want to write on the bus and I’ll edit and format it when I get home after school/work.Did any of your characters inherit some of your own quirks?
Yes, each character has one small characteristic that they share with me—but you probably wouldn’t be able to identify it unless you knew me very well!Do you read? Who are your favourite authors and how have they influenced your writing style?
Yes! I have terrible eyesight because my parents tried to stop me from reading when I was a kid, so I hid in the closet and read with a flashlight. My favourite authors are Nancy Lee, Kim Thuy, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and Edgar Allen Poe.What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?
It is easier to edit a bad story than to edit a blank page.What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Keep writing, even if you think your story is bad! It’s true—you can’t edit your story if you don’t have a story in the first place. You can always edit and improve your “bad” story later on.How do you spend your free time? Do you have a favorite place to go and unwind?
I really enjoy working out. I was a competitive athlete growing up, so fitness was always something I strived to constantly improve. Now, I like to go for a run or hit the gym to sweat it out.Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
Become a lawyer!Tell us three fun facts about yourself.
I’m a pianist as well as a piano teacher, I’m very short, and I’m scared of apples.What do you have in store next for your readers?
A second book, hopefully!About the Author:
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| Author's Amazon Page |
Giselle Chan is a Chinese-Canadian author based in Toronto, Canada. She is an accomplished athlete and pianist. Although often claiming to be busy, she can usually be found taking a nap. Not yours, Truly is her first book.
