Jun 11, 2024

Behind the Pages: Jackie Lau's Sweet Literary Journey

Jackie Lau studied engineering and worked as a geophysicist before turning to writing romance novels. She decided she wanted to be a writer as early as grade two, sometime between penning "The Heart That Got Lost" and "The Land of Shapes," but didn't pursue it seriously until her mid-twenties. Jackie is the author of the newly released novel "Love, Lies, and Cherry Pies," a charming rom-com about a young woman’s desperate attempts to fend off her meddling mother… only to find that maybe mother does know best.

On Jackie's Writing Process
It doesn’t work for everyone, but I’m a very routine-oriented person. I usually write (or revise) in three ninety-minute blocks a day, and each of those blocks always begins with making a cup of coffee or tea. I go for a walk every afternoon to clear my head. I write my first drafts in about a month, and I usually do two rounds of revisions before the manuscript goes to the editor.

Inspiration Behind Her Latest Book
It was partly inspired by Bridget Jones’s Diary, which is the book that finally made me start writing as an adult. I sort of think of it as an Asian (and Canadian) millennial version of Bridget Jones, which itself is a loose retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I want readers to finish the novel with a smile on their face.

Career Highlight
Seeing my book in stores is definitely cool! Also, learning that a publisher was interested in buying Donut Fall in Love is something I’ll never forget.

On Cultural Background and Characters
When I started this penname, I decided that every romance would have at least one Chinese Canadian main character, and I’ve now written well over twenty books. My maternal grandparents came to Canada from China in the 1950s; some of my characters have a similar family history to mine, but there are often significant differences. I love writing Asian families, and these are typically an important part of my stories.

Advice for Aspiring Writers
Writing advice isn’t one-size-fits-all, and it can take some time to figure out which process works for you.

On Jackie's Summer Reading List
Some summer romance releases I’m excited for: Just Playing House by Farah Heron and The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood. I also need to get Kevin Kwan’s Lies and Weddings. Currently reading: Wild Pitch by Cat Giraldo.