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WEBSITE: https://www.maerespicio.com
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COUNTRY: United States
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PERSONAL
Married; children: two sons.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer. PEN Emerging Voices Fellow. Hedgebrook writer-in-residence; Atlantic Center for the Arts writer-in-residence; has also worked at the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program.
AWARDS:Honor Award, Asian Pacific American Libraries Association, and Best Book of the Year, National Public Radio, both for The House That Lou Built.
WRITINGS
Contributor of articles and photography to periodicals and magazines, including Pregnancy, Working Mother, Patagonia, Pottery Barn Kids, and Red Tricycle.
SIDELIGHTS
Mae Respicio is an author of middle-grade novels that often feature Filipino-American protagonists. She was a PEN Emerging Voices Fellow and has held numerous writing residencies. Respicio has contributed articles and photography to periodicals and magazines, including Pregnancy, Working Mother, Patagonia, Pottery Barn Kids, and Red Tricycle. Respicio shared how she approaches writing a new book in an article in School Library Journal. She admitted: “I don’t quite have a formula … though it might be easier if I did! I usually start with a few images or words, or a few themes and feelings I hope might (magically?) turn into a story.”
The House That Lou Built centers on Lou Bulosan-Nelson and her large family. Each holiday, they all meet at Lola Celina’s tiny home in San Francisco, where they have to share rooms and squish in. Lou inherited “White” features from her father, causing her to look different than those on the Filipino side of the family. However, she also inherited some land from him after his death, as well as his appreciation for architecture. She plans to use the land to build a house. She enlists help from her family and friends to stave off any problems and make progress on realizing her dream. Writing in Horn Book, Sarah Rettger remarked that “Filipino American culture is a crucial part of her world, and Respicio incorporates it seamlessly into the story.” A Kirkus Reviews contributor commented that “this delightful debut welcomes readers in like a house filled with love.”
In Any Day with You, Kaia is a little sad watching her family play on Southern California’s beaches, knowing full well that her older sister, Lainey, will travel to the Philippines over the summer and move to New York to start college soon. Great-grandfather Tatang also plans to move back to the Philippines permanently, leaving Kaia feeling alone. She hopes to give him a big sendoff by using money she wants to win from a citywide film contest. While making her film, she applies for Tatang to earn the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor after learning about his time serving in the U.S. military during World War II, which should have granted him citizenship. A contributor to Publishers Weekly explained that the “book offers a heartfelt story about family, embracing change, and the meaning of home.” A Kirkus Reviews contributor found the story to be both “contemporary” and “refreshing.” The critic found it to be “a tale of family relationships and transitions told with plenty of heart.”
With How to Win a Slime War, twelve-year-old Alex Manalo is optimistic about moving to Sacramento so his father can take over the family’s Filipino market. Alex loves the idea of running a business, almost as much as he loves slime. He is surprised to see how popular his homemade slime is with the kids at his new middle school. He starts selling his slime, which puts him in direct competition with a classmate who also sells slime. A Kirkus Reviews contributor insisted that “Respicio has written an exciting, fast-paced story of friendship, family, and community.” The same critic said the book is “oozing with fun.”
In Isabel in Bloom, twelve-year-old Isabel Ligaya lives in the rural Philippines with her grandparents. Her mother worked as a domestic helper while studying nursing in the United States. After she begins working as a nurse, she moves Isabel to live with her in California. Isabel’s grandfather advises her to find comfort in the familiar. Isabel is lonely after moving since her mother is busy with her new job and finding a new apartment. Isabel gets involved at a local culinary club and at an Asian American Senior Center. She also begins tending to her school’s neglected garden, filling her time with familiar purpose. A Kirkus Reviews contributor observed that, other than free verse, readers are “introduced to other poetic forms, such as acrostic and concrete poetry.” The same reviewer called the book “heartfelt and moving.” A contributor to Publishers Weekly noticed that the author “examines themes of racism, cultural heritage, and community building by focusing on positive occurrences in Isabel’s life.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Horn Book, July 1, 2018, Sarah Rettger, review of The House That Lou Built, p. 119.
Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2018, review of The House That Lou Built; March 15, 2020, review of Any Day with You; August 1, 2021, review of How to Win a Slime War; March 1, 2024, review of Isabel in Bloom.
Publishers Weekly, April 20, 2020, review of Any Day with You, p. 76; January 22, 2024, review of Isabel in Bloom, p. 89.
School Library Journal, April 8, 2024, Amanda MacGregor, “Boxes, Bridges, and Isabel in Bloom.”
ONLINE
Asia in the Heart, World on the Mind, https://asiaintheheart.blogspot.com/ (May 7, 2019), author interview.
From the Mixed-Up Files, https://fromthemixedupfiles.com/ (July 25, 2024), author interview.
Kid Lit Craft, https://kidlitcraft.com/ (August 20, 2020), author interview.
Mae Respicio website, https://www.maerespicio.com (July 25, 2024).
Nerd Daily, https://thenerddaily.com/ (April 13, 2024), Elise Dumpleton, author interview.
Pine Reads Review, https://www.pinereadsreview.com/ (March 1, 2019), Anna Gerwig, author interview.
I’m Mae Respicio (Here’s how to pronounce it! 😊 Res-pee-cee-yo!) and I write middle grade books full of heart and hope. My novels have received such recognition as the Asian Pacific American Libraries Association Honor Award, NPR Best Book of the Year, and have received starred reviews and been included on numerous state reading and “Best Books” lists.
This pic is of me in my Northern California bowl-cut days. (I’ve tortured my kids with this same hairdo, btw.) As with most things in my life, this site is a work-in-progress. For non-spammy news and the occasional typo, sign up here for my very infrequent newsletter.
Semi-Fancy Writing Bio
Mae is author of the middle grade novels The House That Lou Built, Any Day With You, and How to Win a Slime War (out September 2021). She is the past recipient of a PEN Emerging Voices Fellowship and has been a writer-in-residence at Hedgebrook and the Atlantic Center for the Arts. Her writing & photography has been featured in many publications including Pregnancy Magazine, Working Mother Magazine, Patagonia, Pottery Barn Kids, Red Tricycle and The Bigger the Better the Tighter the Sweater: 21 Funny Women on Beauty, Body Image, and Other Hazards of Being Female (Seal Press), and she worked with the Filipino-American community of Los Angeles to edit the nonfiction book Images of America: Filipinos in Los Angeles (Arcadia Publishing). For many years Mae also worked at the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, developing, implementing, and overseeing top notch literary events, creative and screenwriting courses, and helping to build a thriving literary community. Mae lives with her family in the suburban wild of Northern California.
Ginzu Steak Knives Bio
In addition to middle grade novelist Mae's had lots of fun jobs including: Assistant to 2 Academy-Award Nominated Directors; Worst Waitress Ever; Ginzu Steak Knives Seller; Magazine Telemarketer; Film Studio Video Tape Cataloguer (remember video tapes?); Fancy Hollywood Screenwriter’s Assistant; Studio Coverage Writer; Corporate Communications Facebook Updater Gal Slash Newsletter Writer; On-Air Promotions Writer; Web Content Editor/Writer, After-School Writing Teacher; Writer of Parenting Lists; and University Creative Writing Program Administrator. However, her favorite "job" is as a mama to 2 awesome boys!
Mae and her family live in the suburban wild of Northern California.
Visiting the first tiny house built in the US, which (at the time) was sitting in a backyard in Sonoma, California (the house has since moved to Colorado).
Visiting the first tiny house built in the US, which (at the time) was sitting in a backyard in Sonoma, California (the house has since moved to Colorado).
Boxes, Bridges, and Isabel in Bloom, a guest post by Mae Respicio
April 8, 2024 by Amanda MacGregor Leave a Comment
One of the most common questions I get asked as an author is:
“How do you start writing a book?”
I don’t quite have a formula… though it might be easier if I did! I usually start with a few images or words, or a few themes and feelings I hope might (magically?) turn into a story.
Isabel in Bloom will be my fourth middle grade novel (my first one in verse). When I began writing it, a few intriguing images had come to me: a girl on a plane, a dried-up school garden, and a balikbayan box.
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Other than picturing those things in my head, all I knew is that I wanted to write about creative kids, the intricacies of mother-daughter relationships, and the bridge between homes. The spark I ended up with was about a girl who has only seen her mom five times in five years, since her mom left her behind to become a nanny in the U.S.—a sacrifice to give her daughter a better life.
All the Inspiration
Like many Filipino American kids, I grew up with the ritual of my family sending balikbayan boxes to our loved ones, filled with household goods, from California to the Philippines. The Filipino word “balikbayan” means “returning to one’s country.”
For millions of Filipinos living and working around the world, shipping a balikbayan box has become a symbol of sacrifice, a way to bridge the distance and maintain connections with their roots and loved ones. These boxes have a long, complex history. The Philippine labor diaspora—often mothers who leave their children to work in service jobs abroad—is one of the largest in the world. Yet their journeys go largely untold (I certainly hadn’t heard about it in any middle-grade books yet). And so, the idea of a girl reuniting in a new country with the mom she barely knows was the emotional push I wanted to explore—and what helped me begin writing Isabel’s story.
Still, this was only one nugget of inspiration. I needed a setting.
A balikbayan box sitting in Mae’s parents’ living room.
Generations of Resiliency
What’s happening in our world also affects my writing process. I was working on this book when there was a surge of unprovoked attacks on Asian American elders, which weighed heavily on my mind. I felt hopeless. As with every challenge in my life, I worked through my feelings by journaling. That’s when the idea of setting part of the book at a welcoming Asian American Senior Center found its way into the story. It became important for me to include for young readers how we learn from and honor the generations who came before us.
So I had my inspiration, my setting… the hard part came next. Figuring out Isabel’s story—and how it would end.
Isabel in Bloom amidst California state poppies, one of the many symbols in Isabel in Bloom.
Turning Challenges into Joy
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My Papang (grandfather) used to gather me and my cousins during family events, and tell us his stories of being a Filipino soldier in World War II who survived the Bataan Death March. Amidst the harrowing details, he would always end by sharing the thing that got him through: hope. Hoping he’d stay alive, hoping he’d see his family again. It’s a story of resilience passed down through generations that I wove a bit into one of my former books, Any Day With You.
This type of very Filipino spirit is what eventually helped me find the themes and plot of Isabel’s story, in which a dried-up old garden (along with a few quirky new friends), would help Isabel bridge her old and new countries. And it’s this idea of resilience that gave the book the final spark it needed: a story that intertwined both challenging moments with hopeful ones—mirroring how we all experience everyday life.
I won’t spoil the ending but after (magically!) weaving everything together, what bloomed was Isabel’s story, told through the melody of poetry—all of it carried by hope.
I experienced both deep tenderness and joy in writing Isabel in Bloom, as I hope you will when reading it.
Meet the author
Mae Respicio writes middle grade novels full of heart and hope. THE HOUSE THAT LOU BUILT won the Asian/Pacific American Libraries Association Honor Award and was an NPR Best Book, and her titles have been on many “best books” and state reading lists. Her newest book is a novel in verse, ISABEL IN BLOOM (out 4/9/24). Mae lives with her family including a husband and two sons, one rascally dog, and two sweet domestic pet rats in the suburban wild of Northern California.
Q&A: Mae Respicio, Author of ‘Isabel in Bloom’
Elise Dumpleton·Writers Corner·April 13, 2024·4 min read
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We chat with author Mae Respicio about Isabel In Bloom, which follows a Filipina-American girl who discovers a connection between her two homes through a culinary garden.
Hi, Mae! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello! And sure. I’m a middle grade author with my fourth book, Isabel in Bloom, now out in the world! I’m currently in the Bay Area as I write this, drinking an iced coffee on a very spring-feeling day, and one of my favorite writing snacks while on deadline is ice cream for breakfast. If I had an author-brand, it would be “Asian (specifically Filipino) Joy.”
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
Writing, for me, has been a passion and obsession for as long as I can remember. I started keeping a journal and writing short stories when I was in around third grade and have just kept at it. Journaling is the one consistent thing in my writing life, and one thing I love to do is go through my old childhood and middle school journals to find inspiration for my stories.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
The first book you ever remember reading: Not sure about first book ever, but the first novel I remember reading (and crying while reading) was Charlotte’s Web.
The one that made you want to become an author: A Wrinkle in Time. (If I had two, I’d add the Sweet Valley series. Is this cheating?!)
The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I’ve been obsessed recently with Mia P. Manansala’s Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series. I love them all but especially Arsenic and Adobo.
Your latest novel, Isabel in Bloom, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Resilient girl immigrates and blossoms.
What can readers expect?
All the feelings. Isabel in Bloom is a novel in verse about a girl who has only seen her mom five times in five years, since her mom left her behind to become a nanny in the U.S.—a sacrifice to give her daughter a better life. It’s got something for every kind of kid reader from joyful hobbies like baking and gardening, to fun slumber parties set in the 1990s (anyone remember the game “light as a feather, stiff as a board”?)—to deeper themes of belonging and of discovering “home.” Isabel has a lot of both tender and joyful moments and like all of the middle grade novels I truly love, her story ends in hope.
Where did the inspiration for Isabel in Bloom come from?
I had many different inspirations for the book, but one was the memory of a ritual growing up—helping my mom fill a balikbayan box with household goods before shipping it from California to the Philippines. This is a common ritual for many Filipino American families. “Balikbayan” means “returning to one’s country.” These boxes have a long, complex history that have become symbols of sacrifice—a way for millions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to stay connected to their families, even though they’ve left them behind to give them a better life. Many OFWs are moms who leave their children. It’s a common story in the Filipino diaspora and one I’d never seen in any kids’ novels yet, so I wanted to delve into that emotional journey. What came out was a universal story about a kid who faces change—and a kid who is resilient.
The world around me also influences my writing. I was brainstorming this book when there was a rise in unprovoked attacks on Asian American elders, which deeply impacted me. It ended up sparking one setting in the story—an Asian American Senior Center. I always think of my young audience when I write, so it felt important for me to weave in how we learn from and honor the generations before us.
This is your first novel in verse. Can you tell us a bit about that process of shifting your writing?
You know, I actually wrote the whole first draft in prose before deciding to revise the entire book into verse! I actually don’t recommend doing it that way (haha) but if you must, I’ll say it’s an excellent way to stretch one’s writing muscles. I love how poetry goes straight to the heart, even in just a few words. Since Isabel’s story is deeply emotional, poetry ended up being the most natural format for it. I read a ton of middle grade verse novels before I started drafting; I also re-read some of my favorite Filipino poets like Brian Ascalon Roley, Barbara Jane Reyes, Irene Suico Soriano, and Aimee Nezhukumatathil, to name a few.
See also
Q&A: W. Michael Gear, Author of ‘Adrift’
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Friendship is one thing that gives me such joy to explore in my books, so fleshing out the friends Isabel meets in her new country was super fun. They’re a bunch of creative, funny kids who love baking and cooking and with Isabel’s lead, they turn a dried up old space into something of a culinary garden. I basically wrote the kinds of kids I would have wanted to hang out with when I was their age.
What do you hope your readers take away from Isabel in Bloom?
To know that we can bloom anywhere. In Isabel’s case, she just needed to discover a few different ways to look at her world—plus inspiration from a dried up old garden.
What’s next for you?
A new middle grade novel! This one hasn’t officially been announced yet but it’s another tender and heart-filled book about two twelve-year-old kids who find power and voice in history. It’s going to be told from two POVs—contemporary and historical (early 1900s)—and in both prose and verse. I can’t wait to start sharing more about it soon.
Lastly, are there any book releases that you’re looking forward to picking up this year?
I’m excited for Randy Ribay’s upcoming book, Everything We Never Had. (My teen is excited, too—Randy is one of his favorite authors!)
Will you be picking up Isabel in Bloom? Tell us in the comments below!
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Interview: Mae Respicio Talks About Theme And ANY DAY WITH YOU
I met Mae Respicio when our debut middle-grade novels released in the same year, 2018, and I was so impressed with her as an author and a person. Now Mae has a brand new MG coming out, ANY DAY WITH YOU. The novel got a starred review from Publishers Weekly and will be on shelves in just a couple weeks, on May 5, published by Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
Mae Respicio
Mae Respicio
Mae is a star at working themes into her writing, so I’m thrilled that she’s on The Mixed Up Files to talk to us about that today.
Hi, Mae, tell us about your new MG book!
Of course—and thanks for having me here—I can’t wait to share ANY DAY WITH YOU with readers! The story revolves around twelve-year-old Kaia, who loves the beach, making movies, and creating effects make-up. When Kaia’s ninety-year-old great grandpa, Tatang, decides to return to his homeland of the Philippines, she doesn’t want him to go. Kaia and her best friends make a movie about the Filipino folklore Tatang loves to tell, and they enter it into a summer film contest thinking that if they win, it’ll stop him from saying goodbye. The book is all about family, friendship, and how we navigate change… an early reader told me she thought it was the warm hug we could all use right now and I love that—it’s a feel-good book for these times.
What gave you the idea for this story?
ANY DAY WITH YOU has a lot of personal connections for me. It’s set in sunny beachside Los Angeles, one of my heart-homes where I lived for many years. It has a filmmaking element, which is a world I’ve been a part of (fun fact: I met my husband when we both worked for the Walt Disney Animation Studios, and he did the teeniest bit of interior art for the book!). The story also features “maker-kids”—I’ve got 2 at home!—and as a girl I always loved to draw and create things. Finally, Tatang’s storyline came to be because it’s loosely inspired by my childhood—my grandparents lived with my family for a little while, so intergenerational relationships played a big role in my life. Somehow I combined all these elements and Kaia’s story was born.
ANY DAY WITH YOU has some great themes. Tell us about them.
One of the main themes of ANY DAY WITH YOU is around resiliency: what happens when your life changes, and how do you choose to deal with it? In this very moment our whole world is connected by change, and we’re all learning how to deal with it through empathy, kindness, and patience. It’s timely and a perfect book for kids right now, especially if teachers and parents can gently guide readers through conversations of how we navigate change to make us stronger.
Do you develop your themes when you’re first working on a story or do you identify them later in the process?
Support Independent Bookstores - Visit IndieBound.orgI usually brainstorm with certain themes in mind, but they start off big and overarching until I get to know my characters—that’s when I can get more nuanced. For ANY DAY WITH YOU, I wanted to explore “resiliency”—but I didn’t know what that meant until I came up Tatang’s storyline. That also happened with THE HOUSE THAT LOU BUILT. I wanted to write around “dreaming big” and “persistence,” but I didn’t know what that looked like until I came up with details of a girl wanting to build her own tiny house. When developing themes, I try to answer questions around what choices and obstacles would be thrown my characters way, and what emotions I want readers to come away with.
How do you use themes to dig deeper in your work?
Honestly, I don’t think about digging deep when I’m writing a first draft. I start off with a general story line—a beginning, middle, and end—then I let it all come out however messy… usually my first drafts look like a massive pile of words that make no sense! Revision is when I can dig deep, and that’s where a story’s richness comes in. For me that means using specific images, actions, and character choices that keep relating back the book’s themes. In ANY DAY WITH YOU, there’s some ocean and nature imagery relating to resiliency—so for example, showing how waves change daily but still they roll in a regular rhythm, a bit the way humans keep going even when their lives are disrupted.
Writers often explore similar themes in their body of work. Did you find that ANY DAY WITH YOU had similar themes to your earlier MG book THE HOUSE THAT LOU BOOK?
Support Independent Bookstores - Visit IndieBound.orgOh, definitely. I’ve also published a lot of nonfiction and personal essay, and what I’ve found is that in most things I write there’s some thread of “home”—how do we discover home and what does that mean based on our different lenses.
Are there other parts of the book where you pulled from your own experiences?
My fiction has a balance of what I don’t know (and want to learn more about), and what I know intrinsically and what I’ve lived—usually from childhood—which is the part I think adds layer and spark. Also, as a parent of middle-grade reading kids, I draw from my parenting life—an endless, funny bounty of honest fodder. I grew up going to California beaches and it’s the way my family enjoys spending time together (my kids surf and love all beachy things!), so it was a fun writing exercise pulling from childhood memories and family experiences around the smells, sounds, and feeling of being near the ocean.
When does ANY DAY WITH YOU come out and how will you be celebrating?
ANY DAY WITH YOU comes out May 5th and I’ll be celebrating from home while sheltering in place! This may involve a cake and pajamas. Okay, maybe not PJs if I end up filming a little celebration video and sharing it online, but obviously there will be cake. Folks can follow me on Twitter and Instagram—or sign up for my (very infrequent!) newsletter—where I’ll be shouting out upcoming events.
Thanks, Mae! I’ve learned so much.
You can pre-order ANY DAY WITH YOU now.
AUG 20, 2020
AN INTERVIEW WITH MAE RESPICIO: LEARNING CRAFT WILL ALWAYS SET WRITERS OFF ON THE STRONGEST FOOT
In her latest middle grade novel, Any Day With You, as well as her debut, The House that Lou Built, Mae Respicio tells deeply engaging stories steeped in themes around family and home. In the interview below, Respicio shares what she loves about writing middle grade novels and how craft has informed her writing. Next week, we’ll post an analysis of how Respicio explores these themes of family and home through mood and her highly relatable multi-generational ensemble cast of characters.
KidLit Craft: What do you love about writing middle grade novels?
Mae Respicio: I love finding and writing the joy in middle grade! Our readers are at an age where they’re beginning to thoughtfully explore who they are and form their own opinions of the world—it’s magical when novels inspire them to do so, and my goal is to bring a little of that into my books.
KLC: How has craft study informed your writing?
MR: I managed a creative writing program at UCLA for many years, so I love this question! Learning craft will always set writers off on the strongest foot—no matter your genre. Craft study has informed my writer’s journey in every way: it’s given me a solid writing foundation, helped me learn how to give and receive critiques, taught me what it means to be a good “literary citizen,” and gifted me a community. It’s one thing you can control along your publication path and for me an ongoing part of my creative process.
KLC: Your main character is easy to love. Can you offer some tips for how to build a relatable/lovable character?
MR: Thank you for those kind words! I have two kids and they’re both in their prime middle grade reading age, so observing how they are in the world has helped me understand my characters better. If you can, spending time with kids or even watching middle graders onscreen can give inspiration for tone and spark relatable, kid-friendly details. I’m on my fourth book now and realized the thread among my protagonists: they each have a strong passion and a seemingly unachievable goal, which makes them fun to root for. I also try to give my main characters realistic flaws and challenges to prompt them to ask questions about themselves, so that we can better understand their arc. For me, watching a character’s growth—however big or small—is key to connecting with them in a meaningful way. We feel invested in their journey when we know where they started and when we can see how they’ve changed.
KLC: You did a great job of telling a story with multiple generations of fully-formed characters. Do you have any tips for creating a large cast that spans a broad age range?
MR: For big casts, I aim to give each character something of an arc, no matter how light. One thing I do with minor characters is try to reveal new, interesting details about them throughout the book so even if they don’t have a fully developed arc, the reader feels like there’s some layering and nuance to that character. I’ve found with large ensembles that some characters can start to feel the same. That’s when I ask which of those characters are truly needed to move the story forward—or if I can somehow combine them to serve the same purpose. In my upcoming (2021) novel, one of the minor kid characters felt weirdly similar to a grown-up character, and I realized it was because they were both challenging my protagonist in the exact same way. I had to decide whether to cut one, or revise them to serve different purposes… I kept them both because I like big ensembles!
KLC: What was your biggest learning when you started working with an editor at a publishing house?
MR: It’s been a dream come true to work with two extraordinary, seasoned editors—Wendy Lamb and Dana Carey. Wendy has her own imprint at Random House and she’s published many of my favorite books and authors, so it’s been like a “master class” learning from her deep experience. One craft element I’ve honed while collaborating with them is how to think about theme. I spend a lot of time trying to understand my book’s themes before jumping into drafting, which can bring richness and a meaningful layer to a story. For example in ANY DAY WITH YOU, one theme is resiliency, which I used as a touch point: Does this scene reflect my theme? How does this situation relate to the theme? How do my characters grow from it? What challenges can I throw my main character’s way that gives the story higher stakes around the theme? Those kinds of questions help me not feel as overwhelmed during revision because they help me focus on the heart of the story.
KLC: What advice would now-twice-published-you like to give to unpublished-you about one or more of the following stages of writing: book idea, drafting, revising, etc?
MR: For the drafting process, I’ve learned not to let my editorial eye come in. In my work as a communications writer and journalist I usually edit as I draft in order to “produce” tight, quick work, which is needed for that kind of writing. When I first started writing novels, I tried to use that same process except my mind would get in the way and stall the story. Now, I try to initially draft without doing any editing as I’m drafting—almost stream of consciousness (basically narrating what I see in my head)—simply to get the story out without second guessing myself. That part actually feels freeing and fun! It isn’t until the first revision (on my own without any CPs or my editors) that I begin to refine and look at those words critically. I know other writers who feel the opposite, so sometimes you have to experiment with whatever feels natural for your project.
KLC: What do you wish you had known about the publishing industry that you know now?
MR: One question I hear often is whether a pre-published author needs a social media presence before signing with an agent. You don’t! If you have a platform, that’s great, but it’s not required. I had none when I started. It’s been helpful to me now that I have books out in the world, but there are lots of published writers who aren’t active on social media. If social media feels good, fun, or helpful to you—use it. If not, kids will still find your book. And as for agents and editors, ultimately it’s the strength of your work that will hook them… which goes back to the craft foundation.
KLC: How has being published changed your writing practice/writing process?
MR: I worked as a communications writer and journalist long before publishing my first novel, so I’ve always had that regular “butt-in-chair” time. However with book projects added to the mix, the tough part now is there are only so many hours in a day! It’s definitely changed how I guard my writing time. I try to set strict boundaries around my writing practice with those close to me, because it’s the only way I can focus on deadlines. As a writer-mom, sometimes that means cereal for dinner. (Luckily my family understands!)
KLC: What new things are you trying craft-wise in your current WIP that you haven’t tried before?
MR: I’m attempting multiple POV while switching back and forth between present and past tense! (If that sounds excruciating—it’s because it is!) With multiple POV my challenge has been their voices mushing together and feeling so similar. I’ve been trying to concentrate now on writing only one character at a time, which has helped me sharpen the voice and make each one feel more distinct. I’ll try to refine the voices even more come revision time.
KLC: What do you feel you’ve gained from being a part of the KidLitCraft community?
MR: Support, commiseration, and motivation. The act of writing can be so solitary, and I’m grateful for the camaraderie of my fellow writers—you all inspire me!
Author Interview: Mae Respicio
May 07, 2019
Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!
How are you all celebrating? As part of my celebration, I'm sharing my chat with author Mae Respicio. Her middle grade novel The House That Lou Built (Wendy Lamb Books, 2018) is about Lou Bulosan-Nelson and her dream to build a tiny house (only 100 square feet!) all on her own and on land that she inherited from her father. This Filipino American coming-of-age story is the recipient of the Asian Pacific American Library Association (APALA) 2019 Honor Award in Children’s Literature. Keep reading to discover more about Mae and the book!
Congratulations, Mae! What inspired you to write The House That Lou Built?
There were many things that inspired this book such as my love of building, my desire to write a strong girl at the center of a coming-of-age adventure, and wanting to write a book set in the Bay Area! Although above any of these things what kept me inspired throughout the (sometimes grueling!) writing process, was wanting to write a book that focused on a large, loving Filipino American family. As a kid I was a huge bookworm but middle grade books about Filipino American families didn’t exist—even now they're still rare. I wrote The House That Lou Built largely as a love letter to my culture.
It is SO COOL that you're into building just like Lou! Can you please share a bit more about your experience in building?
I've always been very inspired by building, architecture and design, and I have been through the process of fixing up a house before. My family's first home was a fixer upper in Los Angeles. My husband and I were young and broke at the time, so we ended up taking on most of the renovations ourselves. I took free home improvement classes at our local Home Depot learning how to grout and do other DIY projects, that sort of thing, which was fun and also a huge learning process. Those experiences gave lot of spark to my development of Lou's character and in the tiny house idea.
What was your research and creative process when writing The House That Lou Built?
This is an #ownvoices book for sure, and I drew a lot from memories of my childhood and also just by watching my kids grow up as Filipino American. So a lot of details are familiar to me, like Lou dancing in a Filipino folk dance troupe or living with her lola and coming from a big, lively family. Even the settings are familiar to me since I live in the Bay Area—I really wanted to capture the essence of what places like San Francisco or the redwoods are like. As far as the tiny house element I’ve done a few of my own construction projects, including working on a couple of fixer upper homes with my husband. I’ve never lived in a tiny house though or have built one so I did research that aspect, which was a lot of fun. I spent time talking to people who’ve built them and visited a tiny house in person. The passion within that community is inspiring.
My writing process is that I write every single day and I set regular deadlines for myself, in addition to whatever deadlines I'm given by my editors. It took me a long time to figure this out, but my best advice if you're an aspiring writer is to still treat it like a job—that means setting a regular writing schedule so that you're on your way to "building a writing practice." It's all about creating a habit of writing, even on the days that you're tired or uninspired (which happens for us all!). I've learned that the only way to get words down—and to keep improving your craft—is by having actual "butt in the chair" time. The good part is that the more you do this the more ingrained it becomes. I talk a little more about that here on Episode 66 of the MomWritesPodcast.
As a writer, what are your 10 essentials?
Oooh… hard/good one! Okay, l’ll try:
1. Paper (instead of the screen)
2. My favorite writing pen (Uni-Ball Air Micro—black for writing, red for revising)
3. Water
4. My longtime "writing date" partner
5. Writer friends who don’t want to talk writing and would rather get together for drinks and appetizers
6. Any café with no wifi
7. A good sense of what’s at stake in my story (and what my main character most desires)
8. Iced coffee
9. Chocolate
10. My trusty Neo2 Alphasmart Word Processor (seriously, look it up if you don’t know what this is—your writing will thank you!)
What are you currently working on?
I’m working on my next book, slated to come out in 2020! It’s another heartwarming coming-of-age middle grade novel about a twelve-year-old girl named Kaia. Kaia's obsessed with special effects make-up and uses her unique passion to help her family navigate through a sudden change in their lives.
Bonus: What kind of house are you? :-D
I’d like to think I’m a bahay kubo—the Filipino version of a tiny house!
Thank you so much, Mae! Dear readers, please make sure to grab The House That Lou Built when it's out in paperback in June!
Interview with Mae Respicio
March 1, 2019 Anna Gerwig 0 Comments
About the Author: Mae Respicio is the author of the middle-grade novels THE HOUSE THAT LOU BUILT (out now) and the forthcoming BEACH SEASON, both from Wendy Lamb Books/Random House. Mae is a former recipient of a PEN Emerging Voices Fellowship, a past writer-in-residence at Hedgebrook and Atlantic Center for the Arts, and has published many musings on parenthood. On most writing days she’s powered by iced coffee — and fear of the blank page.
Find Mae Respicio on the following platforms:
Link
Twitter
Instagram
A huge thank you to Mae Respicio for talking with us about her literary career and her latest middle-grade novel, The House That Lou Built. Check it out!
Anna Gerwig: Why do you want to write Middle-Grade novels? What do you wish to share with that audience?
Mae Respicio: Middle-grade books are what made me want to become a writer. I was a huge bookworm growing up and whenever I dug into a title I loved, I would think, “I want to write a book one day, too!” What inspires me most about the middle-grade genre is the feeling of hope and wonder that MG books always convey. My wish is to keep sharing nuanced characters who are finding their place in this world—the same way middle-grade readers are.
AG: There’s a lot of talk about the lack of diversity within the publishing world. Did this impact you as a reader growing up? Have you noticed any progress?
MR: It’s a necessary and long overdue movement to make sure that all kinds of kids, issues and experiences are reflected in what they read. The lack of diverse representation in books (and any media really) impacted me growing up—even through the beginning stages of my adult life, since it wasn’t until recent years that I was able to find any books with Filipino American characters. Books are transformative. They help us step into someone else’s shoes but also inform who we are. Imagine being a reader and never once seeing yourself, family, or culture in a book—or else only reading about the same type of character over and over? That was my experience as a kid-reader, in a time where covers were dominated by fair-skinned, light-haired characters. What does that teach kids about their identity and the world around us? I do think the market landscape is changing, though when I read things like “The Diversity Gap in Children’s Book Publishing, 2018” from Lee and Low Books—statistics on the number of children’s books by and about people of color—I realize there’s still more work to be done.
AG: What was a take-away from your first visit to the Philippines?
MR: I was only a few years old on my first trip to the Philippines so I don’t remember anything except for what I’ve seen in old pictures. The first trip that made a momentous impression on me was in my early teens. At the time, my extended family lived in provinces out in the countryside, and being immersed in that was a very stark contrast to my everyday life in suburban California. As a tween who had some angst about being American while being raised in a very traditional Filipino family, that visit really cemented my roots and made me appreciate my family’s history and journey.
AG: I love that Lou’s story is told through the lens of building a house — it’s so unique and demonstrated a lot of family themes. How and why did you decide to include this element and make it central to her story?
MR: I’m definitely into all things related to home and design, and was that way when I was a kid—I used to spend hours building forts and drawing my dream houses! The first house I lived in with my husband was a fixer-upper, which we fixed largely ourselves. I think there’s something innately satisfying and inspiring about creating things with your own hands. I have two kids and they’re always building and tinkering too, brainstorming ideas and making them come to life—that’s fun to see. So somehow I put all of these elements together and came up with an idea nugget: a girl who builds a tiny house. The more I fleshed out the idea the more it made sense as the premise of a middle grade novel. There’s so much rich symbolism to a house and ultimately it helped give the book its structure. Lou’s arc in physically building her tiny house parallels what she’s building inside of her as she explores the meaning of “home.”
AG: After moving around a lot, and even living in the Philippines, I really resonated with Lou when she said, “home isn’t necessarily a place; it’s more of a feeling — of comfort and trust, of people who are a part of you. And I’m lucky, because it means I have a lot of different homes.” Where’s home for you? And when do you feel most at home?
MR: How cool that you lived in the Philippines! I have a handful of communities that I always call “home” and I think the thread is that they’re all places where I have the confidence to be completely myself without reservation or judgment.
AG: As Lou’s dad wrote, “sometimes plans change,” and Lou’s plans changed a lot! There was a lot of back-and-forth between Lou and her mom as secrets were revealed. Did you know all of these twists ahead of time? Did you know all along that Lou would not finish her house? (I guess a bigger question is: how much do you plan out your stories and how much do you discover along the way?)
MR: I knew that I didn’t want Lou’s journey of creating her tiny house to be easy, and I decided early on in the drafting process that I didn’t think it would be realistic for her to finish building it in only a few months time (the book is set over the summer). However, many of the plot twists and turns happened as I was writing and were not scenes I outlined beforehand. I was more of a “pantser” for this novel, starting with a very general outline—the things I knew needed to happen in the beginning, middle and end of the book—then filling in the blanks as I got to know my characters and their world better. My upcoming book is a little different; I had much more of detailed outline, which was needed since I had a deadline! I think pantsers are sometimes scared of plot/structure (or at least this pantser!), but a novel needs it at some point whether you start with it before drafting, or end up adding it in during your revision process.
AG: What’s a current project that intimidates you? How has Lou inspired you?
MR: Every project starts off with a blank screen, which is always equally intimidating and terrifying! Lou inspired me to go for my dreams. Her persistence and determination inspires me.
AG: What has been one of the most meaningful responses to LOU?
MR: Oh gosh, there have been so many meaningful responses to LOU and it’s been a joy to hear how readers have connected with this book on such a variety of different levels—everything from the cultural themes to the #stronggirl aspect to the themes of creativity. One response that really made me tear up was a reader who tweeted that she had never seen herself in a book until she read Lou’s story in her late thirties.
AG: What was one thing that surprised you about becoming a published author?
MR: The thing that has surprised me most about becoming a published author is that all of the authors I’ve connected with have had such different publication journeys—no two publishing paths are the same. All this means is: keep going in your work… you can do it!
Respicio, Mae THE HOUSE THAT LOU BUILT Wendy Lamb/Random (Children's Fiction) $16.99 6, 12 ISBN: 978-1-5247-1794-0
A 13-year-old biracial girl longs to build the house of her dreams.
For Lou Bulosan-Nelson, normal is her "gigantic extended family squished into Lola's for every holiday imaginable." She shares a bedroom with her Filipina mother, Minda--a former interior-design major and current nurse-to-be--in Lola Celina's San Francisco home. From her deceased white father, Michael, Lou inherited "not-so-Filipino features," his love for architecture, and some land. Lou's quietude implies her keen eye for details, but her passion for creating with her hands resonates loudly. Pining for something to claim as her own, she plans to construct a house from the ground up. When her mom considers moving out of state for a potential job and Lou's land is at risk of being auctioned off, Lou stays resilient, gathering support from both friends and family to make her dream a reality. Respicio authentically depicts the richness of Philippine culture, incorporating Filipino language, insights into Lou's family history, and well-crafted descriptions of customs, such as the birdlike Tinikling dance and eating kamayan style (with one's hands), throughout. Lou's story gives voice to Filipino youth, addressing cultural differences, the importance of bayanihan (community), and the true meaning of home.
This delightful debut welcomes readers in like a house filled with love. (Fiction. 8-13)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Respicio, Mae: THE HOUSE THAT LOU BUILT." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Mar. 2018. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A530650753/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=626114c7. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
The House That Lou Built
by Mae Respicio
Intermediate, Middle School Lamb/Random 233 pp.
6/18 978-1-5247-1794-0 $16.99 Libraryed. 978-1-5247-1795-7 $19.99
e-booked. 978-1-5247-1796-4 $10.99
Lou Bulosan-Nelson dreams of building houses, and when her mother announces plans to leave San Francisco for a better-paying job in Washington State, Lou decides it's time to build a tiny house on the lot left by her late father. With help from middle-school classmates, shop teacher Mr. Keller, and the younger generation of her tight-knit Filipino family, Lou--already a connoisseur of the local junkyard and a skilled power-tool user--dodges her mother's disapproval and starts building. Preparations for the annual Barrio Fiesta round out her days, and Lou's ties to her family and community play key roles in making her dreams come true while also accounting for the practical challenges her single mother deals with. Lou is a thoroughly engaging narrator, passionate about her interests ("every new thirteen-year-old girl needs ... a circular saw") and deeply committed to friends and family. Filipino American culture is a crucial part of her world, and Respicio incorporates it seamlessly into the story, making it clear that her protagonist's community is a hybrid and evolving one (Lou's grandmother: "When I was a girl my wish was to get far away from the bahay kubo. I wanted to give my family more. And now look at you, bringing the one-room house back into style")--and that her contributions to it are essential ones.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/default.asp
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Rettger, Sarah. "The House That Lou Built." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 94, no. 4, July-Aug. 2018, p. 119. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A548321818/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ed6ed2d0. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Respicio, Mae ANY DAY WITH YOU Wendy Lamb/Random (Children's Fiction) $16.99 5, 5 ISBN: 978-0-525-70757-8
Family, folklore, and honors long overdue.
Kaia watches as her family plays on the beach in Southern California. She knows this is the last summer before her older sister, Lainey, leaves for her graduation trip to the Philippines and then heads off to college in New York. When her great-grandfather Tatang announces he is moving back to the Philippines, Kaia is shocked. The thought of losing two close confidants at once springs her into action. She will develop her special-effects makeup skills and win a citywide film contest with her friends as a grand sendoff for Tatang. Kaia’s focus is on her film, inspired by Filipinx folklore, until she learns that Tatang served in the U.S. military during World War II only to be robbed of promised citizenship and honors. Her strategy then becomes twofold: She continues on the film while filling out an application for Tatang to finally receive a Congressional Gold Medal of Honor. Kaia’s family is originally from the Ilocos region of the Philippines, and tidbits of Filipinx folklore and culture are woven into the story—at times the explanations of these cultural themes impede the narrative flow. However, as she did in The House That Lou Built (2018), Respicio brings another refreshing contemporary glimpse into the Filipinx American experience while exposing the overlooked history and contributions of Filipinos in the U.S.
A tale of family relationships and transitions told with plenty of heart. (Fiction. 8-12)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Respicio, Mae: ANY DAY WITH YOU." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Mar. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A617192875/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a5b43dcc. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Any Day with You
Mae Respicio. Random/Lamb, $16.99 (224p) ISBN 978-0-525-70757-8
Filipina-American Kaia, 12, begins to see her beloved 90-year-old great-grandfather, Tatang, in a new light when he announces that he'll be moving from their Santa Monica home to live in his homeland year-round. The retired teacher is a source of unwavering encouragement and support for Kaia, and the two often share quiet moments and thoughtful conversations. Intent on dissuading him, the budding digital effects artist enters a beach-themed film competition with her best friends, hoping that winning the contest with a project inspired by Filipino mythology will change his mind. Kaia's deep respect for and connection with Tatang provides an emotional lens through which to view his youthful experiences, including his immigration to America 60 years prior, internment following the Bataan Death March, and service during WWII. As she comes to understand the meaning behind Tatang's choices--and the importance of his autonomy--her perception of him expands alongside her awareness of her own strengths and the opportunities available to her. Rich with opportunities for discussion and contemplation, Respicio's (The House That Lou Built) book offers a heartfelt story about family, embracing change, and the meaning of home. Ages 8-12. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary. (May)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
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"Any Day with You." Publishers Weekly, vol. 267, no. 16, 20 Apr. 2020, p. 76. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A623444764/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=15f68b7a. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Respicio, Mae HOW TO WIN A SLIME WAR Wendy Lamb/Random (Children's None) $16.99 9, 14 ISBN: 978-0-593-30267-5
The new kid in town finds himself caught up in a slime-selling battle.
Twelve-year-old Alex Manalo is passionate about two things: slime and business. So when he and his dad (his mother has died) move from Silicon Valley to Sacramento to take over his grandparents’ struggling Filipino market, he is excited that they’ll have their own business. Being the new kid isn’t easy, and while Alex isn’t sporty or tall like the popular kids at his old school, he soon discovers that his new middle school is big on slime. Alex makes all kinds of slime with different ingredients, textures, and smells, garnering the attention of his classmates. A new friend convinces him to sell his slime, but that spurs a slime war with the girl who holds the slime monopoly at school. It isn’t going to be easy, especially when his dad thinks slime is a waste of time and that Alex should be playing soccer. With his hands in many different activities, Alex fights to win sticky battles with his family, new friends, and himself. Respicio has written an exciting, fast-paced story of friendship, family, and community. Throughout the book, Alex often struggles to make his opinions heard, but he eventually finds his voice and understands what it really means to be a winner. Alex and his family are Filipino; there is diversity in the supporting cast. The book includes different slime recipes.
Oozing with fun. (Fiction. 8-12)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Respicio, Mae: HOW TO WIN A SLIME WAR." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A669986382/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=9aed9ec7. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Mae Respicio. Delacorte/Lamb, $17.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-5933-0271-2
Understated verse and other poetic forms shape this reassuring 1999-set story of a persevering Filipina tween adapting to a new life. Twelve-year-old Isabel Ligaya lives with her jasmine-growing grandparents in the rural Philippines. She was seven when her mother left for lucrative domestic work in America; now, after earning a nursing degree, Mama makes plans for Isabel to move to California. Her grandfather's advice ("When things feel hard/ find the familiar./ The people/ places/things/that feel like/ home") and her grandmother's gift of a tiny glass bottle of soothing jasmine scent provide comfort. In San Francisco, she feels abandoned by her mother, who's busy job-seeking and apartment-hunting, and when Isabel tries befriending classmate Melissa, who is also Filipina, Melissa's friend Ashley swipes Isabel's jasmine bottle and declares the contents "gross." But soon Isabel discovers the school's neglected garden, and tending to its ailing plants, as well as frequenting a welcoming Culinary Club and Asian American Senior Center, help her establish new friendships and a sense of purpose. Respicio (How to Win a Slime War) examines themes of racism, cultural heritage, and community building by focusing on positive occurrences in Isabel's life, throughout offering solutions that model helpful next steps for readers in similar circumstances. Supporting characters are intersectionally diverse. Ages 8-12. Agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary. (Apr.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
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"Isabel in Bloom." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 3, 22 Jan. 2024, pp. 89+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A781418406/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=0bec54b9. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Respicio, Mae ISABEL IN BLOOM Wendy Lamb/Random (Children's None) $17.99 4, 9 ISBN: 9780593302712
A tween girl finds ways to connect her old life in the Philippines to her new life in America.
It's 1999, and 12-year-old Isabel Ligaya is leaving the one home she's ever known to live in San Francisco. She's excited but nervous to be reunited with Mama, who moved to the U.S. five years ago for work, hoping to provide better lives for Isabel and her grandparents. San Francisco couldn't be more different from the gardens and greenery she's used to. Feeling like she doesn't belong in this strange place with a mom she barely knows, Isabel searches for "the people / places / things / that feel like / home," just like Lolo, her grandfather, told her to. She finds solace in her school's forgotten garden, makes friends in the culinary club, and learns to grow and bloom in her new environment. Told in verse, this is a charming story of growth, family, friends, community, and finding connections between old and new. Isabel's thoughts, her intense and sometimes conflicting feelings about immigrating, and her changing relationship with her mother are beautifully expressed and relatable. Sprinkled throughout the text are details about Filipino American history and Filipino culture, language, and diaspora experiences. While most of the book is written in free verse, readers are also introduced to other poetic forms, such as acrostic and concrete poetry.
Heartfelt and moving. (author's note) (Verse fiction. 8-12)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Respicio, Mae: ISABEL IN BLOOM." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Mar. 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A784238317/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=85a75532. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.