Ten Questions That Rock: GCC Style - China Dolls

I'm always in awe of authors who team up to write. I'm such a lone wolf, I can't even get into finding an exercise buddy much less creating an entire work of fiction with someone. So hats off to today's GCC authors, Blossom Kan and Michelle Yu, the brains behind China Dolls.




Hey ladies! You're in the clique lounge, so kick back and relax.

TCL: What protag would you want on your Celeb Deathmatch tag team and why?

We would want Miranda Priestley from The Devil Wears Prada on our Celebrity Deathmatch tag team -- have you seen those stiletto heels?

TCL: Shoes say a lot about a person, what type of shoe are you? Choose your own or pick from these: high-priced heel, budget brand flats, caz Birkenstocks, comfy clog or athletic sneaks

I am definitely a wedge heel gal - I'm short so I need all the height I can get! Michelle, on the other hand, lives in her Pumas!

TCL: What type of writer are you: plot-driven or character-driven

We are totally character-driven. For CHINA DOLLS, we first came up with the characters and the themes we wanted to explore - the plot grew out of those decisions.

TCL: Word association time. What do you think when I say:

Chick-lit - BRIDGET JONES' DIARY
Best seller - NANNY DIARIES
Best Band Ever - GREEN DAY
Most rockin' author - NICK HORNBY (not sure why this came to mind - I
think I have High Fidelity stuck in my head)

TCL: Name the Top 3 books on your TBR List
1) Special Topics in Calamity Physics
2) Prep
3) What Came Before He Shot Her

TCL: If you had anything to do with it, what would the next hot lit trend be?

If we had any say, we would do away with the trends. We've personally never followed trends in what we read - for example, everyone may be saying that chick lit is dead, but we're still out there buying and reading chick lit.

TCL: What celeb would you love to see play your MC on the big or small screen and why?

Well, we're a little limited because our MC is Asian. So I guess it would have to be Lucy Lui or Zhang Zhiyi (the girl who kicked ass in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon).

TCL: Whether it's because you admire their work or adore them, who's your author crush?

I think our author crushes are Emma MacLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, the writers of THE NANNY DIARIES. Michelle and I have gotten to spend some time with Emma and Nicola, and they are the two coolest, nicest, most interesting girls. They've given us a lot of great advice and we really admire them! Okay, I'll stop gushing now.

TCL: What TV show do you watch that you're ashamed to admit liking?
Michelle and I both grew up watching soap operas, so for me, it's GENERAL HOSPITAL and for her it's DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Michelle LOVES John Black!

TCL: SSP- Tell the cliquesters why the chance to read your book is among the top ten reasons for young readers to look ahead to reading up.

Our book is about 3 young women who are super-focused on trying to succeed in tough jobs that have traditionally been very male-dominated (sportwriting, lawyering, and investment banking). We tried to show how one can deal with the inevitable professional obstacles, along with the not-so-inevitable stereotypes and prejudices, and not let these things get in the way. Hopefully, young readers can be inspired and encouraged to keep chasing their dreams even when they're being stereotyped or treated unfairly because of their gender, race, ethnicity, etc.