On July 15, 2014, I had a chat with Nitoy Gonzalez, owner/blogger of Delighting Grace (Del G). It’s been 11 years, but this post is as relevant today as it was then. So I am sharing with you an abridged version (I took the liberty of shortening it).
Del G: I first saw Grace Chong (GC) in person in last year’s Manila International Book Fair and recently read her children’s books. They hit not just the heart of a child but those who are kids at heart. No wonder she received awards and recognition for her craft. But most importantly, she delivers God’s grace in her books. In celebration of National Children’s Book Day, Del G brings you Ms. Grace as she talks about her books, crafting a good story, and many more:
Del G: Ms. Grace, what makes a good story kids will love? You do have a knack for kids.
GC: Any story that is within the realm of the kids’ experience and imagination, if presented in a unique, fresh, and fun way in their language, can be appreciated by the readers.
Del G: How did you start writing books for children?
GC: My mother wrote in my Baby Book that I started writing stories when I was five. Maybe as early as then I already had the passion to write stories. But I took my first-ever win in the Palanca Awards 1999 (The Boy Who Had five Lolas, first prize) as an affirmation of the new direction I wanted to take after leaving the workplace–to pursue my love for writing.
Del G: Your children’s books are entertaining. How do you get inspirations for your stories? I’m impressed that some are really enjoyable and full of action.
GC: I can get inspired by everything, everyone, and anything that I see around me. That may seem like a cop-out, but that is how it is. I am touched by every little act of kindness, or unkindness, and I see gems in mundane things. These I translate into stories that readers can identify with.
Del G: One book or books worth mentioning is your Oh Mateo! series. Who is Mateo in your life? You gave him a series and I thought, hey, this boy must have a special place in Ms. Grace’s life?
GC: Mateo is the name of my dad, my brother (Mateo Jr.), and my nephew (Mateo III). When I created the character, I was looking for a Filipino name and I didn’t need to look far. In my family, I learned great life lessons from my dad, rib-tickling humor from my brother, and thrilling adventures from my nephew. Each had been a rich resource of ideas for the series.
Del G: Which among your books is nearest to your heart?
(To be continued next post: Part 2)
No comments:
Post a Comment