The surprising thing Michelle See-Tho learned about song lyrics while writing her debut novel

What was your writing process like? Did you have a routine or any regular rituals while writing Jade and Emerald?

I wrote the first draft through the Kill Your Darlings Mentors Program, which required 10,000 to 12,000 words to be turned in monthly, so I knew I had to hit those deadlines.

I’m a freelance copywriter in advertising, and my schedule is inconsistent. There were periods when I didn’t have work at all and was free to write full-time. I’m prone to procrastinating though. When that happened, I put my phone in another room or turned off the Wi-Fi.

Whenever I had work, I still tried to write every day. I’d do an early-morning burst, whether that was for 15 minutes or an hour. I’d write on my phone on my commute, during my lunch breaks or any time ideas or phrases popped into my head. I also kept a notebook by my bed for those random sleepy-time thoughts.

How did you first come up with the idea for the book?

I always knew I wanted to write a novel. I had been experimenting with different ideas – most of which were terrible.

In advertising, we go through heaps of ideas to get to ‘the one’, and I think that’s what happened.

Our creative brains work in funny ways; they keep ticking when we’re not actively thinking. Jade and Emerald is probably a mixture of other previous ideas of mine.

I wanted to explore an unlikely friendship between a school-aged girl and an older woman. I liked the idea of this friendship that you probably wouldn’t see in real life. I then layered that with the mother-daughter story. Because, of course, at Lei Ling’s age, she wouldn’t have much agency, and I think many parents wouldn’t react well to their kids running around with an older person.

What surprised you most about the publishing process?

Song lyrics are notoriously expensive to include. My narrator hasn’t grown up with a lot of pop culture so I was going to reference songs through lyrics, because she wouldn’t know, say, Britney Spears. But then I learned that lyrics are very expensive to license, so I made some changes. It was a good creative challenge.

The other thing is how uninvolved writers are in their book covers. I feel lucky that my publisher and cover designer were willing to communicate with me and take my feedback on board.

If you could have dinner with any fictional character, who would it be and why?

I’d love to have dinner with the Youngs and Leongs from Crazy Rich Asians – though I have no idea what I’d wear!

If you were a character in a novel, what would be your signature quirk or catchphrase?

Judgemental eyebrow raises.

What fictional world would you want to live in, and how would you survive or thrive there?

I’d want to live in the Pokémon universe. I’d have a Vulpix to help me cook, a Pikachu to keep the lights on and an Eevee as a pet.

What's the weirdest talent or skill you have that not many people know about?

Most people don’t know I can speak a little Japanese.

Or: 少し日本語を話します。

What's your go-to karaoke song, and how well do you perform it?

I used to be that person who always sang 'Lose Yourself'. I knew all the words; if that counts as performing ‘well’. But I haven’t done it in years, so I’m not sure how I’d go now…

Where is your happy place and why?

My bed, cosied up with a book or Nintendo Switch.

What is your #1 tip for aspiring authors?

Never give up.

It’s a cliché for a reason. If you don’t try, you’ll never know. Jade and Emerald received six or seven rejections (including mentorship programs and unpublished manuscript prizes). And I have received hundreds more rejections for other projects and pitches! But you only need one ‘yes’.