Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a recent graduate of Handong Global University (class of 2019), with a Life Science degree and a passionate love for drawing and writing stories. I have had a personal archive of unfinished stories that were mostly based on these intensely vivid and fantastical dreams I’ve had since I was a child, but I had only shared them with family and close friends. It wasn’t until the final exam season of the last semester of my university years that I actually got to finish my first story! I can’t help but describe the incident as a God-given gift, because I remember the time of writing being so feverish yet focused, and so in-the-moment and enjoyable that I ended up finishing the story in four days and also blazed through my finals with flying colors due to the stress-relieving nature of my writing.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first and latest book is titled “Red and Wolf: A Spirited Retelling of a Grimms’ Classic”. It is the length of a novelette (shorter than a novel but longer than a short story), and it is about Little Red who meets the Wolf in the Lost Forest. She is as good as dead— however the Wolf strangely lets her go on with her peculiar journey. An errand to deliver pie through the dark woods that hold countless enigmatic secrets. But what if there is no grandmother to deliver her pie to? What if the Village has an ulterior motive for sending her into the Forest?
This story was inspired seemingly out of nowhere on a lonely bus ride away from the school campus, but once I completed the entire story I realized that the story was my own interpretations of topics such as fear, choice, and true courage, based on my own struggles and experiences with the subjects. It includes several hand-drawn illustrations that I’ve done as well.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Some of my stories are purely from my imagination, but (as I mentioned above) most of my stories are from very vivid dreams that I’ve always had since I was young. Because of this, I developed a strange habit of picking up my phone first thing when I wake up, still in a groggy state, (even if it’s in the middle of the night) to write out a quick synopsis before I fully wake up and forget it all.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve enjoyed all book directed at children, youth, and young adults, most likely because that is how I began my own reading journey, but above all, I enjoy children’s books considered classics, due to their cohesive expression of simultaneous depth and innocence. Some of my favorites are “Heidi” by Johanna Spyri, “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett (which coincidentally is the first novel I ever read).
What are you working on now?
Currently, I’m working on preparing to apply for medical school, because it is my dream to heal children in all aspects: emotionally and psychologically through art and stories, mentally through teaching, and physically through medicine. I’ve already been teaching and tutoring children in the English language and art over the course of 9 years, to over 100 students, and have enjoyed every moment of it. It is my wish to continue doing so later in life. I’ve started my journey to become an author and illustrator through my first book “Red and Wolf”, but would like to continue doing so for a more younger audience. But at the moment, my focus is on further developing my studies in Life Science in the medical field.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The only method I’ve tried so far other than personal promotion on my social media networks, is to hold free book promotions through websites such as Awesome Gang to gain publicity. As a new author and a recent college graduate, opportunities such as these are highly beneficial.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
As a new author myself, the advice that I would give currently unpublished writers are to just get started. Whether it is just writing out a brief outline of a vague idea you have, or a random line or quote that just doesn’t seem to leave your mind, just jot it down and take it from there. When I was writing out my very first published story I had no idea that I would be able to take it to the place it is now. The fact that I had a folder filled with files of unfinished stories and records of dreams is proof that as long as you keep going, your epiphany is bound to come.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I have ever heard is the one I mentioned above, just to get started and never give up. Sounds cliche, but what is overused is true for a reason.
What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading “Anne of Green Gables” by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I was surprised that with my love for children’s classics that I haven’t yet read that one, but better late than never.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m currently working on a children’s picture book, where I will write and illustrate the entire story on my own. This has been a dream of mine that I’ve had since I was a child myself, enjoying colorful picture books that I’ve completely immersed myself in, memorizing my favorite stories that my mother used to read out loud to me, even before I knew how to read. The specific story that I’m working on was inspired by the beautiful cloudscape that I witnessed on a late afternoon drive over a highway, about five years ago.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would first and foremost bring a Bible, then The Little Prince, and a complete and comprehensive survival guide.
Author Websites and Profiles
Hannah Chong Amazon Profile
Hannah Chong’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile