Truth Bombs With Stefany Valentine

Are we ready? Should we begin?

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Okay.

Hello and welcome to the Bidi Bidi Book Pod, a bookish podcast committed to celebrating queer and trans BIPOC stories and storytellers and sharing our experiences within the publishing industry and what it is to exist as a queer trans BIPOC creative today.

And my name is Soni Reyes, best selling and award winning author of the Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, the Luis Ortega Survival Club, the Broposal, the Golden Boys Guide to Bipolar and the forthcoming not announced yet.

And together we are so excited to spend some time with you, with friends and in community to chat chismear and make that TBR pile bigger and more diverse.

Today we’re joined by William C. Morris award finalist Stefany Valentine, author of contemporary young adult novels First Love, Language and Love Makes Mochi.

Today we talked about her life and upbringing and how her past and present have inspired her books, IP projects and navigating voice identity and her own queerness while writing Mochi, Bringing in Sensitivity Readers and Avatar, the Last Airbender.

But before we bring her in, let’s start with a platica, a moment to catch up with each other and with y’all, bring you into our lives as authors and what we’re working on and maybe overshare a little bit. So Soni, what’s going on with you? What are you working on?

Oh, what’s going on? The horrors.

Give us a cute little update.

Yeah, I am hoping to get back into writing today. I took a little bit of a break and you know, it’s, it’s been a lot.

I have kind of like back to back meetings.

I’m about to go to a meeting for the nonprofit that I’m a vice president of, My Galvanized Friend, if anyone doesn’t know, it is like a, it’s a non profit that our, our focus is like you know, LGBTQ+ literature and we run like a lit mag. If you write or are an artist, short stories, poems, anything like that, like submit to our literary magazine, My Galvanized Friend.

Yeah, that’s where I’m about to go. And then after that I have another meeting and then after that if my brain isn’t totally fried then I might try to write a little bit. What about you?

I love that. Yeah, I, I, I’m going to try not to write today because I, my, my u pdate is I’m going to try to edit some of these episodes and see how that goes.

Excellent.

So, yeah, I am putting on my editor hat for this podcast today. Thoughts and prayers. If this podcast I get episode comes out at all, or if I.

If a month ago our first episode came out and it was at all able to be understood, then I did an okay job. So we’ll see.

I guess we’ll find out.

If you’re. If you’re still here, it probably means that it’s. It’s going well. So. Yeah.

Excellent. Now we are so excited to have the chance to chat with Stefany Valentine. Thank you so much for joining us.

Yay.

Yes. I am so seriously honored to be a part of y’alls first podcast and. Or like the first podcast that you guys have ever made together.

Not necessarily like the first episode, though. What is y’alls first episode? I’m just curious about.

Oh, yeah. Because we’re recording before any of this airs.

Well, technically, we’re like, we’re doing a little, like, hey, it’s us first episode.

Yeah.

So you’re gonna be our second, like, what’s. Guest. That’s the word. Guest.

Yeah. I think it’s Julian Winters first, right?

Yeah. Spoiler alert.

Stefany Valentine’s. Well, this will come out after the fact, right?

That’s true, actually.

So we’re not spoiling anything.

I don’t know why I said that. I don’t know why I said that was last week. That was literally what happened two weeks ago. Yeah.

Like, I’m so excited to see this, like, take off because you guys are, like, such incredible creatives. And, like, I think that this is, like, just another avenue of creativity that’s not necessarily writing. Because I feel like it’s the job.

Like, our job is to be a writer, but, like, we’re creatives at heart and, like, you can be creative in other ways. And I think this is, like, oh, this is like, so up your alley. Like, y’all are gonna. So excited. I’m so excited to just like, listen to y’alls chaos.

Like,

it has been a little.

Yes. Yes. I’m so excited.

Yeah. To bring you into the chaos now. By the time this episode airs, Love Makes Mochi is going to be out in the world.

Can you tell our listeners a little bit about the book and about yourself?

It’s a story about a Taiwanese adoptee who goes on fake dates inspired by the Love languages.

But it’s actually a story about, like, an adoptee just, like, coming to terms with, like, the grief of never knowing what her heritage was and, like, and finding reconnection in that regard. But Mochi is my sophomore novel, and it’s the first time I ever wrote, like, a queer character or, like, well, or, like, wrote from a queer pov.

And, like, it’s truly so special to me because. Well, so it’s the third book in the Love and Translation series, which is, like, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

It’s a series of interconnected standalone novels where, like, each girl in the friend group is a person of color and then they travel to various places and they have their own little study abroad experiences, but while they’re studying abroad, they fall in love. So the first one’s called Love Makes Mochi. It’s written by Raven K. Stringfield and it’s set in France.

Love Makes Mochi is yours.

Yeah, I love. Wait, did I say Love Makes Mochi?

You did.

Oh, shit. It’s called Love Requires Chocolate. Oh, my God. It’s like, it’s like midnight here in Taiwan right now, so I’ll blame it on that. My B, Sorry, Raven. So, yeah, the first one is Love Requires Chocolate, written by Raven K. Stringfield, set in Paris, France.

The second one is Love Craves Cardamom, written by Aashna Avachat, and it’s set in India. And then mine is set in Japan, and it’s called Love Makes Mochi. Oh, my God.

I was, like, staring up at the bookshelf, like, if I didn’t even, like, read it.

So real. So real.

Yes. Okay, we’re so ready.

But, yeah, so it’s like. So it’s an IP, which means it’s an intellectual property. So it’s not my idea. I was just hired to write it. Yeah.

But yeah, the story’s, like, about two lesbians who have a little opposites attract sort of romance, a little bit forbidden love, while they happen to be, like, studying abroad in Tokyo. So, yeah, super cute. Very, like, cozy. Vibey. Just, like, have a good time while you’re reading it. Enjoy the Wonderlust and the smooches, of course.

And yeah, it was just.

It was such a fun experience to be able to write these characters because, like, you know, and I’ve already told you guys about, you know, my experience experiences, like, coming out and everything and growing up with a lot of religious trauma and, like, never kind of, like, feeling or. Well, I. I’ve eventually, like, came to terms with it, but, like, you know, my coming out journey was, like, very nonlinear.

Came out super late in life. Like, my spouse knew right out the gate that I was bi, and I was just, like, in denial. In denial. You know, grew up Mormon and everything.

Like, told that the only way I’ll ever be happy is if I marry a man in the temple. And so, like, you know, drank the, drank the Kool Aid until I got married.

And then, like, it was seven years into the marriage when I was finally, like, I think I’m bisexual. And my husband was like, no shit, dude, no. Thank fucking God you finally. Oh, my Jesus Christ. Been telling you since day one. So, yeah. But then even.

Even after I came out, I was like, no, I’m not bi.

I’m. Maybe I’m curious. No. Well, okay, I’m definitely not curious. Like, maybe I’m just, like, queer.

Like, I don’t know what it is, but I don’t want to give myself a label. And then, like, yeah, bitch, dude. Like, this is. This is textbook, like, bidentity crisis right here.

Bidentity crisis.

Like, so.

Yeah, like, so eventually, like, it really did take me a lot of back and forth, A lot of, like. But I don’t want to be gay. Like, what am I? What? Like, what is my family gonna think? You know, all the. Oh, God. Yeah.

But I think, like, writing Mochi, like, because another thing, too, is, like, like, yes, I’ve come to terms now that, like, I’m bisexual, that I’m proud of that and everything.

I’m really proud of, like, the journey that I’ve made with, like, the relationship that I have with myself to be able to, like, say that with confidence now. But, like, when I was writing Mochi around the first time, I was like.

I was still kind of, like, coming out of the closet, still, like, trying to figure out what queerness even is. And. And so when the IP was like, hey, so would you be interested in writing this? I was like, oh, you know, I don’t know. Like, is it.

Am I valid enough as a queer person because I’m married to a man? Does that even make me queer? Like, am I invading a space that I don’t belong in? Am I queer enough? Again?

You know, that’s, like, textbook bidentity crisis right there. And. But, like, writing it allowed me to do something that I think a lot of, like, you know, fellow bi girlies have had to do. Like, with.

They came out super late in life is like, memory walk, where you kind of just like, go back through your memories, and you’re like, wow, I was so gay. How did I not know that? And, like, wow. Like, no, straight. No straight girl actually thinks like that. Like, no.

Yeah. Yeah.

Like, yeah. And. And so, like, because I was able to write Mochi, I was like, I feel so confident in, like, it.

Like, like, writing Mochi really did help me embrace a lot of that. And so, like, my third book, it’s not. It’s technically unannounced, but, like, that one is also Sapphic. And I’m so excited about writing it.

Incredible.

Yes.

I’m so excited because, like, so much of my queerness existed inside the closet, I think. And so, like, I love writing closeted queer characters who are like, like, oh, but I’m not gay. But I’m not gay.

Like, girls are hot, but, like, there’s no way I’d actually kiss a girl. Like, you know that stuff.

New stuff to process in those, in those books, yeah.

Yeah, yeah. Like, it allows me to really, like, embrace that and, like.

And, you know, like, because obviously, like, being bisexual and queerness isn’t a monolith. And I think a lot of the time when we think of, like, gayness, we think of, like, flamboyancy or whatever.

But, like, this was my experience and it wasn’t linear. And it’s still valid though, like, because it’s mine. It’s my relationship with the way that I love. And I. I’m proud of myself for knowing that.

Yeah, sorry, go ahead.

I think that, like, too, like, I. I love that sort of premise because I mean, like, even my books sort of how, like, all characters who kind of like, maybe except for like, Santi knew exactly who they were for a long while and maybe. Maybe not Gabi too.

But, like, and I do think, especially in, like, YA and like, New Adult, to have characters who are still questioning, who are still like, sort of formulating. Like, that’s super important to be able to allow for those sort of stories to be told.

You know, I. I even remember, like, first reading Kristen Randall’s No Girlfriend Rule and how, like, that main character ends the book without having any sort of, like, label attached. Like, they still are figuring it out what, like, what queerness this means to her. And I’m like, I want more books like that.

Like, yeah, we don’t all have to have characters that end or start the book, like, with their flag attached to the wall. Like, that’s cute. But, like, we. We should be able to diversify what queerness looks like, especially for young people. So I love that.

I think that’s the gay agenda, right?

Like, we are just trying to have so many stories that, like, everybody is represented in these stories, you know, because of course, there are people who, like, know who they are and there are people who don’t, and we need all of those stories.

I love you so much, Stefany, because you actually answered, like, three of our other questions.

But I do want to say so your debut, First Love Language, was a William C. Morris finalist.

Let’s wake that up.

And I was watching your journey with that book, like, through Tiktok, and you basically, like, manifested the plot into your real life. And I would just love to hear you talk a little bit about how life imitated art for you and that journey.

And as like a biracial Taiwanese adoptee, I felt like I’ve always known I’m Taiwanese. I just, like, didn’t know what it actually meant.

Like, I’m a transracial adoptee, which means that I grew up in a race that was outside of my own. My adopted siblings are Korean, so like, very similar to, I guess, Taiwan, but, like, we always ate, like, Korean food.

My white adoptive mother was always watching K dramas, and she speaks Korean fluently and everything. And so, like, I grew up around a lot of Korean culture, but it was never Taiwanese.

And there was even like a time in my childhood where I was like, you know what? I’m just gonna start saying I’m. I’m Korean. Because, like, that is how warped my sense of identity was as a transracial adoptee. And then.

But when I, like, started writing First Love Language, I was like, you know what? I regret never being able to speak, or like, I regret losing Mandarin as my first language. Like, that was technically the language that I.

That was technically my first language. But then my biological mother was forced to relinquish me at age 5. And then from that point on, it was like, all English.

So anyway, yes, and I wrote that book.

My biological mom like, this woman that I would like in class, I would like, stare at the door and I would like, day dream of this woman bursting through the door and being like, there you are. I’ve been looking for you my entire life, you know, and like, she’s fine. Oh my God, she’s on the other side of the phone and everything.

It was just like, it was crazy. So, yeah, I wrote a book about, like, inspired by my longing for cultural reconnection and to just know the answers that, like, I’ve.

But Soni, I also wanted to talk about how, like, remember how I think this was like, before Broposal came out and before First Love Language came out.

We were like on the phone and we were both just like, crashing out to each other and we were both just like, like, so stressed about these books coming out. And I remember telling you, like, I don’t even care if it’s a bestseller. Like, I just want it to win an award and.

And now I’m a freaking William C. Morris finalist.

You are like a pro manifester at this point.

Yeah, I’m a pro manifestor, so. Yeah. So my third book is. Is the time Trump got absorbed into a game of Jumanji and pooped his pants so.

Oh my God. Need that

Colon fuck ICE. Oh my God.

I was ready for that one.

No, I don’t know.

Like, I know it’s kind of crazy how like, I wrote this book and then like, here I am, like, actually living it and then like, I get an award just from like, you know, really wanting one. I guess. I don’t know. And. But then Mochi is also like a study abroad romance. And here I am, like, legit studying abroad in Taiwan.

Like, I. I don’t know, it’s. It’s just kind of wild. Like for me, freaking life. Either life imitates art or art imitates life. I can’t. I can’t decide. But.

So we all need Stefany to write a book about, like, ending world hunger and world peace.

Right. Well, I do have a solar punk romance idea.

Yeah.

And it’s just like, hope core. This is the future I want all of us to have. It’s just like, I don’t know if I’m good enough to write anything outside of contemporary right now.

So maybe in the future.

Okay, we will graciously await for you to manifest the world to be better.

Yeah, but I was like, I feel like these books are just fully the proof of. Just like, you know, sometimes authors need to actually go outside and experience life because look what happens. You write two books.

You get two books published. One of them is a William C. Morris finalist. So authors go touch grass, and you will be a William C. Morris finalist. Engage with society.

Yeah. For real.

So going back to Love makes mochi. You mentioned that it’s an IP project. And I feel like for. For most people, whenever.

If they know what IP means, like, at all, it’s usually like Star wars or Marvel or like Avatar the Last Airbender, I feel like is a pretty big also IP thing happening right now. But, like, can you explain what IP is for our listeners and how you became involved with, like, IP writing?

Yeah. So Intellectual Property. That’s what IP stands for. And essentially it’s just like, somebody else’s idea.

Like, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a piece of media. It could be like, a patent for, like, I don’t know, like a. An invention or something. Like, it’s just somebody else’s idea.

So I was hired to flesh out somebody else’s idea. And how the opportunity to write for this particular IP fell into my lap is so Dhonielle Clayton.

She’s another, like, really incredible young adult author, bestseller, multiple award winner. So anyway, like, so she opened up her IP company, which is Electric Postcard Entertainment.

And Electric Postcard Entertainment created or, well, she, I guess created the idea of, like, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. But, like, let’s make it modern. So, yeah, like, so I just. I love the idea of it.

And, like, I fell in love with the idea of, like, just like, this diverse friend group who happens to, like, study abroad and fall in love. Like, it’s just so fun, fresh.

I love that it’s stories set outside of the US Too, because I think, like, yes, like, these books are written for, like, an American lens, but, like, sometimes here in America, we get. So we think that, like, the US is, like. And maybe I’m just saying this because, like, I’m in Taiwan and I’m like, oh, my God, like, the world is.

Is round. Like, Like, I don’t know, it hits a little different when you, like, step outside, like, the Americube.

But, yeah, like, so I think it’s super cool because it like, helps you kind of like, see, wow, the world is diverse. Like, like, and this is our reality.

So it’s just like one of those book series that I think I didn’t know I needed when I was young, but would have loved to have.

Like, I didn’t realize that every book that I read when I was young was like white authors until like later in life when I was like, oh my God, wait, is this a Taiwanese one? Wait, Taiwanese people can write books? And that was like, what, in my 20s or something like that when that happened. So, yeah, super cool.

I’m just, I’m really so honored to be a part of this series because I feel like as a young adult author, I always think about like, the kids.

I always think about like the impressions that we’re leaving, the examples that we’re setting and just the opportunities that we’re giving these kids, like, through fiction, allowing them to like, be dropped inside somebody else’s head and experience somebody else’s emotions. That’s the power of books. And I’m just so honored to be able to do that with this particular IP for this particular project. Like, I.

It’s so impactful and like, I. I’m just excited to like, see where it goes, moving, moving forward. Even though, like, this is the third book of the series.

I mean, like, I remember reading it and like, to your point of like how you introduced it, like, it is such a cozy, like, cute story and like, I would love to. I mean it’s. It’s also just so colorful and so like into that world that like, in some sort of adaption, I think would be like, really fun to watch.

Like to see all of, all of the clothes that she makes. To see like, all of like. Yeah, we don’t want. Yeah, like all of.

Just the sort of like, ways in which these characters physically manifest their personality to not get like, too spoilery for like, people who haven’t read it. But like, their personality really shines on how you describe them in their fashion and in their artistic style, which I love.

Like, that was such like, I feel like clothes and fashion and things like that really just show the psychology of a character. And so I was just like immediately locked in. But like I remember telling, I think I told Soni when I was reading it.

Like, I was like, this is like just a cozy ass book, no? Like, this is really fun actually. And I don’t think I get that a whole. I don’t necessarily find myself reading those sort of books a lot.

Yeah, yeah.

And so there was just. Yeah, it was nice to just be in that space for a minute.

A breath of fresh air.

Yeah, yeah, I’m going to. I’m fully. If I can’t like skip your questions and like go.

I want to talk more about like IP in this project. So yeah, for Soni, like we’re just, we’re going to come back to.

Okay.

Okay.

Because I, I like with all of that and like how it just seemed so like very in tune with how maybe you saw the characters, maybe how Dhonielle saw the characters, but like how much creative control did you have in the storytelling and the character formation? Maybe even especially knowing that like this is the third book. So like, whatever, like these first two books sort of portrayed your character as.

Did you need to like really keep track of, of how they have built a character that you’re writing.

And like, did you need to bring that information in as like foundational or like what was sort of like your frame of mind as you wrote this book and like the, the limits and other things that like you had to keep in mind.

Yeah. So when they pitched me the idea, they like soft pitched it, which was kind of like, here’s a paragraph of like what we want you to write.

Like, are you interested? And I was like, oh, hell the fuck yeah. Like, this is something I feel like all young readers, like would.

I would have loved to have this like on my bookshelf as a kid. And then they sent me over like a chapter by chapter breakdown.

And so because of that, like, I contractually had to write it chapter by chapter and deliver the first draft essentially that way. But then when we went into edits, it was okay, now I’ve got a little bit more wiggle room because now.

So there was a lot of people that I worked with on this project. So obviously I worked with the IP and then I worked with the publishing company which is Joy Revolution.

So like again, kind of like to go with the cozy vibes of everything. Like, Joy Rev is run by Nicola and David Yoon. And like their whole mission is just essentially like Hope Core, like just fluffy, fun romance.

Like, let’s just enjoy like being people of color and falling in love. Like just having love, experiencing love.

Like, why is it always, like, we don’t have to be these tokenized people who like, oh, you know, like, as a Taiwanese, like, these are the stereotypes that I’ve always had to face. Which like, yes, is true. Like, like that is part of like being an Asian American and everything.

But like, like, let’s focus on like, like we’re so much more than that, too. And so I think that’s the whole mission of Joy Rev is like, dude, let’s be. Let’s have fun. Like, let’s show characters, like, who are happy, you know?

Yeah.

Who aren’t, like, defined by our traumas necessarily. So. Yeah. So, like, I, like, I. The imprint the series, like, it’s just. It’s all like such a vibe.

Like, really, if you just want something like, super fun, cozy, kick your feet up and kind of like, kikiki, like it’s a kikiki book. So. Yeah. So anyway, so like, when it would go over to the editor, the editor would like, say, like, hey, make these revisions.

And so that’s where I was kind of able to like, oh, let me. Let me insert a chapter in between this point and this point so we can, like, get more of a fleshed out character. Or like, oh, we.

We need more like, adventures in Tokyo. So, like, I’ll insert, like, a couple more chapters of them, just like, exploring Tokyo, that sort of thing. So.

Yeah, but, like, at its core was the IP’s initial vision for it. And then it’s like they put a filter on that vision. And I am that filter.

I love that. And I feel like what you said kind of goes back, like, about, like, the joy, and everything goes back to, like, the. The. The agenda. Right.

Like, there has to be so many stories that, like. Because. Yeah, some people need to read those stories where it is like, you know, we process our trauma and all that.

But that can’t be the only type of stories that’s allowed.

Yes.

You know, like, we have to have. Such a variety of stories to represent, like, every experience. Like, and make sure that everybody, like, like that. That’s the goal. Right. Everybody feels seen. Everybody gets to see themselves.

Like, that’s what I, what I want. And everybody gets to see themselves, but also everybody gets to see themselves in whatever mood they’re in.

Yeah.

Like you feel like cozy. You get cozy, right? That. That would be great.

Yeah.

And like, just to kind of piggyback off of what you said, Soni, like, I think in like, today’s day and age, like, every single time we get onto social media, it’s like, oh, the. The world is ending. Oh, World War iii. Oh, Jesus Christ, someone died. Like, and it’s so hard to exist in this reality.

But the most radical thing we can do right now is have hope. And to be optimistic and to dream and envision change. Because once we stop seeing what a better world could look like, they win.

And so it’s so important now more than ever, in my opinion, to have books filled with hope to have these futuristic ideas of like, wow, this is what society would. Could look like if our government gave a fuck. Oh, this is what our society could look like if we were allowed to just fucking exist.

Like, you know, and think like, once you can dream it, then like, if it exists in your imagination, it can exist in your reality.

And I think, like, that’s what we do as artists, what we do as authors is like we create those visions and then we leave the rest up for interpretation.

Okay. I love that so much.

Yeah. Like, I, I think too, your characters in particular, like, really push that narrative in their own, like, coming of age trope way of just like, here’s a main character who is following her dream, who is, who is doing things, to push her dream forward.

And it is a dream that, like, I think, you know, with any sort of like, artistic sort of career path, like BIPOC young people sort of struggle with like, thinking we can have that sort of career path. And so like seeing a young person be like, I want to be a fashion designer.

And like, I am going to do things to, to go and achieve that dream, like, is so radical in itself for a lot of young people, I think. And like showing uniqueness and showing personality, like in a.

In an age where I think like social media and just generationally and politically, there’s so much force to being just one conglomerated gray goop of like a person who would. Is. Who is too, Too scared to be. To be like cringy, to be fearful, to be. To be. To be a failure in any way.

And so like to see these characters like that I think is just so monumental for the young people that are going to pick this up and recognize that like, it’s okay to put yourself in a position where you might fail. It’s okay to put yourself in a position that could be a little embarrassing.

Like, these are the sort of characters that are going to mold young people into something that is so against the grain in what, like, sociopolitical environments today tell them they should be. So like, yeah, I, I think that that’s, that’s. That’s what we need right now.

Yeah I feel like. Also piggybacking off of that. I just feel like there’s like.

Because there’s, there’s so much of this, like, I, I hear people say all the time, like, you know, joy as a form of resistance and everything. And I think you really got to like why that’s important. Like, it’s not. Because I think I see people misusing that a lot.

It’s like, oh, well, I’m just going to, to be joyful and celebrate and ignore all the things and just like pretend it’s not happening and all of that. But the point of joy is so that you can continue the fight. You know what I mean? Like, you can’t.

It’s not sustainable if you don’t allow yourself celebration and joy. You know what I mean? Like, we have to be able to, like you said, imagine a better world and work to make that happen.

And I think without that, you know, imagination, without that joy and that celebration, that is almost impossible. Right.

So I, I don’t know, I guess, I guess that just like, made me think about how like, I, I see a lot of people use it in a way of like, oh, well, you know.

Right.

I’m just going to like, close my eyes and I’m going to like, pretend that, that none of this is happening.

I don’t want to like, make any waves and I’m just going to like, be celebrating my own existence and all that. And, and, and which, you know, if you have to do that to survive, do that to survive, you know, But I do feel like the, the joy as resistance piece.

It’s joy to continue the resistance. You know what I mean? The resistance is the point. And then joy helps that along because, you know, we have more joy if we have a better world too.

Yes. Yes. This is why I love you guys.

Because I feel like anytime I’m like, with you guys, like, I just say like, the things that I don’t say to my, like, normal circle of friends, I guess. And like, you guys are like, no, I get it. And like, let me just say this. Like, I love that. I love that.

Yeah.

I love being in company with like minded people.

Oh my gosh. Yes. So going back to IP a little bit, I want to know like, because with, with IP especially because like you said, you have like a basically chapter by chapter, like outline and stuff.

So for you, how do you, when you’re working on IP, create, you know, love and passion and motivation for an idea that, that isn’t yours or for something that you have to stick to somebody else’s outline for?

Yeah. And see, like, I’m not gonna lie, it low key was kind of frustrating at times because I felt like, so Lilyn’s a goth girl, right?

And I was a scene kid growing up. Like, I was the emo screamo listen to like, mayday parade memphis mayfire. So sleeping with Memphis Mayfire and sleeping with sirens were my shit.

Pierce the veil oh, my.

Yes.

Yes.

Right? Like. Like, girly. I’m. I’m a. I’m a millennial. Like, I graduated, like, warped tour baby. Like, vans with the skinny jeans. Like, that’s my shit.

Anyway, so, like, I was like, let me make her so grungy and gothy and everything. And, like. And I. But I think I did it a little bit too much in my initial draft where they were like, so this is, like, light and fluffy.

She’s, like, really dark, and it’s like, oh, fuck, now how do I make her dark but also fluffy? Like, so that was. That was a bit of a challenge. And so it was. So I had to kind of make her very dry, very sarcastic, very monotone.

And I think, like, there are. There are parts of it that are still sprinkled through, but ultimately, because it is an IP, it’s not mine.

I wasn’t able to keep those parts of Lilyn to the point that I would have loved to keep. So. Yeah, but you still see a lot of those, like, grungy, monotone elements of Lilyn.

And I think at the end of the day, though, it’s kind of like an opposites attract. But, like, they’re not really opposites. Like, they’re externally opposites, but, like, they see eye to eye as creatives.

Like, both Yua and Lilyn see eye to eye as creatives, and they just, like, get each other. So that was, like. That was super fun. And, like, every single scene where they were like, oh, let’s, you know, do something.

Something with, like, Lilyn and Yua. I’m like, say less. I love them. Of course. Like, yes. Like, let me. Let me. Let me just, like, let my girlies be. Yeah, so.

Yeah, so there were, like, some frustrating moments, but, like, overall generally positive because, like, they’re my babies, you know? Yeah. Yeah, I raised them.

Yeah, that makes sense. You mentioned a little bit before of, like, okay, so this is. Is, like, with IP, you don’t have, like, necessarily the. The say in.

In so many things, but I know you told me a little bit about. About this with, like, you know, there’s sensitivity readers involved, and so I was wondering if we could have, like, a.

Like, a deep dive on sensitivity readers, too. Yeah, a few questions about that.

Yeah. So, you know, obviously, this story is set in Japan, Tokyo, and I have Japan, Tokyo. So when. When they were interviewing.

When the IP was interviewing me for this project, I was like, up. Up front, right out the gate, like, dude, I’ve never been to Tokyo. Are you sure you want me?

And they were like, yeah, yeah, no, like, she’s a Taiwanese. She’s a Taiwanese character. She’s half Taiwanese, half Korean.

I’m Taiwanese grew up in a, like, transracially Korean because, you know, like, I was adopted into a Korean household, so I was like. Yeah, no, I. I identify. I resonate with the identity of Lilyn Jeong.

And so I felt like I could write from within her gaze, but anything outside of her gaze, I needed a sensitivity reader on because, like, I don’t know Japanese culture. I’ve never been or I haven’t gone yet. I’m planning on going next month, actually, like, right around Lunar New Year. So I’m super excited.

It’s gonna be fun. Yeah, I’m. Yeah, I’ve never been. I’m, like, so excited. I have like, all these, like, hot spots that I plan on going that are in the book, so.

Oh, that’s so fun.

Yeah, like, I have this little, like, tour, this little roadmap planned, so, like, like, my Instagram about to be lit.

Oh, my God. Well, this will come out after the fact. So everybody go look now as Stefany’s instagram and see all the cool places that she went.

Yeah, but.

Yeah, so we did one round of sensitivity readers with, like, two sensitivity readers, and they both kind of said different things, but I ultimately ended up going with, like, what one sensitivity reader said.

And it was mostly about, like, Japanese culture, honoring Japanese culture, ensuring that, like, you know, there’s a distinct difference between, like, a yukata and a kimono, because a kimono is made of silk. And, like, the actual process of making kimono starts with, like, literally starts with the silk, which, like, if you have.

Have read the book or haven’t read the book, I guess, like, it’s. It’s very. Like, there’s a whole side quest that they go on where they go to a museum of. Of sericulture and everything.

So, yeah, it was very, really important to honor that about Japanese culture and then. But also, while I was kind of, like, editing the book and, like, writing it and everything, I was going through reunion with my biological mom.

And that’s when I found out that I’m actually a quarter Japanese. But, like, I don’t exactly, like, identify as Japanese because, like, Taiwanese is kind of Japanese.

Like, it was occupied by Japan for, like, you know, decades. And there’s quite a few cultural and infrastructural things here in. In Taiwan that are Japanese and everything. Like, still.

I still have essences of it here.

And, you know, hearing my mom kind of talk about, like, how her mom would, like, make mochi and everything, and, like, my mom would come home from school and my grandma would have made her some mochi as, like, an afternoon snack that was really cool to, like, learn about. So I. I was in reunion with my biological mom while writing this story about Japan.

And so I was able to kind of weave a little bit of that into edits along the way as a result where, like, Lilyn is a quarter Japanese and she’s trying to honor her grandmother through. Through clothing. And it was kind of like me, like, you know, grasping onto that maternal lineage that I was discovering with myself.

So that was a really cool thing to be able to, like, work into Mochi.

That’s really cool.

Yeah. God, I think I went on a tangent. I don’t even.

No, no, no, you’re good. We love the tangents. So.

And also, just, like, for anyone who doesn’t know, like, sensitivity readers are there to basically, like, if we’re writing books that have an experience or an identity that we are not a part of, the sensitivity reader is someone who is part of that identity who basically, like, they take on the job of, like, reading through the manuscript and making sure that there’s no, like, accidental stereotypes or anything that would be harmful to that identity.

Although I think sometimes with publishers, and I had this experience too, where, like, sometimes they, like, sensitivity readers and authenticity readers are two different things. And so authenticity readers are more for, like, an experience or a profession or an expertise kind of thing.

So it’s like an authenticity reader can read your book for, like, you know, if you have a doctor character, they can read the book to make sure that the medical stuff is all correct. You know, or someone who has a certain job, they can read the book to make sure that you have that portrayed accurately.

That’s an authenticity reader. So it’s not about identity, it’s about expertise. But, yeah.

So I just want to, like, give that little caveat with sensitivity readers when the publisher pays for it. Because sometimes the publisher will pay for it. Sometimes we have to do it ourselves if the publisher is going to pay for it.

It’s usually really late in the process.

Yeah.

So there’s not really, like, a lot of time to make those changes if there are structural changes that need to be made.

And thank you for bringing that up, because that’s what happened with me.

And, like, as someone, like, I knew going into this that I was going to need sensitivity readers, and I had expected to have them, like, right out the gate because, like, that was the first. That was something we talked about in the interview process. And, like, you know, as, like, a fellow Asian Diaspora.

I was not comfortable with, like, publishing this book because I know the real harm that, like, that the stereotyping can do. And so, like, when I got the first round of sensitivity reads and authenticity reads, because the.

The sensitivity reader was also an authenticity reader who had, like, studied Japanese culture, at least that was my understanding. So. So you can have both, like, sensitivity and authenticity. And so that was. Yeah, so. So we did one round, but it happened so rushed, so quick.

Like, it. Like, I just had this gut feeling of, like, I’m missing something. I know I’m missing something.

And, like, I just don’t feel comfortable putting my name on a book that could potentially harm the very demographic that I’m trying to, like, give love and hope to. And so I was, like, really insistent with the IP, and this is what I thought was super cool about them, was I. I told them, like, dude, I just.

I just don’t feel good about publishing this. And they were like, we’ll get you another sensitivity reader. Like, we’ll. And we’ll do it quickly.

And so, like, that was really cool to have, like, the IP be like, you know what? We hear you. And, like, like, we’re here for you. Because I think another question that you had sent me was, what.

What are the pros and cons of, like, going the traditional route versus the IP route?

Right?

And I was thinking about the pros and cons there for a second.

I feel like the pros of going, like, just the, like, non IP traditional, I guess, route is that, like, obviously it’s your baby, so, like, you get to, like, like, you know, nourish it a little bit more. Like, what you say goes, like, you are the. The final say in, like, just about everything.

But versus, like, the IP, I felt like I didn’t really get to have the final say. But that said, I had a massive team of people supporting me every step of the way, and I knew them by name versus, like, going the traditional route.

It was literally like, just me and Elizabeth, who is my editor. Like, not to say that I didn’t have a team, like, behind the scenes, because I know for a fact that I did.

I just didn’t know them by name the way that I knew the IP. So I thought that. So, like, that is what’s. I. What I think is really cool about the IP route was that, like, I got to know all these other people who.

We all had the same, like, vision, and we’ve all been able to, like, be a part of Lilyn’s journey, like, since the beginning. And and they. They’re more versed with the entire world of the Love in Translation series than, like, I am so, like that.

That I think is, like, really cool.

Yeah. Yeah, I really like that. Okay, one last sensitivity reader question. So, because. And you touched on this a little bit, right?

Like, your Taiwanese and the. The story takes place in Japan and how there is, like, overlap, right, with, like, Taiwanese and Japanese culture because of, you know, colonization.

So sometimes when we’re writing, especially when we’re doing, like, intersectional stories, but in general, a lot of the time, too, like, sensitivity readers, they might actually have, like, some kind of layer of privilege over the author that might show in the feedback. So I was wondering, like. And you don’t have to talk about this if you don’t want to, but, like, how do you handle it?

Like, if you get feedback that you don’t agree with or that you actually find, like, offensive?

Yeah, I feel like that’s, like.

Fortunately, I don’t think I’ve come across that in my world quite yet, but I have had reviewers who think they know more than me, like, in comment sections or whatever, say something like, the other day I got kind of pissed off because, like, someone in a comment section of some post or whatever was, like, talking about First Love Language. And they were like, yeah, I didn’t like how the author portrayed Mormonism because my friend is Mormon and that’s not how her family is.

And I was like, bitch I grew up Mormon. I was born in the darkness. I was baptized. I have a temple marriage. I. I fucking wore garments.

I. I endured the yeast infection that came with them because those. That shit ain’t breathable. What do you mean?

Oh, my God.

And I’ve had. I’ve had that, but I haven’t had. And you can. You don’t have to include all of this, but.

I mean, if you don’t want us to, we won’t. But I think it’s fine.

Yeah, but, like, that’s what pisses me off is when, like, I don’t know. And, like, I think. But I do think, like, at the end of the day, like, if, like, you are the author, so you get the final say.

And I think it’s good if someone. Because, like, I think it’s good when people tell me things that I don’t know because, like, you know, what I love about just existing is, like, finding newness.

Like, like, whenever I can learn something new about something, like, I get to go down rabbit holes and it’s like, oh, my God, the world is brand new again. Like, I get to have that feeling of being a child and like, oh, my God. Wow, this. This has been here this whole time. Like, I. I love that.

And so sometimes, like, when it is things like that, it’s like, oh, you gave me. You gave me new things to learn. Wow, this is opening up my worldview. But when it’s like. When it’s shit like that, where it’s like.

Like, that’s not how it is. Like, Right.

Especially because, like, no identity is a monolith. So even if you do share the identity, like, you can’t go and say, like, this isn’t how it is when the author shares that identity.

Like, it’s one thing if it’s like, someone who’s outside of it trying to, like, say that this is how it is.

But when you’re talking to someone who’s part of it, like, you cannot say that that’s not how it is because there’s so many different experiences like that. That does make me angry. Yeah. I had actually. Ooh, can we do a little tea time?

Let’s. I was about to say, like, can we, like. Can we say some, like, some editor horror stories? Actually,

turns out our horror stories got a little too controversial for the general public, so you can find those over on our Patreon. It’ll be linked in the show notes.

Patreon it. Patreon it. Hot takes.

Right. Well, for maybe a couple more hot takes, we have a lightning round that we’d like to do with everyone. And so we’re just gonna go through a few lightning round questions. We have realized that these. These are sort of like BIPOC time lightning rounds.

If they don’t go three seconds, it’s fine, fine. We. It’s this. This is our podcast. We can do whatever we want.

We can call it lightning if we want.

Yeah, it’s called a lightning round, but the lightning, you know how, like, the thunder sometimes takes, like, 10 seconds to follow lightning.

Shower not a grower or whatever it is, whatever that expression is. I can’t fucking remember.

This lightning round is maybe it could be growing. And that’s okay. And so the first question is, what is your favorite and least favorite trope in your genre?

Who’s gonna go first? How, or like?

So this is for you. This is for you. Yeah, this is for you. We would be here for so long if we all had to answer this.

Oh, Jesus Christ. Okay.

I am like a sucker for opposites attract, and I think I didn’t realize I was until I wrote Mochi, honestly, because my third book is also an opposites tract. But it’s But I love, like, a play on the opposites attract where it’s like, we’re actually. We actually have a lot more in common. We’re just in.

We’re just alike in different ways, which I’m super excited to. Like, I can’t wait till my third book comes out because, like, I’m really proud of this one. And actually, Jonny, like, you.

Like, when I was getting ready to write. Sorry, this isn’t very lightning, is it? But, like, when I was getting ready to write my proposal.

It’s okay. Right.

When I was getting ready to write my proposal for it, I had just finished, like, Ander and Santi, and, like, the prose of your writing in that one, like, completely shaped the voice. Or like. Like, it was a huge inspiration to the voice because, like, I just loved how raw the voice was in Andre and Santi.

Like, it was, like, just, like, raw. Really. I. Like. I think that’s just the best way to describe it, just so it is.

It is. Agreed. Seconded.

So vulnerable. Yeah. And I was like, this. This is the voice that. That this character needs to have.

So, like, I just want to say, like, thank you for writing that book because it inspired my third one. Like, they helped me get a clearer vision of the tone that I wanted for. For my third book. So. Yeah. Anyway. Okay. Yeah.

So opposites attract and then what the fuck else. Okay. And then my least favorite. I fucking cannot stand it when it’s, like, trauma for the sake of trauma. Like, oh, let’s just have a character die.

And it’s like, oh, but we’re not actually going to process it. Like, you know, like, you know, like, grief.

Like, everybody grieves differently, but this character is just going to be like, I’m just going to have to be strong. Like, bitch. Right.

Yeah. I. As a reader, I’m not strong. I need to be a little care of.

Yeah.

When, like, a thing happens that, like, necessitates a character fully, like, relinquishing their actual humanity for the sake of being able to go to the next page. Like, no. Absolutely not. I hate that.

Oh, my God. Oh, it’s like.

And, like, what pisses me off is, like, if it’s traditionally published, it went through three rounds of, like, of edits, and then, like. Like, three more rounds of edits. And, like, nobody was like, you know what? Maybe we should, like, give some substance to this.

Or, like, oh, a character’s gonna get assaulted. Like, you know, maybe we should, like, find a way to, like, work, like, work around it.

Or maybe, like,

Or be sensitive about it.

If it’s never gonna get, at the very fucking least, you know? I’m so tired of seeing that.

Yeah.

And especially if it’s, like, in YA too, I feel like sometimes it’s done very untastefully, and then, like, my eye’s always, like, twitching afterwards because then I feel like I’m being gaslit for thinking, like, this should have been handled differently or whatever.

Yeah. Like, we got to protect our readers a little bit.

Yeah, yeah. Like, let’s. Let’s be intentional. Like, I’m not saying, like, a car accident or, like, a sudden death or whatever the fuck.

That shit does happen in our reality, but, like.

But it’s the way it’s handled, yeah.

Yeah. It’s like there are, like, emotional consequences to every action. And, like, as. As writers, as creatives, like, as authors. Like.

Like, understanding the pattern of storytelling is an essential part of the craft, and it’s like, you don’t understand that. It’s almost like you’re. You’re profiting off somebody else’s trauma for the sake of, like, getting to the next chapter or like.

Or if they use that to propel into a spicy something.

Oh!

are you fucking? Done. I just. I don’t even give a fuck. Anymore. Oh, man. I don’t know. I. Yeah, that’s.

Oh, my God. I love that.

We are so good at, like, lighting here.

Perfect.

See, I don’t even know what that’s called, though. I don’t even know if it’s a trope, but I’ve. I’ve seen it in fantasy books.

Like, especially in, like, that sort of, like, genre fiction. Like. Yeah, cool. What are you currently reading, slash what is next up on your tbr?

Okay, so I am trying to be in Mandarin mode right now because, like, I’m, you know, learning Mandarin, obviously, and I just finished finally writing the first draft of book three, and it’s really difficult for me to, like, switch back and forth between, like, Mandarin and English and Mandarin and English, like, over and over again. So I’m taking my. I’m. I’m.

I’m actively taking a break from English, so I’m not reading anything right now, but I am reading a lot more in Mandarin, and right now it’s just, like, I found an app, and I’m just reading, like, little short stories just to, like, get better at reading in Mandarin. But what I do want to get into is, like, Chinese, like, manga, like, yaoi type shit. Like, actually, like, there’s a.

And I was talking to my friend here in Taiwan about it, and she was like. She was like, yeah, you know, Taiwan actually doesn’t really have a Lot of bookstores or anything. So I have yet. So I haven’t.

So this is just an idea that I have. I haven’t actually, like, investigated how I’m gonna, like, read like.

Like Chinese manga or anything like that, or like Chinese graphic novels or anything. But I would like to eventually get to that point. And I really do want to read more Chinese.

And, you know, I think it’s going to help me learn Mandarin a heck of a lot better.

I love that. Yeah, Perfect. What do you think is the.

I think you maybe, like, maybe have sort of already touched on this, but what do you think is the best book you ever wrote? And which of your books so far do you think most people. More people should know about?

I want to say that my third book, it’s unannounced, but I’m so excited about it. It’s in dual pov. I guess that’s the only thing that I’ll share. And like, dual pov was so hard for me to write.

Like, writing the first draft of this thing took a year because I’m not like. It’s like. It’s like, okay, you spend your whole chapter, like, creating this character. Their desires, their motivations.

Okay, the arc in the chapter happens, something happens. They have to reconcile with it. And then. And it’s like, okay, well, we’re going to drop that and we’re going to go over here now.

And it’s just like, oh, my God, my brain can’t compute having to do that in addition to learning a new language. And so, like, that’s why it took me forever to write just the first draft.

But at the end of the day, the message, I think is what I’m the most proud of in book three. And it’s again, like, very much hope core.

It is I feel like what we need in the world right now is like, hope and change and all of the nonlinear ways that we go around that. So that’s all I’ll say for now. But, like, maybe. Maybe I’ll tell you guys, like, off. Off camera or whatever, like, what it’s about.

I think I already told you, Soni, so you’re.

Maybe we can put it for our patrons.

Oh, yeah. And what’s a book by a queer or trans BIPOV author that you would recommend to our listener listeners.

I was actually just thinking about this book the other day, but. Oh, fuck, now I forgot what it’s called. It’s by Gabriella Bouba. I had the pleasure of meeting Gabriella Buba before I came to Taiwan.

She’s a fellow bi girly. Fellow Wasian girly. And so I read her first book.

I actually listened to the audiobook, and Dante Bosco, Prince Zuko himself is one of the narrators in the audiobook book. So. Yeah, and it’s like, Filipino. It’s like, yeah, dude, no, this book is, like, so good. It’s like.

It’s like, when I finished reading it, I was like, how is Throne of Glass better than this shit? Like, the fuck. Like, this was so good. And it’s bi. And, like, the love interest, like, the love story is, like, bi. There’s, like, a little bit of spice.

Oh, it’s adult, so, you know. Okay, yeah, a little bit of zest.

A little zesty.

A little bit zesty. Yeah, but it’s like elemental magic.

And it’s this, like, Filipino imagining of, like, what if the colonizers never colonized the Philippines? And I fucking love just that. Like. Like, and then there’s magic in it, too. And. And of course, you know, Prince Zuko duh. So, yeah, like, it’s.

Yeah, it’s really good. So I need to finish. I read the first.

I audiobooked the first one, and then the second book is already out, and I haven’t had the pleasure of audiobooking it quite yet, but I do need to, because I was thinking, like, I do need to get back into reading what should I read?

And that one just, like, popped into my head. Maybe it’s because I’m in Taiwan right now and the Philippines is like, you know, my downstairs neighbors, basically. So, yeah,

love. And our last one. If you were to write IP again, do you have a dream franchise?

Yeah, I would fucking love to write. And I know it’s, like, super hot right now, but like, Avatar the Last Airbender, but specifically. Right. Oh, my God.

But specifically Legend of Korra because, like, I think the gayest thing about me is the fact that I think about, like. Like, Korra’s arms. Like, every single day. I think about, like, Korra and Asami on a daily fucking basis.

I, like, I keep telling my husband, like, I want Korra arms so bad. Like, I want to be Mommy. Like, I love her guns. She is my motivation. She’s the reason I get out of bed. Like, I love Korra so much.

And, like, I could go on and on and on about how, like, her character arc arc is fucking amazing. Like. Like, I know, like, there was, like, issues with the series and everything, but, like, I loved Legend of Korra so fucking much.

I love what it did for the, like, universe of Avatar and everything. But, yeah, like what would you write though, Jonny? Like, like do you have a story in mind?

So yeah, yes. So like, I mean one, let me just shout out like the villains in Legend of Korra. Like so hot. Every single one of those villains. So hot.

My God, yes.

Like, yeah, I, I have, I have my own opinions about Legend of Korra, but like those villains kept me seated. Yeah, but no, I, I really. So like I would love to do Avatar the Last Airbender as well.

But like specifically either about the troop, the secret tunnel, like troop. I would love to write those like wild ass little, little characters and like what their, like what they have, how they ended up there.

Like how, how the hell did they end up there? I want to write about them. I am obsessed with them.

Them or I would love to do something about like the, the, the ancient firebenders who were like already inspired by Mesoamerican culture. Like I would love to.

Oh that would be so good.

Yeah, because it’s like that’s, that’s already there for us. Like yeah, some, some Latine should go and write and be allowed to write.

Oh my God that would be so good.

About like the history of those ancient firebenders.

Oh my God,

I am giving you all of my powers of manifestation because I need to read that so bad.

The first time I saw that episode I was like, I, I have always fully believed myself to be an earthbender, but like that was like maybe, maybe I actually am a firebender. Like maybe. Yeah, yeah.

Or maybe you’re like an Earth, like, like Bowlen, like lava where it’s like both fire and earth you know, like something like that.

Yeah, I would love to do either of those two stories.

Incredible. Meanwhile I’m like, I really want a cabbage man backstory. Like can we get a backstory about cabbage man. Like what life has he lived?

if I, if I like Cabbage man tunnel crossing.

I, I will also say like Jet truly was such a special character for me like in that book and like my own sort of like political thought and philosophy was just so connected to him that like if I could write like a Jet origin story, like I would.

my rare pare was Zuko and Jet.

For me it was Sokka and Jet. Sokka and Jet rivals to lovers.

Why not all three?

Wait, I love Sokka and Jet.

There we go. Mastermind. But yes, like when, when I was first watching it, like yeah, I was like Sokka and, and Jet need to kiss like 13, whatever year old me was like Sokka and Jet need to kiss.

Oh my God. I love like Zuko and Jet too. Like I, I don’t see them kissing though. But I, I,

It was that feisty that did it for me. And also that part and the ship. Like I, yeah, the part. I don’t know. There was like some. Oh, my God. There was. I. I will.

I feel like I have to, like, think about my thoughts of this. I can’t just say stuff.

Oh my god, I shipped them hard when I first watched it.

But yeah, I like, Jet’s obsession with Zuko was like, like, like.

And like such a good.

Like the drama of, like, not knowing who he is and then finding out, but then he’s also like, can that be what sparks Zuko’s little, like, character growth? You know what I mean? Can it be Jet? Like.

Like, yeah, this. This is the throuple that was needed in Avatar the Last Airbender.

God, I love it. Oh, my God, yes.

Man. This might have to be a two parter episode, huh?

Oh, my God.

The next part is just us talking about Avatar the Last Airbender.

Oh, my God. Dead ass.

We have, like a couple other questions, but I know you actually said you have some questions for us, so.

Yes, I do. Yes. Okay. And you guys already kind of answered it because I want to know if you guys ever did IP, what IP would you want to do?

Oh, I have one.

Okay. Yeah, that’s right. Because you really didn’t. Besides Cabbage man, like, yeah, right, right.

Cabbage man wouldn’t be my, like, number one. But like, I would. If I. If I was writing, I would try the last Airbender Cabbage man. But.

I really, really, really would love to write Blue Beetle. I started my writing career doing DC fan fiction and Blue Beetle was like one of my favorites to write. I freaking love him.

We have the same last name.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah. I love him so much. Jaime Reyes. Please let me write you and let me. Let me write him queer. Please let him be queer.

I think I saw you tweet this, like, a long time ago and I was like, you know what? You fucking crush that.

I want it. I want it so bad. I really want to write Blue Beetle. Yeah. Oh, sorry, your question. Sorry.

Yeah, yeah. Oh, I guess, like, moving on or whatever though. I feel like, like there’s so much to say. I feel like if it’s just like

Yeah, we get lost talking about media.

Oh, my God. For real. Like, guys, I have this idea. Shut up and tell me more, you know?

Yeah, yeah, right, like that. That should be a whole episode. Ideas like.

Fuck. Okay, so in the Love in Translation series, like, every single book, a food item on it. So, like, if there was a food item that you romanticized, what would it be? And why?

That’s such a good question.

Yeah, food is soul.

Like, food items that we romanticize. Like, as in, like in a book.

Yeah, like, it’s just like, what is like the food of your heart.

You know, I think arroz con leche, like, specifically. And. And specifically, like, okay, this might be unpopular, but next day, cold. Like, for me. So good. Like, from the fridge.

I don’t know, like, something about that. That’s childhood. Like, I really love it so much, which is. It’s like rice pudding. For anyone who doesn’t, like.

I’m trying to think if I’ve ever had, like, the HEB version of it because, you know, I’m not Latino. So I’m trying to think, like, has my husband’s family made it?

There might have been a place, like, even been while you were over here that may have.

Well, come over. My mom will make some for you.

Okay. Say less. I’m in. Lemme just book the next flight.

Yeah. Or, you know, like, I could. I could even see like a. Like a holiday book that’s like. Like pozole is like the food.

Or like tamales, like a sort of like, holiday esque like, thing that we eat.

Yeah.

But then also I was like, if I wrote like an adult one and be like something like chiles, something spicy, just.

Yeah. Literally liter peppers. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, my God. Yeah. I

My husband’s tia. She makes like. She’s from Salaya. And like, sometimes she’ll come up to, like, hang out with him and everything.

And every time she does, she always makes like, chicken posole. And it’s like, so fucking good.

is it red or green? Does she make red or green posole.

She makes, like, the green kind yeah.

Yeah. Love. Love.

I’m team red I gotta say.

Yeah. Do you like medudo?

Oh, yeah.

I like. I like the broth. I can’t do, like, the stomach.

I like it. I really like it.

With like lemon.

Yeah. I’m sorry. Go ahead.

My husband loves it and he tried to get me to like it, but, like, it’s like, too sour and like, gelatinous for me. Like,

Especially like the texture. I like it. I like it.

If it’s just like a whole bowl of the broth, like, I’m about it. But.

It’s the best hangover cure.

Oh. Oh, yeah. I think, like, because it’s like, so. Because you marinate it with, like, the bones, right.

And so, like, that’s how you get like, a lot of that, like, fat in it. And that’s what makes it like, all gelatinous or whatever. Yeah. I think, like, yeah, they have. Have like a. Like.

I guess the closest Taiwanese version of that would be like, beef noodle soup. And it’s just like ultimate, like, warm soup belly feeling.

You know, like when you’re sick and it’s cold outside and you’re just like, the world is wrong. And then you have, like, a hot bowl of soup, and you’re just like, oh, you know what?

I haven’t eaten yet. I’m hungry now.

You know, Like, I. Now I’m. Now I’m thinking about these, like, love stories with food.

We need to stop talking about food because I’m like

Because, like, I Now I’m like, okay, like, maybe not even, like, from a Mexican perspective, but from, like, a Texas perspective. Like, I used to. I used to, like, really want to, like, think of something incorporating, like, barbecue.

And I’m like, okay, like, brisket is a love language here. Like, yeah, like burnt ends, like, yeah.

Oh, my God.

No. Love is burnt ends.

I can see, like, some, like, spicy stuff happening with, like, it’s a skill and it is. It like, barbecue is a Texas love language for sure. Like, let me just show you how to rub this meat.

Like, oh, yeah. Like, oh, we have to spend all night making a brisket. What are we going to do in, like, the three hours before I need to check on it again?

You got any ideas?

Like, yeah. And then, like, hot charcoal. Like, you know, things are literally heating up. Like, yeah.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God. No, that’s amazing. I love that. Yeah.

If. If it’s like a. Like, the title that came in my head is Brisket Bromance. I don’t know.

Ohhh.

Wait, that’s amazing.

But obviously the bromance would turn to romance, I assume.

I love that. I love, like, I want to say, like, my favorite thing about, like, the romance genre.

It, like, is how punny a lot of the book titles, like, Broposal, punny as Fuck. Like, I love it, you know, And

Thank you. I do love a pun.

Yeah. Like, yeah, it. That’s. It makes a romance story, like, a little bit more fun.

because you are a master manifestor. I need to ask what is your, like, biggest author dream? And. And I have to, like, do not think small.

Like, whatever your first thought is, multiply it by a million. What is your biggest author dream? Like, think as big as you possibly can, and we’re going to manifest it together.

I. I don’t know if it’s, like, one big thing or if it’s just, like, a bunch of small things that I would love. Like, a random ass thing is, like, you know, like, I’m a queer gay Mormon, bisexual Mormon, ex Mormon, whatever.

And, like, David Archuleta was kind of the first, like, gay mormon I, like, ever really, really saw outside of, like, I guess myself or whatever. I would love to, like, ghostwrite his memoir.

Like, I feel like I could do that, like, and I don’t think that that’s like a, like that’s not like a billion dollar book deal or whatever, but I think, like, it would be so fulfilling because I think for me, like, my writer goals are like, I want to help other people feel seen. Like, and if it, if it’s like a, like a screen book to screen adaptation and it helps other people be like, you know what?

Like, like, wow, like gay Mormons do exist.

And like, you know, it is kind of fucked up that the, you know, literal fucking church and like the entire state of Utah is legit attacking trans people right the fuck now.

Yeah.

And like, how just the structure of like, heteronormalities is essential because, like, without this heteronormality in the church, like, a lot of like the free labor that women do for the Mormon church, it would like, be completely dismantled. Like, where the hell are we going to get all this free labor from?

If, like, if now we gotta start reading people’s pronouns in their bios and whatever the fuck, you know, like, I just, like, I just want to be able to make a change. And I think, like, that’s, that’s what matters most to me. Like, I don’t get. I don’t care too much.

I think personally, and I think another thing too is like, I used to, like, like, I want.

I want to be the next Suzanne Collins or whatever, but then like, I found my biological mom and it’s like, dude, like, that’s kind of what matters is like, how I feel about myself. And I just want other people to feel complete, you know?

And like, I. Yeah, so I think it’s like more just like small things like that, like being able to help somebody else.

Yeah. I think that David Archuleta, if you’re listening, there’s someone who can write your memoir.

I can go start your memoir, buddy.

Of the culture.

Yeah.

And I understand the pressure.

Let’s manifest that. David Archuleta, listen to this podcast. Here’s this episode. And oh, my God. reaches out to you.

If he had. If he has an IP project in mind, like, oh, my God.

Hello. Yeah.

Excellent. Okay. I love that. Okay, ready? Manifest, manifest, Manifest.

Energy. Give me your energy.

Okay, now we can do this.

Do you guys. Do you guys want to do like, hotter take? Like, where it’s like, okay, this is my hot take. Well, here’s my hotter take.

Oh, my God, that’s so funny.

So it’s progressively more and more chaotic, and I just, I just, I’m curious to see. See where the fuck this goes. Like, I don’t, I don’t. I don’t know if I’m ready for that. I’m gonna be completely honest. I don’t know.

I think it’s best not to be. Let’s do it.

Yeah. Okay.

Okay, you start. What’s your hot take.

Well, no, take the. Do that. Do the do the line.

Oh, the line. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. So we love mess. So what is your biggest, juiciest piece of chisme?

Any beef, unpopular opinion, hot take, your most problem, problematic trait, or red flag. We will bleep stuff out if we have to. We will cut it out if we have to. We will put it just for the patrons if we have to.

Depending on the level of hotness of the take. It might go on the podcast, it might go on the Patreon. It might be just for us. Yeah. Let’s go.

Oh, my God. Okay.

Okay. This is. This is. This is. This is a hot take. Okay. Oh, my God.

Make sure it’s not too big that we can’t one up you, though.

Oh, okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. I’ll work up to this then.

Okay.

I think authors should be able to, like, delete or block or, like, whatever. Like, reviews that are, like, not necessarily harmful, but just. Just like, where it’s like, dude, you just didn’t read the book, right? I don’t know.

Like, I’ll start there.

There could be, like, a button that even other reviewers can say like this is inaccurate to the. Yeah, I did have someone tag me in a. In a review once, and it was like, I loved this murder mystery.

And I was like, well, that’s not the book I wrote.

Yeah, right, right. Or, like, I just hate it when people. Because, like, I. I see this a lot too, and I. I think where people will be like, well, that’s not my.

My friend’s Mormon. And, like. Because it’s like, yeah, bro, the what? Or like, they’ll be like, wow, adoption is beautiful.

And it’s like she is grieving the entire time in this book. What do you mean? Adoption is beautiful. That’s not the take I’m trying to have. It can have moments of beauty. I’m trying.

I’m trying to, like, have a little bit of both. But, like, no, that’s not what I’m trying to say here. Like, yeah, like, that. I don’t know. But it’s. But at the same time, like, I see where I’m.

I’m in the wrong of this one. Because, like.

That’s why it’s a hot take.

At the end of the day. Yeah, yeah. Okay. Okay.

Disclaimer for everyone, we know, a lot of these opinions are wrong.

Yeah. You asked for red flags.

Red flags. Okay.

Okay. Okay. I feel a lot more comfortable if, like, that is the preface like, of like. Yeah, know, whatever. I’m just being fucking petty.

Yeah. My hotter take is. I like how I started this before I had one. I’m just gonna like, say.

What comes to my brain is if you write, if you market your book as a love triangle, it has to be polyamorous because otherwise it’s just an angle. That’s not a triangle. Okay. That’s my hotter take.

Oh my God.

2026, we get into polyamory in fiction.

Literally. Like. Yeah, come on.

Exactly. Or at the very least. At the very least it has. I agree. But even if it’s not like polyamory, it has to be all three of them like each other.

It can’t just be two people, like one person. That’s an angle. That’s not a triangle.

Yeah.

All right, Johnny, what’s your hotter take?

No, I love that.

For our white creatives who need to ask social media if it’s okay if they write a sort of perspective. If they are looking for someone to give them permission. Take that as you don’t need to write that. Take that as it’s.

If you, if you need to go there, you probably don’t need to go there. Let’s. Let’s all recognize the fact that Derry Girls had maybe two BIPOC characters in it through three seasons.

And it’s one of the greatest pieces of media in my opinion, to ever exist. You can have an all white cast and it be okay. You will still be published with your all white cast.

If anyone is making you believe that you need a love interest who is melanated to get published. That’s incorrect. That’s. No.

And you’re tokenizing!

And so it’s totally okay to write your all white cast. Like, I, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. I.

Especially if that’s what your comfort level is. Especially if we’re looking at your friend group and it’s all palm colored people at the baseball game.

Right. That’s what I was gonna say. Like, if I look at your Instagram and I don’t see any people who aren’t white on your. On your friend group.

Why are you putting people who aren’t white in your book because you don’t know what you’re talking about.

I think that you should not feel bad about writing an all white cast because realistically, if the book’s shitty, we’re gonna talk about it anyways.

So write what you’re comfortable with.

No, for real, actually. And Jonny, can I like, here’s my hotter take. Just piggybacking off of what you said.

Said is like if you’re a white author and your entire cast is going to be white, just fucking acknowledge your privilege. Literally.

Do us all a fucking favor and like stop being like, oh poor pity me because blah blah, blah, and it’s like, dude, you get to walk around light skinned, dude. I’m, I’m mixed. I’m white, passing. I know my fucking privileges. Like I, I. And I’m not a. And like that’s how I know you’re an ally. Because you get it.

You recognize that you have privileges and you’re not gaslighting us and you’re not saying like to, to minor minorities or like marginalized people like, but I’m just like, you know the. You’re not, bro. Just acknowledge it, bro. If, just embrace your whiteness, bro. Like, like, and not, you know, not like to the fucking Nazi level, but like, but

Embrace it in a harm free way.

Yeah, in a not violent way. Please.

Honestly, in a way, in a way that we need more white people to acknowledge in a, in a safe, compelling way. Especially for young people. Like you’re our young white readers need that for them.

So otherwise they’re going to, otherwise they’re going to go follow Andrew Tate and so like go, go keep them from following Andrew Tate.

Yeah, like we need white people to be like, oh, what I did say was racist. Oh, let me sit with the uncomfortable feeling of being wrong. And let me also like take that wrong feeling and turn it into right.

Because we are all just like people doing our best until we know better. Like that is just a human experience.

And we need more white people calling out like white supremacy because white people are going to listen to white people before they listen to fucking melanated people. And that’s the type of white allyship we need.

Exactly. I think for me, I, I don’t know if this counts as my hotter take. I’ll say it’s my hotter take, but I think I don’t give a shit what you did wrong.

If you, if your apology is good and sincere, I’ll probably forgive you. But most people don’t know how to apologize and take accountability. And that’s the problem.

If you do something wrong and it’s genuinely you want to learn and do better and you do not get defensive from people who are trying to tell you that you did something wrong or that you hurt them. Actually, you know what? I’m gonna change my hotter take because it goes off of this.

Yeah, but, yeah, don’t fucking accept an apology that isn’t yours to accept. Like, my hotter take is so, like.

And I posted about this on threads, like, okay, if I fucking am walking and I bump into someone and I’m like, like, oh, sorry. And then someone across the room is like, don’t be sorry. You have nothing to apologize for. I’m not mad at you. That sounds so fucking silly.

That’s what you sound like when you say that someone doesn’t have to apologize for something that didn’t hurt you. Like, that’s all your apology to accept.

That’s so funny, like, I’m sorry, not you, bitch.

Yeah, like, don’t accept an apology that isn’t yours to accept. If you’re not the harmed party, you do not get to say that someone didn’t have to apologize or that they. Nobody’s mad at them or whatever.

Like, just let the people who were harmed decide if they want to accept apology. It’s not your business. Why are you shouting across the room as someone else who you know, like, fucking mind your business?

Yeah. Yeah.

And you know what we should do is, like, once it gets to a point where someone has a hotter take that, like, we can’t be topped, that’s who wins.

Oh, maybe. Maybe I have my little sort of. Maybe I have my little sort of, like, derail where we’re going. So. So. And this. I’m.

We’re going to bleep this out because I am not putting this on.

Okay.

Okay. Okay. Okay.

Yeah. Yeah.

I still love you. Always.

Yeah. Yeah. I am so. I am currently reading. Finishing reading. Slash.

All right, back to the. Back to the podcast. I think Jonny won that one.

Jonny took the crown.

Okay. All right. That was incredible. Thank you so much, Stefany, for hanging out with us today. We had so much fun.

Do you want to drop any events or places to order your books or anything else? Listeners should know where to find you.

Oh, shit, no, that’s actually a damn. Wait.

Well, you can find me on Instagram. It’s kind of like the only social media platform that I’m on these days, obviously.

You know, local bookstores, if you can go in person and make an order, or your local library. Go and make a request at your local library. I love, you know, local libraries. Like, like, keep them. Get your library card, guys.

Like, libraries are where it’s at. Like, the only way I’m able to read any books right now is because I still have my library card. So. And I’m able to, like, e read and audiobook read.

So. Yeah, go give your library some love. You guys are amazing. I’m so happy I got to, like, chit chat with you guys.

This is the most English I’ve spoken in, like, a long time.

I mean, it was great. I feel like this was a really fun one.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Oh, my God.

Live love library.

I fucking. Wait, can I get that on a shirt? I love that.

Absolutely. Yeah.

Oh, my God.

We will be back in two weeks with another episode of the Bidi Bidi Podcast. That’s not what we’re called. We’re called the Bidi Biddy Book Pod.

I think you’ve been saying that this whole time.

Have I. Oh, well, I said that.

Stay tuned for episodes after 3 and 4 and see if I call it the wrong name. But next time, we’ll be back with our. Our wonderful friend, Alechia Dow. So until next time. Bye.

Bye!

All right. You guys are amazing. Toodles.

Toodles.

All right, bye.