This A-Profiler we bring you writer Cindy Pon whose debut novel, Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia makes it entry into bookstores on April 28, 2009. Find out how this full time, stay-at-home mom managed to pull off her dream of being published and what we can expect in the future.

Your site URL:
cindypon.com

Have you always wanted to be a writer? How did you get started as a writer?
i've been writing since elementary school. i think like most writers, i started writing because i loved reading so much. i have a different background (tho maybe not that unusual) in that i was an immigrant from taiwan. we were part of the large influx in the early 1980's settling in the suburbs of los angeles. so i was an esl student (english as a second language). the experience really has shaped me, because i remember very distinctly first grade, and that huge language barrier. as well as taking the esl proficiency exam when i was 12 (sixth grade). i remember struggling to remember the word "domino" when the tester showed me an image. i pulled it from the tip of my tongue at the last minute. =)

What was your inspiration for writing Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia?
stir craziness from being a full time stay at home mom. ha! seriously, i think that if i never quit my full time job, i never would have tried to do what i had always dreamed about as a teen. i really needed something to call my own. so i began by taking creative writing courses at the local university extension. and it brought me back to my first love--writing. i decided maybe i could try writing a novel. why not? it was probably one of the hardest things i had ever done. (the other being a first time mother.) i only had a few words jotted in my journal : journey, friends, snake demon, jealousy...

Since this is your first novel to be published, what have you learned from the whole process that you think will help you on your future novels?
the entire process was an eye opener and i learned so so much going from revising the manuscript to landing on the bookshelves. you really have to be on your toes and flexible as an author. your publisher may need something from you asap, and it's your job as the author to deliver. i confess, greenwillow books and harpercollins have made the entire journey to publication easy for me. i feel so fortunate. i couldn't ask for a better experience.

What tips do you have for other aspiring writers out there trying to get their story published?
don't give up. to believe in yourself. but to be humble and approach the process with humility. it's all about the right attitude, a fine line between having enough ego to pick yourself up after 100 rejections and keep going as well as humbleness to know you can always learn and improve on your writing. there is no card to pass go. it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. no one can hand publication to you on a silver platter. keep writing. keep learning. don't give up on your dream.

You are also working on a children's picture book based on your brush paintings. What has that been like and when can we expect that to be released? What animals were your favorite to paint?
i am! i was so lucky that my editor saw some brush paintings posted on my blog and also offered a picture book contract. i just turned in the dummy (mock up of the book) recently. it was scary and liberating at the same time, as it wasn't a genre i was very familiar with. i had loads of fun painting for the dummy as well as writing the story. but i expect i'll be working with my editor to improve on both! i've a lot to learn! i think it'll be released in 2011?

and my backyard canyon bunny was a favorite subject of mine to paint. i also really loved the toad and hedgehog. =D

How do you find the time to write given all of the daily craziness that goes on? How do you keep your days sane?
who said i kept sane? ha! i wrote silver phoenix at night for about 1.5 hours a day after the bubs went to bed and on weekends. now they are both in school for most of the morning and i can take that time to write as well. BUT i've been doing a lot of multi-tasking between the picture book and also promoting silver phoenix. so it's definitely a juggle!

Can we expect a big screen version of Silver Phoenix? What actress would you envision to portray the heroine, if you could pick any actress out there now?
i can. i think that the novel lends itself to visuals and the big screen. it's a far fetch--but an author can always dream. =) as for actresses, i don't watch asian films much and i'm pretty limited on selection when it comes to asian-american actors. i did think that yi fei lu who played "golden sparrow" in the forbidden kingdom really reminded me of my heroine, ai ling. she's gorgeous!

What can we expect from Silver Phoenix in the future?
i'm writing a presequel. yes. i made up that word. =)

Would you like to be featured on this site? Click here for more info.

This issue of A-Profiler is brought to you by Nelson Wong.
Special thanks to Cindy Pon.

Photos used with permission.
Copyright retained by original copyright holder(s).