Interview: Livia Blackburne
SARAH STEINBACHER: Your newest picture book, BING’S CHERRIES, has been called “a poignant origin story” (Kirkus) and a “unique Chinese American tall tale” (The Bulletin). If you wrote your own origin story as a tall tale, what would it be like?
LIVIA BLACKBURNE: I would probably be some little sprite born in Taiwan who flew across the ocean and spent some time hanging out in the desert but it got too hot, then spent some time hanging out in a city of ivory towers where she almost was killed under an avalanche of books, until finally she flew up into the sky amongst the clouds and settled there, spending her days daydreaming.
SARAH STEINBACHER: School Library Journal called BING’S CHERRIES “a beautifully told and authentically grounded tale honoring the immigrant behind the famous Bing cherry and celebrating Chinese American resilience and contribution.” Was there a particular immigrant story that impacted you as a child?
LIVIA BLACKBURNE: To be honest, there wasn't. The only books I could find were Lawrence Yep’s books, which were great, but I didn't really see myself in the boy protagonists or historical settings. And then later on, Joy Luck Club, which also was lovely, but again I didn't identify with it on a personal level. If anything, it was the lack of options in immigration stories growing up that inspired me to write my own.
SARAH STEINBACHER: Kirkus called your picture book, NAINAI’S MOUNTAIN, “an inviting love letter to a cherished homeland and family” and Booklist said it’s “a touching portrayal of finding cultural connection across generations.” How important are immigrant stories for children in this specific moment in history?
LIVIA BLACKBURNE: It's crucially important now, in a time when immigrants are vilified and dehumanized in the media and by our own government. Children need to see stories of immigrants in order to understand that they are people, just like everyone else.
SARAH STEINBACHER: I DREAM OF POPO “beautifully explores what it’s like for a child to move across the globe and the toll that family separation can take” (Booklist). Publisher’s Weekly said it offered “a richly nuanced narrative that illuminates the interstices of one family’s diasporic experience.” Previously you’ve shared how your own lived experiences inspired this story. What are the pros and cons of writing such personal stories?
LIVIA BLACKBURNE: The pro is that you don't have to reach very far for authenticity. The details and emotions are right there. The cons are that they are indeed so richly personal that they can be an emotional toll to write. I cried a lot while writing I Dream of Popo, and for a long time I worried about the emotional toll of publicizing it, so much so that I went to see a therapist. Thankfully, though, it turned out that publicizing the book actually served as therapy for me and connected me to many people who had similar experiences, which ended up being very good for my soul.
SARAH STEINBACHER: Your young adult rom-com, CLEMENTINE AND DANNY SAVE THE WORLD (AND EACH OTHER), offers a modern twist on You’ve Got Mail. Publisher’s Weekly said, “Opinionated and endearing main characters drive this slow-burning, nuanced read, in which Blackburne discusses the pervasiveness of misunderstandings through online communication, and the myriad interpretations of community development and advocacy.” How have you seen gentrification impact communities around you and what can young readers do about it?
LIVIA BLACKBURNE: I see gentrification affecting a lot of neighborhoods around me, especially since real estate is so scarce in LA. Many ethnic enclaves in particular are affected. I think it's helpful for young readers to be aware of it and let that awareness drive their decisions as far as where they buy things and what businesses they frequent. Getting involved with local communities and building connections is important as well.
SARAH STEINBACHER: Do you have any other projects you’d like to share?
LIVIA BLACKBURNE: My debut middle grade, ECHOES ACROSS THE WATER, will come out next year, as well as CHRYSANTHEMUM’S GLOW, my third collaboration with [illustrator] Julia Kuo.
SARAH STEINBACHER: Where can readers connect with you?
LIVIA BLACKBURNE: @lkblackburne in Instagram is where I mostly hang out, although I’m at that same handle at a lot of other sites as well. If readers sign up for my mailing list at my website, www.liviablackburne.com, they will receive two free short stories.
Follow Livia on her website, on Instagram, and on BlueSky.
*****Order Livia’s newly released picture book BING’S CHERRIES here, available now.*****
