Hello, friend! I recently shared about Jennifer Chow’s latest book, Death by Bubble Tea, which helped me revisit my teenage sleuthing days with Nancy Drew. Today, I have the honor of hosting Jennifer for an interview! Let’s do a quick recap of the book. 🙂
Death by Bubble Tea by Jennifer J. Chow
Two cousins who start a food stall at their local night market get a serving of murder in this first novel of a delicious new cozy mystery series by Jennifer J. Chow, author of Mimi Lee Gets a Clue.
When Yale Yee discovers her cousin Celine is visiting from Hong Kong, she is obliged to play tour guide to a relative she hasn’t seen in twenty years. Not only that, but her father thinks it’s a wonderful idea for them to bond by running a food stall together at the Eastwood Village Night Market. Yale hasn’t cooked in years, and she hardly considers Celine’s career as a social media influencer as adequate experience, but because she’s just lost her job at her local bookstore, she feels she has no choice.
Yale and Celine serve small dishes and refreshing drinks, and while business is slow, it eventually picks up thanks to Celine’s surprisingly useful marketing ideas. They’re quite shocked that their bubble tea, in particular, is a hit–literally–when one of their customers turns up dead. Yale and Celine are prime suspects due to the gold flakes that Celine added to the sweet drink as a garnish. Though the two cousins are polar opposites in every way, they must work together to find out what really happened to the victim or the only thing they’ll be serving is time.
Hi Jennifer! Welcome to Armed with A Book. It is an honor to host you on the blog! Can you please tell me and my readers about yourself?
Thanks so much for the warm welcome! I like to say I write cozy mysteries with heart, humor, and heritage. Physically, I live in the Los Angeles area, but you can find me online at JenniferJChow.com.
Death by Bubble Tea is the first book that I have read of yours. Since, I have checked out your other works and I am excited to dive into the Sassy Cat Mystery series. You write cozy mysteries, tell me what attracts you to this genre?
Cozy mysteries are like comforting mugs of tea. They provide warmth, hope, and closure in a sometimes uncertain world. I also have fond memories of reading Agatha Christie stories with my mom, so that adds extra charm to the genre.
How did the idea for Death by Bubble Tea and the Night Market come to be?
I’ve experienced my share of night markets (love them!) and grew up with a foodie background (we owned a family restaurant). It’s no wonder then that I wrote a culinary cozy mystery featuring some of my favorite food and drinks (including bubble tea).
I loved the cultural roots in the novel. Did you take any inspiration from your own life experiences?
Our family restaurant served Cantonese dishes, and I definitely got culinary inspiration from there. My relatives and I all worked together at the restaurant, so I took in cultural insights and even the importance of family from that environment. Also, in the book, Yale has an estranged cousin who visits from Hong Kong, and that’s where my mother was raised. (I’ve luckily also taken a trip there myself.)
Has your community as a blogger and being part of Sisters in Crime and Crime Writers of Color influenced you as a writer?
As a writer, I require community to thrive. Writing is solitary and often involves times of waiting and rejection, so being surrounded by supportive people is key. I’m on a group blog called Chicks on the Case, and they definitely fire up my creativity—after all, we’re a bunch of “mystery writers with a killer sense of humor.” Sisters in Crime was and continues to be a significant influence. They welcomed me when I was a young author (tip: you can also join as a pre-published writer), provided amazing resources, and helped connect me with peers. Crime Writers of Color offers a safe space for sharing trials and joys; I truly believe that when we lift each other up, we all rise stronger.
If you could be a character in any of your books, which book would that be from, who would you be and why?
It’s so hard to choose! I think perhaps I’d like to be Alice, Mimi Lee’s younger sister in the Sassy Cat Mystery series. She’s got a fierce older sis, teaches appreciative kiddos, and often gets pampered by her family.
Yale sees each person as a kind of dim sum. What kind of dim sum are you?
I’ve honestly never been asked this question before. Maybe I would be a fried taro dumpling. I do have a feminine, lacy exterior, but inside there’s also colorful taro and savory pork. I’m sweet and intriguing!
What makes a good story to you?
I love voice. If I can fall in love with the protagonist, I’m halfway hooked. Of course, I also appreciate challenging obstacles and some character growth. Plus, I’m a sucker for happy endings.
It was wonderful to read an excerpt from the next book in the L.A. Night Market Mysteries. I would love to learn more about your writing process. Do you usually know how many books there will be or see what ideas come up?
I jot down my inspirations in a notebook, and I always keep an idea or two around for future adventures. The actual number of published books depends on reader interest, though, so please go and support authors!
Thank you so much for your time! 🙂
Thank you for hanging out with Jennifer and me! Connect with Jennifer on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads and her website.
Cover image: Photo by Karan Nagpal on Unsplash
Thanks for this wonderful interview!
Thanks for being open to doing the interview. Looking forward to connecting with you again in the future 🙂