Teresa Wong is a Calgary writer who had three children in less than five years. At first, she feared motherhood would destroy her, but is pleasantly surprised to find herself continually remade. When the kids are asleep, she writes and draws pictures. When she is asleep, it’s never for long.
Dear Scarlet is her first book. Follow her on Instagram @by_teresawong, where she posts drawings for her children.
Welcome Author ~ Teresa Wong
Inspiration for writing Dear Scarlet
Your story caught my attention – I know a few friends from Singapore and here in Australia who went through Postpartum Depression. It is a topic seldom discussed but one that needs awareness. What inspired you to create a graphic story in the form of a letter for Dear Scarlet?
For me, Dear Scarlet began as a way to work through some unresolved feelings. When I was pregnant with my third baby, I started having flashbacks to the delivery room and to Scarlet’s newborn days. The memories were so vivid they made me cry. I mean, maybe it was just pregnancy hormones, but I realized I wasn’t “done” with it—even after all the counseling and treatment I’d been through—so I thought maybe writing about it would help. It came out as a letter to Scarlet.
How many illustration drafts did you create before you reached publication?
I did a rough first draft (storyboard in a sketchbook), and then drew a more refined second draft. To secure an agent, I reworked those images into a third draft, and that is the manuscript that ultimately became the book. I made some minor changes through the editing process with my publisher, and I also added a postscript to the story before publication.
What is the message (theme or takeaway) would you want readers to embrace about your story?
There is so much pressure on new moms to be perfect, but motherhood can look different for everyone. I hope others who are struggling will see themselves in the story and feel less alone when they read it.
What brought you joy as you created Dear Scarlet?
I loved hearing from early readers who had connected with it in a meaningful way. It actually surprises me the response I’ve gotten from other mothers who’ve read the book—how much they relate to it—because I didn’t write it with that intention. I just wanted to tell my story honestly, and I guess that resonates with some women, whether they had postpartum depression or not.
What amazing experience did you learn or discover as you created Dear Scarlet?
I am a writer, not an artist, and I felt for sure that I’d need to collaborate with an illustrator to make the book. But when I showed the first draft to some friends and colleagues, they said that the simple drawings matched the vulnerability of the story. They told me it would be a better story if I drew the thing myself. I’m still not happy with many of the drawings in the book (especially now that I’ve been practicing for a few years), but there are certain panels I really am proud of.
What’s Next for Teresa
Is there a new book in the making? Could you share a little blurb to let us know about your next book, or possible release date, etc
I am trying (and failing, most days) to begin a second book. It’s about my parents, who both escaped from Chinese communes during the Cultural Revolution, and my fraught relationship with my mother. So far, I have a structure in mind, but I haven’t been able to figure out how to proceed and whether I’d even be able to draw the story.
What advice would you give to anyone wanting to become a writer?
Read widely. Hone your craft. Get other writers to read your drafts and provide feedback before you send your work out into the world. If you write the best book you can possibly write, it will find its audience.
Connect with Teresa Wong
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