Today I welcome Ginger Park to speak about her newest picture book, Suka's Farm, which she co-wrote with her sister Frances, illustrated by Tiffany Chen, published by Albert Whitman. I first came to know about Ginger and Frances while living in South Korea. My headmaster at the international school in which I taught, was friends with them in the states. He shared that their parents were from North Korea. I read one of their picture books about their mother's escape out of the country, My Freedom Trip. And who knew that one day I'd be interviewing them?!
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| Ginger Park (l), sister Frances Park (r) |
Welcome, Ginger. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
We live in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC. When we’re not writing, you can usually find us at our sweet shop in the heart of the Capital City known as Chocolate Chocolate―our happy place. Customers stop by for their luscious bon bons and real-time chat, and to peruse our book nook of Park sisters’ titles. We’ve been deemed the “Cheers” of chocolate for good reason―our shop is a safe pause from the world’s woes. Whatever is happening out there, stays out there. Our customers have celebrated every book launch party with us, and the goodwill is impossible to describe in words―it touches us squarely in our hearts. Come April 10, our shop will be overflowing with friends and customers for our SUKA’S FARM book launch. We can’t wait!
Just to give you a little insight into Suka's Farm, here's my short review: The Park Sisters create another book together about one of their father’s experiences as a goat farmer assistant for a Japanese farmer in Korea during a dark period of Japanese occupation. However, even in the most ominous moments, little boy, Kwan, finds a way to help his family.
1. What inspired you to write Suka's Farm? How did you get the idea?
After our father passed away in 1979, we wanted
to immortalize his memory through words. The story was inspired by his
impoverished boyhood days growing up during the Japanese occupation of Korea. At
age ten, our father’s hungry family prompted him to ask a Japanese farmer for
work. Our father rose every morning at dawn to work before and after school, tending
a herd of goats. Just like in the book, our mother told us that our father
named each of his beloved goats.
2. Did you have to make up any of the details? What kind of research did you do?
Some of the details are from our
imaginations. For example, our grandparents weren’t woodcarver and painter―they
were pastor and missionary (at a time when less than 4% of the population were
Christian). Character names are fictionalized, including the goats’ cute names
(we never knew their real names). We carefully researched the Japanese occupation
timeline (1910-1945) such as the years Koreans were forced to give up their
birth names for Japanese ones.
3. How do you and your sister Frances collaborate on stories? What's your process?
It’s a magical experience! Truly an
organic process. One of us comes up with the idea and drafts out the story,
then passes it on to the other. Funny thing is, we never talk about our work in
the light of day―it’s our unspoken rule of collaboration. Early on in the 90s,
our communications were handwritten comments in margins, eventually progressing
to email. Now we use Gmail chat. Once the manuscript is ‘perfect’, we take
turns reading the story out loud. Of course, there are always a few edits. When
we’re ready to submit to our agent, we do a celebratory high-five.
4. How long did it take to write this story?
The decision to write the picture book came
on New Year’s Day two years ago. We were pondering 2023 resolutions when it
occurred to us that it was the year our father would turn 100 years old. We
looked at each other and said it was time to write that story that had been in
our hearts for decades. It was hard condensing our father’s powerful story into
a picture book, but it was a fun challenge. We completed the story in a month
or so.
5. How long did it take to sell this story?
Our ever-awesome agent, Jennifer Unter, submitted
the manuscript to Albert Whitman and Company (publisher of one of our earlier picture
books titled GRANDPA’S SCROLL) and received a ‘verbal’ email acceptance on the
same day!
6. What do you hope readers take away from reading this book?
If children read SUKA’S FARM and feel hope and inspiration, then we feel we have made a small contribution to the world. The book is a tribute to our father, the story a testament to his spirit during one of Korea’s most tumultuous eras. SUKA’S FARM focuses on small fields and the day-to-day life of a hungry boy with dreams, and of friendship and humanity.
7. What is your favorite part of the illustrations?
Tiffany Chen’s reimagination of a bygone era is nothing short of masterful. She brought the 1941 Korean landscape to life―the surrounding mountains, the endless fields, the clothing of yore―in exquisite fashion.
8. What was most surprising about the illustrations?
Tiffany's cartoon-like portraits (and we mean that in the most positive light) gently complement a story about the harsh realities of the Japanese occupation of Korea.
9. What advice do you have for writers?
No matter what anyone says, never give up on a project that you love. Keep writing even if it’s for no one else but yourself. You just might surprise the world.
10. What's next for you?
It’s a secret, but we’re very excited about our next project. Hint―a picture book about our chocolate shop and the power of community.
Oooo, I can't wait. That book sounds delightful and delicious! And I've tasted the chocolates from Ginger & Frances's shop! How fun to sell books and chocolates! Congrats!
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| Customers at their shop, Chocolate Chocolate |
We are the Korean American author-sister team of many
award-winning children’s books. Our stories are inspired by our family history
and reflect our Korean heritage. We’re delighted to announce the forthcoming
publication of MY SISTER’S DOLJABI (October 2025). As mentioned in Publisher’s
Weekly: Josh Gregory at Albert Whitman has bought world rights to My Sister's
Doljabi, a picture book by Ginger Park and Frances Park, illustrated by Violet
Kim. Hoon is helping his parents plan his baby sister's first birthday—the most
important birthday for Koreans. The celebration traditionally closes with a fun
ceremony called the doljabi (which translates to "birthday grab"),
where the baby is placed before a set of symbolic items and encouraged to
choose one of the objects, which is thought to predict the baby's future.
Publication is set for October 2025; Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency
represented the authors, and April Jones Prince at Studio Goodwin Sturges
represented the illustrator.
Congrats, sisters! This looks like an amazing and much-needed story! TY Tina for sharing this book and your friends' books w/us!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Kathy.
DeleteCongratulations! Your father's story is needed so others can learn about the past.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Charlotte. Thank you!
DeleteI am so glad you wrote this - it is a lovely story of hope and a glimpse for kids into other lives and cultures. Thanks.
ReplyDelete