Kuwentong Musmos Author Interview: Joanna Que

Here is the blog interview of Ms. Joanna Que, author of Sayaw ng mga Kamay (2019) and illustrated by Fran Alvarez. Sayaw ng mga Kamay is one of the twenty books that Adarna House published under the Kuwentong Musmos Project of Room to Read.

Why are you writing for children?

I write for children because I want to ignite that innate sense of wonder in them through stories that they can hopefully enjoy, relate to, and be inspired by.  

What is your Philippine Children’s Literature origin story? (How did you start writing for kids and getting published?)

It was in 2016 when I joined ‘Sipat/Sulat’, a Workshop on Seeing and Making Literature by Adarna House. Towards the end of the workshop, we were asked to submit 2 story ideas each. Among the ideas I pitched was a story about one who loves the day and one who loves the night, and how they learned to appreciate each other’s perspectives. After a couple of weeks, I got an email that they were interested in the story, so they asked me to write a manuscript. Thankfully, the story was accepted for publication. In 2018, ‘Sinag and Tala’ was published by Adarna House, with illustrations by Mickey Velarde.  

Give three words or phrase to describe your Kuwentong Musmos Workshop experience.

1. Grateful – for the opportunity to have been part of this wonderful project.

2. United – in the purpose of sharing stories to children, especially those who are most vulnerable.

3. Friendship and Camaraderie – that continued on even after the workshop.  

What is the book you wish you had written?

The Little Prince. I love how simple yet profound the story is. The creative way the author tells the story, along with its unique characters and quotable quotes definitely stands out for me.

Tuwing Sabado by Russel Molina. It’s amazing how the author was able to bring light to a difficult topic with his beautiful storytelling and imagery. This is a story that definitely tugs at the heartstrings. 

What advice or tips can you give aspiring children’s book writers?

Being a fairly new author, I may not be in the position to give advice. However, I would like to share some tips that I found useful in my process of writing for children:

1. Read as much books as you can.

2. Don’t be afraid to start.

3. Write from the heart.

4. Be observant.

5. Spend time with children. 

6. Be open to suggestions. 

Joanna is a writer who is fascinated by the beauty of nature. Most of her musings and jolts of inspirations come about while walking and exploring nature’s wonders. Apart from writing, she also loves making things with her hands.