Celestial Banquet - My YA Fantasy Debut
When I was young and through my teen years, I loved reading fantasy the most. I loved getting lost in fantastic worlds and creatures and in characters I aspired to be. I wanted nothing more than to be the hero that saved the day.
Celestial Banquet is one of those stories that marinated in my subconscious for decades. I'd been tossing spices and seasonings into it and letting it age--hoping that one day, it'd be ready for me to write. Apparently, that was 2020 when the world was upended by a pandemic and I was still unsure whether writing was a viable career. I felt at the time that I needed to write in another genre or category to feel more secure. I've read somewhere that it's so easy to disappear after releasing a book and I didn't want to end up this way.
My three adult books are contemporary fantasy or fabulism. It made me realize how much I craved to write more fantasy. After talking to a few friends, I've decided to write a pitch and a few pages of what will become Celestial Banquet. I sent my agent the idea and she encouraged me to go for it. It helped that I had two YA short stories released (All Signs Point to Yes and At Midnight) in that I know I can nail the voice. This started a rigorous 1.5 year period of revisions and learning to write a new genre and category. My agent Jenny was ever so patient and told me that it's okay that it's taking time because it's a process.
After bothering too many CPs to read and multiple rewrites and drafts, we went on sub last summer. This book holds my teenage heart. I've drawn maps, filled a journal with ideas and world-building, and I've agonized so much about whether readers will fall in love with Cai and my ragtag ensemble of characters.
For those readers who are curious, Celestial Banquet includes:
- a fiery chef who is torn between a childhood friend and a shy noble scholar
- a fierce huntress with a clever cormorant companion
- a dramatic excuse of a god named Kama
- a deadly cooking competition with gods and monsters
- a world loosely based on East and Southeast Asia
- Big Mummy Vibes (not the Tom Cruise version bc that's total trash, yes come fight me)
- a copious amount of food that will leave you hungrier than ever
If this tickles your fancy, please add on Goodreads here.
