Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: Questions for Jamie Ford

[Maria_H]

Do you have a question for Jamie? Reply to this message to start the conversation!

[Dara84]

What inspired you to write Hotel?

[Jamie_Ford]

Hi Dara,

Oddly enough, I had never thought to write about Chinese American, Japanese Americans, or really any of the history that's so much a part of HOTEL. I guess I was just too close to it, and didn't think anyone else would really care. (I know, writers are truly odd ducks).

It wasn't until my dad passed away, maybe six years ago, that I started to explore some of those themes. Specifically the "I Am Chinese" button that Henry wears in the book. It's an iconic piece of history that my dad mentioned wearing as a kid. 

HOTEL really started as a short story--maybe 30 pages, about a young Chinese boy trying to give that button to his best friend, who is a young Japanese girl. It was a very simple story, that grew into the novel. 

At its core, I always considered HOTEL to be a bit of a haunted love story, with a lot of history woven in. I love history--and I love research. It's quite odd to grow up and actually say, "I love research." That's akin to saying, "I love doing my taxes," because you wouldn't think the process was all that fun, but as an author, I do love it.

[aprilh]

Reading Hotel prompted me to research Japanese internment camps. I was shocked to learn how Japanese Americans were treated during WWII, forced to leave their homes and possessions behind. The scene in the book where Japanese families are burning their old photographs and letters to be rid of anything connecting them to the war is heartbreaking. I was wondering how much research you had to do for the book and also how long it took you write Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet?

[Jamie_Ford]

Hi April!

Thanks for the great question.

I probably spent twice as much time researching the book as I did actually writing it. And the more I discovered, the more I had those moments where I said, "This must go in the book." The scene where those personal belongings was one of those moments. As was the mention of an internee being shot and killed, and how the soldier went virtually unpunished. Those moments were heartbreaking and emotive...and true.

Research-wise, I grew up in the area and my father grew during that time period, so I had a bit of anecdotal evidence to draw upon. But beyond that, I did a lot of research though non-fiction texts and historical notes. I also spent time at the Wing Luke Asian Museum in Seattle and met with a historian named Doug Chin.

Also, I visited the Panama Hotel itself. They offered these tours for a minimum of six people, so I paid for six and took the tour by myself.

Oops. Almost forgot. I spoke with Grace Holden, daughter of Oscar Holden, a legendary Seattle jazz pianist who appears in the book. That was an amazing experience. Grace was the first keyboardist for Quincy Jones--a lovely woman and great musician.

The actual writing took about three months of solid, manic writing.

 
Are there particular scenes, or historical details that you'd like to know more about?

[Rachel-K]

Jamie,

I was very curious about the photographer shooting pictures while people burned their possessions. Are there photos of such a scene?

I would actually like to see photos of the area before any of the Anti-Japanese sentiment changed the landscape.

[Jamie_Ford]

Not that I know of. Which is probably why I chose to capture the scene that way. There were any written accounts of families burning or even burying their belongings. It was a heartaching it of non-fiction that I wanted to portray.

As far as photos of the area, many do exist. In fact, many are on display at the Panama Hotel, or at the Wing Luke Asian Museum in Seattle. 

The whole area has changed dramatically since that time. Especially when I-5 cut through the eastern part of that whole neighborhood.

[momgee]

Hi Jamie, the only quibble about your book that I have read in reviews so far is the fact that Henry was only 12 years old when he met Keiko and that is too young to have such strong feelings. Why did you decide to make him this age as opposed to 14 or 15? 

What is your thinking process in fleshing out your characters? Do you make a list of traits and figure how to work them into the story or do they begin to take on a personality of their own as you go along?

kaye

[Jamie_Ford]

Hi Kaye!

Ah...Henry's age--that's a great question.

When I was querying agents, I had an offer from a BIG agent, and she loved the book, but really wanted me to make the characters of Henry and Keiko older--like 17-18. And I just felt that their relationship would get more complicated. I really liked the "innocent love" aspect, and wanted to keep the love story very simple...very poignant...and purposely, less physical. Almost to echo the decorum used in great love stories of the 40s, where the relationships were very understated.

As far as the actual age--starting with Henry at age 12 and following him until he's almost 16, I tried to frame the age within the context of what else might be happening at the time.

A lot of Chinese immigrants, going back to the late 1800s, would come to the US as young as 13--quite common in fact. And after the bombings of Pearl Harbor, there were numerous occasions where young men lied about their age and joined the armed forces at age 15. The "Greatest Generation" seemed to take on the mantle of their circumstances and in many cases, grew up quickly. So I tried to have Henry grow up in that same fashion.

Also thinking about that "first love," however innocent. For some it's when they're 16, for Henry it's those awkward early teens.

Anyone have a "first love" anecdote they'd like to share?

[Fozzie]

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Jamie_Ford wrote:
As was the mention of an internee being shot and killed, and how the soldier went virtually unpunished. Those moments were heartbreaking and emotive...and true.

---

I had wondered if that particular detail was true --- how sad!  Unthinkable, really...

[Fozzie]

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Jamie_Ford wrote:
I probably spent twice as much time researching the book as I did actually writing it.

The actual writing took about three months of solid, manic writing.
 

---

So, am I reading correctly that it took only a year to write the book?  That seems very fast compared to the writing speed of other authors I have interacted with in this forum.

[Fozzie]

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Jamie_Ford wrote:

Hi Kaye!

Ah...Henry's age--that's a great question.

When I was querying agents, I had an offer from a BIG agent, and she loved the book, but really wanted me to make the characters of Henry and Keiko older--like 17-18. And I just felt that their relationship would get more complicated. I really liked the "innocent love" aspect, and wanted to keep the love story very simple...very poignant...and purposely, less physical. Almost to echo the decorum used in great love stories of the 40s, where the relationships were very understated.

As far as the actual age--starting with Henry at age 12 and following him until he's almost 16, I tried to frame the age within the context of what else might be happening at the time.

A lot of Chinese immigrants, going back to the late 1800s, would come to the US as young as 13--quite common in fact. And after the bombings of Pearl Harbor, there were numerous occasions where young men lied about their age and joined the armed forces at age 15. The "Greatest Generation" seemed to take on the mantle of their circumstances and in many cases, grew up quickly. So I tried to have Henry grow up in that same fashion.

Also thinking about that "first love," however innocent. For some it's when they're 16, for Henry it's those awkward early teens.

Anyone have a "first love" anecdote they'd like to share?

---

I can understand Kaye's question.  I asked myself the same question about age, but felt comfortable that in that time, in that place, 12 and 13 was much older than it is today.  I noted the repeated references by Henry to his Dad being "of age" at 13, and understood why he would feel that he himself was also at that age.

I was amazed at how much Henry walked about the city by himself.  How big was the area of Chinatown and Japantown? 

[Jamie_Ford]

It was definitely an atypical writing experience. Partly because I'd been researching the period for another book, one set around the back-room gambling parlor where my grandparents first met. I'd also been writing short stories set in that mileu, just trying things out.

The research probably took about six months, and the actual writing about three. But I'm rather manic when I write. I don't write in non-stop binges, but I tend to write every single day--about 1,500 words each day, with few days off. It adds up quickly.

Now if I could only do that with my new book... 

[Jamie_Ford]

 

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I was amazed at how much Henry walked about the city by himself.  How big was the area of Chinatown and Japantown? 

---

 

Not terribly large by today's standard. Nihonmachi was about 30 square blocks. From 5th Avenue up to 8th Avenue, and then across maybe 5-6 streets. Chinatown was probably half that size. 

What remains of the International District today is even smaller, I'd guess less than half that size. Part has been eroded by urban development, condos, etc. But a lot was lost with the construction of the I-5 freeway that cut across the western side of the neighborhood years ago.

[Fozzie]

SPOILER FOR END OF BOOK

Jamie,

Why did you choose a happy ending for Keiko and Henry?  I am thrilled that you did.  I felt that they had enough hardship and disappointment in their lives and deserved some good news.  However, I could easily imagine how the outcome could have been quite different.

[Jamie_Ford]

Hi Laura (Thanks for posting the spoiler warning )

That's a very interesting question, because I have Henry and Keiko meet again, but the book ends there. Most readers see it as a happy, or at least redemptive, ending. But a few readers have seen it as ambiguous, since I don't go much further beyond that moment.

But, to me, it's a happy ending--and I guess I felt that these characters had just suffered and sacrificed enough, and now it was their time. I think we all hope for a happy ending at the end of our life's journey--something most people can relate to.

Interestingly enough, I've recently talked to a film producer, and the "ending" was a big part of that discussion.

[momgee]

***Spoiler Alert included in quote**** 

Does this mean there may be a movie based on your book? Seems coincidental because there is a discussion thread going around the book bloggers about which book you would like to see made into a movie.My reply was Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet! I would love to see that happen.

kaye

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Jamie_Ford wrote:

Hi Laura (Thanks for posting the spoiler warning )

That's a very interesting question, because I have Henry and Keiko meet again, but the book ends there. Most readers see it as a happy, or at least redemptive, ending. But a few readers have seen it as ambiguous, since I don't go much further beyond that moment.

But, to me, it's a happy ending--and I guess I felt that these characters had just suffered and sacrificed enough, and now it was their time. I think we all hope for a happy ending at the end of our life's journey--something most people can relate to.

Interestingly enough, I've recently talked to a film producer, and the "ending" was a big part of that discussion.

---

[Jamie_Ford]

No film option yet, but I'm hopeful.

I was in LA last week and met with a producer that has lined up a great director and an incredible screenwriter to adapt. They'll be approaching studios in the coming months. (Think good thoughts!)

[Fozzie]

I think the title of the book is wonderful.  It is attention getting, yet has a certain subtlety that I could only appreciate once I had completed the book.

Ironically, I am now reading Any Bitter Thing, whose title also contains the word bitter, and begins with this epigraph from Proverbs 27:7:

"The full soul tramples upon the honeycomb, but to the hungry soul, any bitter thing tastes sweet."

I found myself pondering this proverb in relation to The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.

Now, finally to my question...Jamie, how was the title of the book decided upon?

[Jamie_Ford]

Hmmm...*thinking*...the working title was simply, The Panama Hotel. But that conjures images of Manuel Noriega, the Panama Canal, etc.

As I was kicking around other ideas, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet was my next choice. I thought it was important to include the hotel, since the place itself is almost a silent character in the book. And the story is happy and sad, bitter and sweet, aching and redemptive. The title just seemed to fit and felt evocative.

But—there was concern that it might be too long. (Not sure what too long is actually, since Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, was fairly long, but did just fine). However, once feedback started rolling in from the sales force and booksellers, everyone seemed to love the title. So it stuck. Which is why I always listen to frontline bookseller—they know books, they know their customers, they’re the pros. (Thank you!)

Ironically though, we’re trying to sell the foreign rights in the UK right now, and the first thing that came up was, “I think we need to change the title.”

*sigh*