Welcome to The Quick Six Interview with Jacinta Liu!
”I have two grandmothers.
One with brown eyes, and one with blue eyes.
One makes dumplings, and one bakes bread.
They are my grandmothers.
One lives in the East, and one lives in the West.”
In our current world climate of uncertainty and division, picture books like ‘Grandmother from the East/Grandmother from the West’ by Jacinta Liu and illustrated by Freda Chiu is a positive celebration of different cultures and offers a strong message of hope and unity. I particularly enjoyed the use of colour in this book, the reds and the blues, and the endpapers are a delight. Jacinta and Freda’s collaboration shines from the pages and this has been one of my favourite picture book releases of this year so far.
It is a great delight to be able to chat with Jacinta about her beautiful book! 🙂
With thanks to Gemma Creegan for sourcing this interview.
About the Author
Jacinta Liu is a Chinese-Australian children’s book author and oracle cards creator. She walked away from a successful career at a prestigious investment bank in search of something more. That deeper purpose surfaced when her daughter’s life-threatening illness and recovery ignited a profound calling to write for children.
Jacinta writes to empower young readers to find their own answers.
Please find Jacinta Liu at her website:Â www.jacintaliu.com and on Instagram: @jacintaliu
Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West is available for purchase via Hachette Australia.
WHO wrote, illustrated and published this book?
Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West was written by debut Chinese – Australian author Jacinta Liu, illustrated by acclaimed illustrator Freda Chiu, and published by Lothian Hachette Australia.
WHAT is it about?
Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West is a joyous celebration of multicultural identity and the many ways our grandparents shape who we are. The book explores the differences between Grandmother East and Grandmother West, in how they live, love and protect, while also revealing the deep similarities they share. On a broader spectrum, this book also celebrates love. It shows that while love may be expressed and shared in different ways, but love is love, no matter where it comes from.
What is your favourite part of this book?
My favourite part of the book is when the grandmothers’ apparent differences begin to unify, leading the protagonist to a profound realisation about her place in the world. The text and Freda’s stunning visuals marry beautifully together to showcase this deeper layer of the story, and it really put you in the feels!
WHEN did you begin writing this book?
I started writing this book towards the end of 2020 and completed it quite quickly in just 2–3 months—much faster than it usually takes me to develop and evolve a manuscript. I think that’s because this book is like an autobiography, with its memories and emotions coming from a very real and genuine place.
When is its release / launch date?
It was released on March 26, 2025.
WHERE did the inspiration for this book come from?
It was inspired by my personal upbringing and the deep bond shared with my Chinese grandmother Nai Nai, and my Australian step-grandmother Val after I migrated to Melbourne at the age of fourteen. Interestingly, it was my husband who seeded the idea and encouraged me to write a book that reflects my bicultural experience.
WHY is this book meaningful to you?
For a long time, I struggled to reconcile who I was, feeling the need to choose between two cultures. This book gave me the opportunity to reflect on what I’ve learned and how much I’ve grown. It’s especially meaningful to me because of the deep love and gratitude I shared with my grandmothers. I want to honour them, my heritage, and the profound impact they’ve had on me.
Why would its message resonate with readers?
This book will resonate with diverse, multicultural, and bicultural families, helping them feel seen and heard. But beyond that, while the story is deeply personal, it is also universally relatable. Readers will connect with its touching message of unity and belonging, regardless of cultural background. Freda’s beautiful illustrations invite them into a gentle space to reflect on their own family histories and the connections they share with their loved ones.
HOW do you feel about the illustrations / cover design? How do they convey the feeling or mood you envisioned?
Absolutely phenomenal! The book is even more exquisite and amazing than I could have ever imagined! Freda poured so much love and care into crafting each scene, capturing the mood, and making it just right. She reflected on my memories of my grandmothers, as well as her own relationship with her Porpor, and deeply tuned into what the story needed. The artwork evolved through many iterations, with the
guidance and support of our wonderful editor Annie Zhang and publisher Jeanmarie Morosin. Our book designer Hazel Lam seamlessly wove together the text and illustrations, creating an incredible final product. It truly is a labour of love from everyone involved.
How have you promoted this book and how can we find it?
We’ve been promoting the book on our social media, mainly Instagram, and sharing personal stories and behind-the-scenes moments. We are also connecting with people and organisations we know to help spread the word. Our publicity and campaign managers at Hachette Australia, Maddie Garratt and Caz Feeney are doing an incredible job getting the book more exposure by sharing it with book reviewers, magazines, and more.
Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West is available in bookstores in Australia and New Zealand. You can also find more information on Hachette’s website and where to purchase the book online.
OTHER information or experiences you’d like to share?
I’m incredibly grateful for all the effort invested in this book by everyone involved. So much love has been poured into this project, and it’s something we all truly believe in and champion. We have had some beautiful reviews and fantastic feedback on how the book resonates, and I’m looking forward to hearing more stories and feedback from readers – children, families and grandparents on how the book makes them feel.
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