Welcome to another exciting feature on Mes Curls Reads!
I had the pleasure of interviewing the talented Eva Chau, author of Modern Pen Pals.
Eva Chau is a Portuguese romance author who loves to swoon readers with her character-driven stories, seasoned with a hint of open-door spice. She loves to learn new languages and often includes that in her books by giving them a multicultural dimension.
Her books often have a lighthearted romance but touch on some heavy topics while she strives to make characters relatable, both with their struggles and with their personalities, so readers can connect with them and feel less lonely in the world.
Let's dive into her world, explore her latest book, and gain insights into her thoughts on writing and life.
About the Book
I’d heard about the snowball effect before, but I never truly understood it until I took my first step out of my comfort zone.
All it took was getting an anonymous pen pal named Daldust—someone I could express myself to without the pressure of their opinions or judgments. Someone who could pull me out of reality and become a friend, despite my social anxiety. Before I knew it, the snowball had started rolling.
Little did I know I would encounter my long-time crush and neighbour, along with his ever-present, enigmatic flatmate. Elijah rekindled in me a confidence I’d lost long ago, while Moon Hee reached the deepest parts of my soul.
A few months ago, spending time with them and my best friend, Elisa, would have terrified me. Now, I long for it—for the late-night gatherings in our flat, the weekend trips, and the comfort I never received from my family.
Then, the one event that changed my life five years ago resurfaced, causing all the snow I’d picked up along the way to collapse on me. What would have crushed me when I felt lonely now showed me that the people around me were the ones giving me the strength to continue.
My pen pal had opened my heart to let others in, but before I discovered his true identity, he'd already taken it over.
Modern Pen Pals is a contemporary romance with strangers-to-friends-to-lovers, found family, pen pals, mental health representation, open-door spice, and love triangle tropes.
The Interview
Introduction to Your Writing Journey
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- I’ve always been a creative person ever since I was a child, and creating stories was something I’ve always loved. As a kid when I played with dolls, I would have stories all planned out for them, stories that carried on for as long as I wanted, full-on backgrounds, goals and life decisions lined up. I even wrote some short-stories that will never see the light of day haha and attempted to write a book when I was around 12. It was something I enjoyed but never took it very seriously, especially since I love other forms of Art as well. In middle school, I also created a story I wrote in small chapters that I shared with some classmates, and a BD that I wrote and drew and would give to read to whoever wanted, and people always seemed interested in it. But as I entered high-school writing turned on hold until my senior year when a classmate introduced me to Wattpad. My love for reading that had also been on hold returned, more fierce than ever and on December 12, 2016 I wrote the first chapter of what would be my first published book: Hope.
Thematic and Character Exploration
Q: What inspired you to write your latest novel, Modern Pen Pals?
Q: What drew you to the pen pals and strangers-to-lovers trope in your book?
Q: Friendship and connection play a significant role in Modern Pen Pals. How do you think the relationships in the story reflect the complexities of real-life friendships?
- The fact that individuals with different personalities can get together and become so close based on the ground of respect, similar morals and love they have for the other is something that happens more as we grow up. When we are young, we find our peers solely on common things, which can be the foundation for an amazing friendship, but it’s not enough. As we mature, we start seeing what actually matters in human connection, and having a similar taste although can spark interest in the other, it’s not what gets us to stay, empathy and values are. Finding people you can trust is never easy, people you can vent to and will indeed be there for you at your lowest is rare, but when you do find them you need to nourish those friendships.
Q: The love triangle in Modern Pen Pals adds tension and excitement. How did you approach writing this dynamic, and what do you hope readers take away from it?
- Very very honestly, the love triangle was not planned! The characters had a mind of their own in this. I’m more of a pantser when writing so I go with the mood and flow of things and I just wrote what the characters spoke to me, little did I know that a love triangle was what’s brewing…I only saw what had happened halfway through the story and it was very bittersweet at first, because I have a love-hate relationship with love triangles, especially because of the miscommunication that may happen. I knew I wanted to do it differently, I wanted to show the respect and love between the characters, how their friendship mattered more. The one thing I hope people can take from this is to speak about their needs and desires, don’t be afraid to open up and have mature conversations with your friends, if they react badly maybe they weren’t who you thought they were in the first place.
Q: Delilah’s journey is both heartwarming and intense. How did you develop her character, especially in relation to her mental health struggles and the love triangle?
- That was the hardest part in writing the book, because I wanted her to develop a lot, but in a way that wasn't unrealistic, not too fast, but it had to be gradual throughout the story. The love triangle certainly helped her get out of her cocoon more and stop worrying so much about her struggles, helped her focus on something else, and I feel like it played a big part in her recovery.
- Delilah’s story was the main focus in the book, so as I wrote I knew that nothing I did could overshadow that. And in the end it was all a matter of putting her first.
Q: Are any of the characters inspired by real people or personal experiences?
- I wouldn’t say there’s one specific thing that inspired something, but a collection of them. I like to give one trait of mine at least to each character, something that sometimes I only realise as I’m writing. But I will say that some traits in Moon Hee were inspired by a mix of members of BTS.
Q: Which character was the most fun or challenging to write, and why?
- Elijah. He’s such a fun character, but there’s such depth in him that it was hard to give the readers bits of him in a way they could comprehend his magnitude. He only shows what he wants to people, and has a hard time showing emotions, but seeing him open up with Lilah was my favourite to write of him.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from Modern Pen Pals? Is there a specific message you want to convey?
- I feel like my dedication in the book says it all:
“To all the kind-hearted, independent people who have trouble asking for help or are too stuck in a place they wish they weren’t.
A lot can change in a year, but only you can take the first step. Asking for help doesn’t diminish your effort, it only shows how strong you are for allowing yourself to be vulnerable. Take the step. Sometimes you’re already surrounded by those who’ll help you live better, and if not, you’ll find them.
Spread your wings, little bird.”
Q: Your portrayal of mental health and social anxiety is very relatable. What motivated you to include these elements in your story?
- Mental Health is becoming less of a taboo the more people talk about it, and I’m glad. It’s such a sensitive topic and everyone deals with it differently. And as someone who has suffered a lot from it, and every day has to remind herself to make it a priority, I wanted to write something to those who struggle. That could, maybe, help them a little bit.
Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS) References
Q: The main character is an ARMY, just like you and me! How did your love for BTS influence their development and the overall storyline?
- Their message of Love Yourself is the foundation of this book, and I believe that without them I couldn’t have written it. I wanted to deliver a story, a bond so comforting as they are.
Q: You’ve made several references to BTS in the book. Can you share how their music or message has impacted your life?
- BTS helped me a lot mentally. They helped me love myself. They gave me comfort when no one else did. They’re my safe space, the ones I can count on to make me smile even in the worst days. The ones I always go back to, even if I’m getting into more K-Pop groups, they will always be my number ones.
Q: Any message for BTS, or ARMY?
- To BTS, I’ve written what I needed in my Acknowledgments, but to ARMY, I hope you find and read this book; I hope it makes you smile and that you carry it in your heart next to the love for our boys.
Writing Process and Challenges
Q: What challenges did you face while writing Modern Pen Pals, and how did you overcome them?
- I started writing Modern Pen Pals back in 2021 and even though I picked it up last year for a little; it wasn’t until January this year that I sat down to fully focus on it. Since the beginning, it was such a beautiful story I wanted to tell, with such sensitive topics that it took me a while to feel mentally ready to put it down to paper the way it deserved. I think that was my biggest challenge, because between 2021-2024 I also grew up a lot, and I needed that maturity to be able to tell it.
Q: As a writer, what emotions or experiences do you hope to evoke in your readers through this book?
- My main goal is to leave the reader feeling like the time they spent reading the book was worth it. With this specific book I hope to leave them with a full heart.
Q: How do you stay motivated and inspired, especially during challenging times?
- Sometimes taking a quick step back to refocus and regain the passion that the stress hid is the best practice. Whenever I’m getting overwhelmed, or feeling burned out instead of writing, I read, watch tv shows, do something I love. Soon enough I’m back in action. Prioritise your mental health always.
Fun Questions
Q: What book are you currently reading, or what’s on your to-read list?
- I’m finishing Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins, to close off my summer reading (a little late already) and I can’t wait to dive into more fall themed or spooky reads.
Q: If Modern Pen Pals were adapted into a movie, who would you love to see cast as the main characters?
- Such a fun question! Since it has that multicultural vibe, I’d love if that could remain, but I honestly don’t know who to cast in an international cast… If it was a K-Drama, maybe, Kim Se Jeong for Delilah, Kim Tae Ri for Elisa, Yang Se Jeong for Moon Hee and Woo Do Hwan for Elijah.
Advice for Aspiring Writers
Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers who want to incorporate elements of their own passions or fandoms into their work?
- Just do it. It’s those things that will make you stand out and find you your unique readers. We all love to find things we love when we read, it makes us connect more with the characters and the author, and I think that’s very important.
Closing Thoughts
Q: Are there any other projects or books you’re currently working on or planning?
- Yes! Because of Modern Pen Pals I have been writing less lately, but I’m ready to get back to a WIP I’ve already started and will be my next book. I can’t share details but I’m hoping to release it at the end of the first trimester of 2025. No promises! Just speculating if everything goes well.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of Mes Curls Reads?
- I want to thank them for taking their time to read about this small indie author, and I hope they enjoy Modern Pen Pals, if they read it. I would love to know their thoughts if they do.
Thank you so much for this interview, Eva! Modern Pen Pals is a 5-star read, and we're excited to see what you have in store for us next.
Readers, don't forget to grab your copy and step into the world of Delilah!