Kidlit Author Interview: Songju Ma Daemicke

Songju Ma Daemicke, a former software engineer with Motorola, grew up in China and is an award-winning children’s book author. Her picture book Cao Chong Weighs an Elephant was a Best STEM book, the Winner of 2018 CALA Best Juvenile Literature. When she’s not writing, she loves attending to her garden, and shooting her next special photograph. Songju lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and their daughters. Today we had a lovely chat with Songju about her new book Tu Youyou’s Discovery and her author journey.

Congratulations on your new book! What was your author journey like? What brought you to picture book?

I grew up in a small town of China and always loved to read and listen to stories. Even though I loved literature, I chose Computer Science as my major when I went to college and worked as a software Engineer.

After my twin daughters were born, I became a stay-at-home mom and read to them every day. Reading rekindled my love of literature. I also noticed how few children books exist about Chinese culture. I decided to try writing children’s books related to Chinese culture myself. So here I am today. Tu Youyou’s Discovery: Finding a Cure for Malaria is my third traditionally published book.

Can you give us a short introduction of Tu Youyou’s Discovery?

Tu Youyou had been interested in science and medicine since she was a child, so when malaria started infecting people all over the world in 1969, she went to work on finding a treatment. Trained as a medical researcher in college and healed by traditional medicine techniques when she was young, Tu Youyou experimented with natural Chinese remedies. The treatment she discovered, Artemisinin, saved millions of lives, earned her a Nobel Prize, and is still used all over the world today.

What was your inspiration for this book?

My inspiration to writing this book was from a TV show. In beginning of 2019, I watched a BBC program called Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20^th Century. Tu Youyou was one of four candidates in the scientist category. I was so proud of her. I also realized that most people outside of China had never heard of her, even though Tu Youyou had saved millions of lives and had won the prestigious Nobel Prize. As a Chinese American, I had to share her remarkable journey.

Anything that influenced you from researching Tu Youyou’s story?

Through researching Tu Youyou’s story, I learned so much about the benefits of qinghao, which is the grassy plant that artemisinin is extracted from. I always had a special taste for a Chinese vegetable named tonghao, which is related to qinghao. Now I plant it in my garden every year and have plenty to enjoy, not only for its taste, but also for its medical benefits. I use it on salads, stir fry, even dumplings.

Do you still use any Chinese home remedies at home?

Every winter, I cook Chicken Ginseng soup with qouqi and Chinese red dates, which strengthen the yang in one’s body and boost one’s immune systems. Delicious and healthy. My whole family loves it. I still steam pears and 贝母Fritillary for coughing sometimes. I also love my night lily soup. It has detoxifying properties, strengthens one’s lungs and helps one’s immune system. Here are pictures of my night lily on its blooming night and in my soup the second day.

What do you hope readers will learn or discover from reading Tu Youyou’s Discovery?

This book celebrates women in STEM. Tu Youyou is a great role model whose story I hope will inspire young girls to study Science and Engineering. These fields are not for boys only. I hope many young girls will be empowered and pursue a STEM field career.

What is your favorite moment about being an author?

Two years ago, I read one of my books at a local book store. One listener was a little girl named Audrey . She was about three years old. Her mother bought my book. When I signed her book, Audrey said, “ Mom, the lady is writing on my book.” The mother replied: “She is the author who wrote the book. She is signing her name for you.” “”Author?” Audry looked me and the book carefully, and then said “Can you take a picture me with this author?’” That moment has stayed me for a long time. I hope with Audrey as well. Maybe the author signed book will inspire her to be author one day. Books have power!

What do you do to shake the rust off or get new ideas?

I got my ideas from the things I read or do. My first book, A Case of Sense, was inspired by a sign “Free Smells” I saw on the window of a restaurant. Cao Chong Weighs an Elephant was triggered from one of my daughters’ concerts. Tu Youyou’s Discovery was inspired from a TV show. Lots of new ideas can simply pop into my head when I am walking or simply talking to people.

If you read this book to a room full of kids, what message do you want to share with them?

Dream big, work hard, you will make a difference in this world.

What advice would you like to share with aspiring authors?

Embrace and learn from your heritage and culture, then use it in your writing. This will give your story deeper meaning and heart.