We’re looking forward to introducing you to Alina Chau. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Alina , we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
It may sound surprising coming from a published author, but for a long time, I never felt at ease with creative writing. Growing up in British colonial Hong Kong, I learned three languages at once and often felt like a jack of all trades, master of none. Even though I used those languages every day, I never felt fully at home in any of them.
When I came to the U.S. for graduate school, I was met with a new challenge: navigating the subtle but confusing differences between the British English I grew up with and American English. As an introvert, I was already hesitant to express myself through words. As a visual artist, images had always been my more natural language.
That’s why it came as a surprise when I found myself drawn into children’s book publishing. Writing my first graphic novel, Marshmallow & Jordan, felt like stepping into unfamiliar and intimidating territory. Yet, with each book I’ve written, including my recently completed second graphic novel. I’ve grown more confident in discovering what words can do, and how they open new possibilities alongside my art.
If you had asked my college-aged self, I would have been terrified at the idea of becoming a writer. I even remember avoiding a creative writing elective my professor encouraged me to take. Now, I can’t imagine a creative life without words, without stories that let me share ideas, culture, and imagination with young readers everywhere.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Alina Chau, a children’s book author and illustrator who tells stories that celebrate creativity, cultural heritage, and imagination. Before making books, I spent a decade in animation and games – including work on the Emmy Award–winning Star Wars: The Clone Wars. That experience gave me a love of visual storytelling and a cinematic energy I now bring to the page.
Growing up in a multicultural family, I was surrounded by many traditions, languages, and stories. Those voices continue to shape the way I write and illustrate. I try to create books that honor the uniqueness of different cultures while exploring universal themes of friendship, resilience, and discovery.
My work includes the middle-grade graphic novel Marshmallow & Jordan, embraced by readers around the world, as well as picture books such as The Nian Monster, Lunar New Year, and Bonnie’s Rocket. Each story is an open door for children to see themselves reflected, to step into someone else’s shoes, and to spark their own imagination.
When I’m not creating books, I love teaching and mentoring new artists. What excites me most is hearing from children, parents, educators, and librarians who carry these stories into classrooms, libraries, and homes. It reminds me why I began telling them in the first place.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I carried the misconception that artistic creativity had little value in the “real world.” The image of the “starving artist” was reinforced at school, at home, and in society at large. Art was encouraged as a healthy pastime, but rarely nurtured as a viable life path. Unfortunately, this perception still lingers today, evident in the frequent funding cuts to arts programs, which are often among the first to be eliminated.
Yet as both an artist and educator, I’ve come to believe the opposite: the arts are more vital now than ever. In a world where information is instantly accessible, creativity and critical thinking are what help us make meaning, ask questions, and imagine new possibilities. With the rise of AI, that need has only grown. Technology can deliver knowledge, but it cannot replicate empathy or the depth of human connection.
This is why nurturing arts education in all its forms is so essential. The arts remind us of our instinctive need to express, to feel, and to connect. They help us stay grounded in our humanity and foster the imagination that drives true innovation. Ultimately, the arts are not just enrichment—they are what allow us to remain fully human in a digital age.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I learned a difficult lesson with my first job out of school. I started as a character animator at a major game development studio. The salary was decent, but the schedule was grueling, often over 100 hours a week with no overtime pay. Like many young artists eager to prove themselves, I pushed hard and climbed the corporate ladder, but the cost was steep: I lost both my health and my passion for making art.
That experience taught me the importance of balance and well-being. No job or paycheck is worth sacrificing your health, and nothing is more precious than the joy of doing what you love – for me, that joy is creating art. I began carving out time to draw and paint purely for myself, not for career advancement or financial gain.
It took years to shift my direction, but the art I created for myself became a lifeline. It connected me to a broader creative community, rekindled my passion, and eventually opened doors to a more sustainable career—one where I could create with purpose and share that joy with others.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
The version of me that people see publicly is genuine, but it’s only a fraction of who I am. In professional settings, I show up as diligent, confident, and assertive. But outside of work, I’m much more easygoing. One story that still makes me smile came from my best friend, who’s also an artist and educator.
A colleague of hers—someone who followed my work—was surprised and even a little intimidated to learn that my best friend knew me personally. She admitted she wanted to meet me but felt too shy. My friend just laughed and told her, “Don’t be fooled by her social media. Alina’s a total goofball in real life!” I couldn’t help but laugh too, and told her to go ahead and set up a hangout.
The truth is, I do take my work seriously, but I don’t take myself too seriously. I’m not the perfectionist people sometimes imagine. What I enjoy most in my personal life are relaxed, casual interactions and genuine connections within a friendly circle.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If immortality were real, what would you build?
Woo… this is a fun question! If I had infinite time, I would love to create a foundation dedicated to developing dynamic, universal educational programs for young people—programs that grow and adapt with them. At the heart of this dream would be libraries around the world, supported not only with local and mainstream publications but also with a rich collection of international books that reflect diverse voices and cultures.
Wouldn’t it be extraordinary to build a resource where stories and knowledge are shared freely, celebrated across communities, and accessible to everyone?
I imagine something like a modern-day Library of Alexandria—an ever-expanding archive of human experience. With the help of technology, such a library could transcend borders, connect generations, and perhaps one day even carry stories with us as we explore other worlds. A place where knowledge truly has no limits.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alinachau.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alinachau/
- Other:
Substack – https://alinachau.substack.com/about
Image Credits
Headshot – A Pocket of Time Photography
The rest are my artworks.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
