Hope. Dreams. Life... Love: The Legendary Mo Seto

THE LEGENDARY MO SETO

A.Y. Chan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Middle Grade, Martial Arts, Action/Adventure

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Mo Seto, martial arts movie star! Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it? Too bad there's a height restriction to audition. But 12-year-old Modesty (Mo) Seto has never let her height get in the way before, not when she became a black belt, or when she fought the meanest boy in her class, and she’s not going to let it stop her this time! Now if only she can figure out a way to grow five inches and fool everyone at the auditions…and find time to search for her missing father (who just might be harboring a dangerous secret of his own). Join Mo on an adventure (and audition) of a lifetime and find out if powerful things really do come in small packages!

Publishers Weekly calls THE LEGENDARY MO SETO “Adrenaline pumping”, Kirkus Reviews says it “Packs a punch”, and Booklist calls it “Remarkably relatable.” Leap in and join the fun!

Excerpt One:

I may be small, but I am fierce. At least that’s what I keep telling myself. Over and over again. Fierce.

“Charyeot,” the taekwondo tournament referee says in Korean. Attention.

I snap my arms to my sides.

“Kyeong-nae,” the ref says. Bow.

I turn to face my opponent, Dax Washington. His dark skin glistens with sweat. We dip our heads.

I look up to see Dax towering over me, his eyes stormy.

It suddenly occurs to me how much “fierce” sounds like “fears.” Not that I’m scared or anything. I’m not.

“Sijak!” The ref throws up his hand. Begin! Immediately Dax’s large fists hammer down like a hailstorm.

Well, maybe I’m a little worried.

Dax lunges. I block his front kick with my forearm. I flinch and reel back. The ref blows his whistle, but Dax doesn’t stop. I barely have time to move before—oof—another kick nails me in the elbow.

Okay, fine. I’m totally panicking.

A Word with A.Y. Chan

If you had to do your journey to getting published all over again, what would you do differently?

If I could redo my journey to getting published, I would start much earlier. I loved writing from a young age but stopped as life got busy. I wish I had continued writing, practicing, and learning more about the publishing industry. I was also afraid of rejection, which was a huge hurdle for me. Now, I understand that rejection isn't necessarily bad. Writing is an art, and like all art, it's subjective. Just because someone doesn’t enjoy my story doesn’t mean others won’t love it. Not only that, but there’s so much to learn from rejection and constructive criticism. I wish I had known this earlier and embraced it sooner.

What was the hardest scene in The Legendary Mo Seto to write and why?

The hardest scene to write was a tie between the first scene and the Legend of the Three Sisters. I must have rewritten each of these scenes a million times! The first scene was like trying to nail a perfect backflip on a tightrope. It had to hook the reader while giving them the scoop on Mo—who she is, what she wants, and what her challenges are. The beginning of a story is critical, and there are entire books and workshops just for those first pages. No pressure, right?

Then there’s the Legend of the Three Sisters. This one needed to be epic, like a real Chinese legend, but also had to weave the whole story together. It had to be thrilling, mysterious, and seamlessly threaded throughout the book. I think the next time I attempt to create an ancient legend from scratch, I’ll set aside a few months just for that!

What is your favorite quote and why?

I don't know if I have a single favorite quote, but one that has really stuck with me is from legendary martial artist and philosopher Bruce Lee:

"I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times."

This quote is powerful in its simplicity. It highlights the importance of dedication, perseverance, and honing your skills. It's not about spreading yourself thin but going deep and truly mastering something. Whether it's in martial arts or writing, this quote reminds me that the key to excellence is consistent practice and focus.

Your book is about martial arts. What is your journey with that?

I love martial arts and have always been curious about the history and philosophy behind different forms. After achieving my black belt in Taekwondo, I explored Wing Chun, a Southern Chinese style of kung fu. I found Wing Chun fascinating because it relies on close-quarter combat and doesn’t require brute strength. Legend has it that it was created by Ng Mui, a female monk in the Qing Dynasty.

Another martial art that captured my interest was Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines acrobatics, rhythm, dance, and music. The high-energy and physicality of Capoeira are mesmerizing. I’ve also trained in Hapkido, which focuses on grab attacks, twists, falls, and pressure point strikes, as well as Muay Thai and others.

Each form taught me something unique, and different ways to link the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of martial arts—another fascinating topic!

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A. Y. Chan grew up in Canada’s Greater Toronto Area reading all the middle grade and young adult books she could get her hands on. To this day, those remain her favorite genres. After achieving her black belt in Taekwondo, she explored other martial arts, such as Wing Chun, Hapkido, and Muay Thai. These days, she continues her martial arts training some mornings, writes in the afternoons, takes long walks to muddle out plot points, and falls asleep reading.

Book Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Legendary-Mo-Seto-1/dp/1665937327

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-legendary-mo-seto-a-y-chan/1144226905

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-legendary-mo-seto-ay-chan/20699961

A.Y. Chan Social Links:

Twitter/X: https://x.com/AYChanWrites

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aychanwrites/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aychanwrites/

About Book Links:

Website: aychanwrites.com

Simon & Schuster Author Page: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Legendary-Mo-Seto/A-Y-Chan/The-Legendary-Mo-Seto/9781665937320

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE