When Relationships Drive the Storytelling

An Interview with Christine Ma-Kellams, author of The Band

I have phenomenally gifted colleagues at Hotch Potch Literature and Art, and this conversation with fellow editor Christine Ma-Kellams was downright thrilling. I met Christine when I edited a short story of hers as Fiction Editor at the Cobalt Review, and I had so much fun collaborating with her that I invited her to submit to Hotch Potch. The group soon wrangled her into being a contributing editor. Most recently, Christine’s debut novel, The Band, launched just a few months after my own, Falling Through the Night. The book is a delightful romp through the world of K-pop and the home of a therapist with a savior complex. You can find out more about her on her website as well as Instagram, X, and TikTok.

In this interview, Christine shares thoughts about the writer’s social and political context, technology and mental health, her relationship with K-pop and the characters in The Band, and advice about writing solo. Hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed speaking with Christine!