Work in Progress
This month has been BUSY! As an author, I've been working on the final line-edits from my publishers, and I'm still chipping away at them. On the editing side, I had two clients with absolutely epic manuscripts—both leaning heavily into fantasy. It’s been a wild ride, to say the least. Oh, and did I mention I moved into a new place? Between juggling work, writing, making sure Lady is settling in, and assembling furniture, I’m not sure I even remember what 'down-time' is anymore. Seriously, can someone remind me?
Tip of the Month
Last month, I suggested taking regular breaks. Guess what? I’m still working on that myself. I know it might seem like I'm repeating myself with all these "take a break" and "know when to stop" tips over the past few months, but honestly, they're so important! So, yes, it's legit advice—I promise!
Author Feature
Jess Ho is renowned for their bold opinions in the hospitality industry, notably as the former food and drink editor for Time Out Melbourne. With contributions to various publications, including The Guardian, Eater, and Food Service REP, Jess's expertise spans numerous restaurant guides and cookbooks. Raised by Wolves is Jess's first book.
I checked in with Jess this month. I can’t pinpoint when we connected on social media, but it feels like I’ve known them my whole life. Maybe it's our shared backgrounds or our mutual passion for food that solidifies our connection. Whatever it is, I’m grateful to know them. Here’s our discussion:
How did hospitality and food play a role in your self-discovery?
I’m not sure if you could really call it a refuge. At the time, I didn’t know how to process all the trauma from my childhood and I needed to survive. I threw myself into work, and I just happened to work with a bunch of traumatised misfits. It’s the perfect storm for a trauma bond and I think I did way too much of that. And while we were all working in a toxic industry, we could withstand it because it wasn’t as harmful as anything we’d come from. It’s all relative, I suppose.
As I grew up and viewed hospitality more as a career than a paycheck, I was able to look at food and the industry more critically. As a result, I could identify how media and the industry had commodified cuisine and culture. In a way, it helped me appreciate my own culture and advocate for it. Since then, I’ve been very vocal about how we can decolonise the way we think about and interact with the food industry.
Your writing style is celebrated for its wit and sharpness (an aspect that I love, btw). How do you balance humour with the weightier themes explored in your memoir?
Haha, thank you. I guess if I can’t laugh about it, I’d cry. I don’t think I consciously balance it. The only thing I was really conscious about was making sure I wasn’t writing trauma porn. I know there is a huge appetite for it from publishers and readers, but sometimes, it also makes the reader forget that memoirs are only memoirs because those events happened to someone.
If I had to be honest, I would say that humour is a huge coping mechanism for me. That, and Absurdism.
As a prominent voice in the Australian food scene, what changes would you like to see in the industry, particularly concerning migrant representation and cultural appropriation?
This is a really tough question to answer because there are so many things that are wrong with the industry. Firstly, the industry needs to be regulated. But from the view of representation and cultural appropriation, diners need to do their research. Media need to do their research and be more discerning about who they champion. And all of us need to decolonise the way we think about food. Every day, we are making decisions on how we want the industry to look by where we spend our money. We need to remember that food is political and it shouldn’t be consumed as entertainment.
Raised by Wolves has been described as a 'coming-of-age' story. What advice would you offer to other individuals navigating their own paths of self-discovery?
Go to therapy.
Your book has received critical acclaim. How does it feel to have your story resonate with so many readers, particularly those from similar backgrounds?
I kind of die a little bit inside when people mention it because even though I wrote a memoir, I walk through the world hoping not to be perceived. I receive a lot of DMs from people about it, which I am trying to be more at ease about.
Lastly, what can readers expect from you in the future? Are there any upcoming projects or endeavours you're excited to share with your audience?
Ooft, I am not allowed to say anything yet!
Quote of the Month
"A novel is the only place where two strangers can meet on terms of absolute intimacy. The reader and the writer make the book together. No other art can capture the essential inwardness of human life" - Paul Auster
Until next month, stay happy and healthy!
Emma, x
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