Author’s name: Christine Alemshah
Illustrator’s name: Dream Chen
What is your upcoming book title? Bea’s Balikbayan Box Of Treasures
Date of release: 7/15/25
Preorder or Order link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beas-balikbayan-box-of-treasures-christine-alemshah/1146377237
Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing
Agent: Vicky Weber
Agency: Creative Media Agency
Hometown: Honolulu, HI
Social links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c_alemshah/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/christinealemshah.bsky.social
1. What is the premise/pitch for your book?
For seven-year-old Bea, a box can be a bear cave, a playhouse, or even a rocket ship. In Bea’s Balikbayan Box of Treasures, Bea’s box has an important destiny. She and her family will fill it up with goodies for their relatives in the Philippines. A balikbayan box is the ultimate international care package and an expression of love for many Filipino families living abroad. Bea and her family spend months gathering and packing surprises. Special food for Tito Rico. Fancy lotion for Tita Alma. For Maribel and the other pinsans, the best treasures of all―bubble wands, chocolates, stuffed animals.
When the package has been shipped, Bea waits patiently for it to arrive overseas―it could take two whole months! Meanwhile, she learns about the balikbayan tradition and how it helps sustain her connection to her far-away family.
2. What are 5 things you want people to know about your book?
The book looked very different to start – it began as a concept book and transformed into a character-driven picture book.
The scene with the cardboard maze could have been a snapshot from my own childhood.
I had a pinsan who grew up in the Philippines. She would be Maribel, and I would be Bea! We were pen pals.
I sent a balikbayan box of my own a few years ago to my Lola who lives in Iba, Zambales.
There are lines from the book that I loved but didn’t make the final editorial cut. I saved them for use at a future date and recently discovered the perfect fit for them in another manuscript.
3. What helpful hints or tips can you offer fellow writers about writing, publishing, and promoting a book?
I’m still learning all about promotion so my only advice on that so far, passed on by fellow kidlit author, Dan McCauley, would be to pace yourself. It’s a marathon not a sprint.
As for the writing process, I’ve compiled a list of many of the resources I’ve used along the way on my Grow Your Writing Challenge page.
4. What are 5 fun/quirky facts about yourself as an adult or child?
I love monarch butterflies and sunflowers. A typical summer for me involves a garden full of both milkweed (for caterpillars) and sunflowers.
I love to sing! I’m a classically trained vocalist and karaoke singer. My favorite song to sing at karaoke are “Defying Gravity” “Show Yourself” and “Closer to Fine”
I was born on Oahu, Hawaii and still feel like I’m coming home every time I visit the Hawaiian islands.
I love Japanese culture – anime, manga, sushi, Sanrio. I even had a Poupeegirl doll for many years before the website was no longer available (sigh.) Visiting Japan is on my travel wish list!
My favorite animals are turtles!
5. What did you learn about yourself while on the journey to publishing this book?
That I can persevere even through hard things in life and still pursue my dreams and passions! This past year was one of my most challenging to date, and yet I am still proud of all that I accomplished. My mantra is one day, one task at a time (plus a plethora of Post-it notes, my notes app, and reading comforting picture books).
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