Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
A1. Hello, I’m Nathalie Iseli-Chan. I am a former teacher, a mother, and now an indie author.
I absolutely loved teaching and was fully dedicated to my career for many years. However, after moving to Canada several years ago, I turned my focus to our two young children and only two years ago did I begin a new chapter in life, one that led me to writing.
Writing was something I had always enjoyed, but never truly dared to explore. As an introverted and often insecure person, I hadn’t imagined sharing my words with anyone. Yet, inspired by our journey through adoption, an experience that has been reshaping my life, I began writing for my children first, then for other families who share the same journey.
I focus my work on what I care about most: our children, adoption, and fostering honest, confident conversations within families.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Erin’s Journal – 6th-Grade Big Project”?
A2. My earlier books were designed to help children and parents start conversations or reflect on adoption together, often paired with Lifebooks or workbooks. Erin’s Journal, however, had to stand on its own and reach a completely different audience: preteens, teens, and schools. Finding the right voice and balance between storytelling and education was both exciting and demanding.
However, the process was far from simple. As my first chapter book, it required a new rhythm: longer narrative arcs, deeper emotional layers, and a tone that felt authentic to a preteen narrator. Keeping the story engaging and meaningful without becoming overly didactic proved to be one of the biggest challenges.
On top of that, my creative process can be a bit chaotic; ideas pour in from all directions, often for multiple projects at once, and I rarely focus on a single book from start to finish. While that can make writing lively and inspiring, it can also be disorienting. Erin’s Journal pushed me to slow down, stay grounded, and give the story and its characters my full attention. It was both exhausting and deeply fulfilling.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
A3. Interestingly, what I enjoy reading and what I write have very little in common. My favourite authors, Kawabata Yasunari, Freg Vargas, and Larry Feign, are all very different in style and inspiration, and far from the stories I create.
What has influenced my writing the most is my teaching background. Years of university teaching taught me how to explain complex ideas clearly, engage diverse audiences, and structure content meaningfully. Those skills shape my books, especially when tackling sensitive topics like adoption. My goal is always the same as in the classroom: to inform, inspire reflection, and spark meaningful conversations.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
A4. That’s such an interesting question, and a tricky one for me, because “my own country” could mean several places: I was born and raised in France, spent almost two decades in Asia (thirteen of which in Hong Kong), and now live in Calgary, Canada. But if I answer from the heart, my “own country” would be Hong Kong. It’s the place where I feel most at peace, blissful, and fulfilled. I love it most at night, whether the streets are buzzing or quiet. After a long day, when the heat and humidity make your body surrender and you feel slightly light-headed, the air wraps around you, thick with the smells of food, the sea, and the city itself. There’s a comforting feeling that fills me completely; it’s what makes Hong Kong, every part of it, so special to me.
Q5. What inspired you to write the book ‘Erin’s Journal – 6th-Grade Big Project’?
A5. It all started when my daughters, 8 and 10 at the time, voiced their frustration at the misinformation and outdated ideas they saw in the moralistic videos they loved to watch so much. They were tired of how adoption was being portrayed and asked me to write something that would help people understand what adoption really is.
Their determination gave me a sense of mission; I couldn’t let them down. Erin’s Journal – 6th Grade Big Project grew from that moment, and from our own family’s experiences as well as the stories shared by other adoptees and adoptive families.
I wanted to give young readers an authentic and relatable voice that reflected the real questions, emotions, and challenges many adopted children face.
This project also came with its own challenges: it was my first chapter book, very different from my previous publications, which were created for younger children, their parents, or prospective adoptive parents. Writing for preteens meant finding a balance between education and storytelling, while keeping the tone natural and genuine, something that felt true to a child’s perspective yet meaningful to anyone who reads it.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book, ‘Erin’s Journal – 6th-Grade Big Project’?
A6. From the moment my daughters “commended this project”, the ideas poured out fairly fast; I had the full outline done in about two hours, then spent a few weeks writing the story itself. What followed were months of tedious rewrites, proofreading, and endless small adjustments until it felt right.
I’ve also been working on its French adaptation, which has also been a challenging process!
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?
A7. At the moment, my books are available exclusively on Amazon. Erin’s Journal – 6th Grade Big Project is currently offered in both paperback and hardcover editions, and an eBook version will be released soon. You can find links to purchase all my books on my website: http://www.adoptionreads.com.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Erin’s Journal – 6th-Grade Big Project’?
A8. Keeping the cover simple and clean was actually quite challenging for me, as I love bright colours and busy patterns, which I know aren’t everyone’s taste.
The character on the cover was inspired by my two daughters; I combined some of their features to create Erin. I gave her an orange T-shirt because it felt warm, lively, and full of energy, just like her personality.
The blue sky in the background reminded me of daydreams and hopes, which fit perfectly with Erin’s story and the spirit of her “big project.” The title itself came naturally; it’s her journal, her voice, and her journey of discovery.
Q9. When writing a book, how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself.
A9. For me, keeping things fresh starts with being a lifelong learner. I observe, listen, and learn from my own children, from other families, and from adoptees who share their stories and perspectives. Their experiences constantly remind me that adoption is not one story, but thousands of unique ones.
I also like to challenge myself creatively. I rarely work on just one project at a time; ideas tend to spill over from one book to another, which helps me stay inspired and avoid falling into routine. I also write in different languages, and that change in audience or tone refreshes the way I approach each topic.
Most importantly, I try to stay focused on the reason I started writing in the first place: to open hearts, spark honest conversations, and change the narrative about adoption. As long as I write with that purpose, my work stays meaningful and new, both for my readers and for me.
Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
A10.The best writing advice I’ve ever received came from my best friend, Gaëlle: “Just write. Believe in yourself, and don’t worry about what others may think.” Those words helped me overcome insecurities. My daughters — part cheerleaders, part brutally honest critics — are my biggest inspiration. Their laughter and observations make me both nervous and proud, pushing me to write with authenticity and heart, knowing they’re reading, judging, and cheering me on every step of the way..
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