Cindy Chang is the author and illustrator of the new middle grade graphic novel How to Draw a Secret. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Q: What inspired you to create How to Draw a Secret?
A: I’ve always wanted to write and illustrate books for children, but for a long time, I didn’t know what kind of story I wanted to tell. I spent years developing my picture book portfolio, until I discovered graphic novels—and everything clicked.
The turning point came in 2017, when I visited the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco. I was living in Ireland at the time and happened to be in town for a work trip. The museum was featuring original pages by Raina Telgemeier, and seeing her work up close was transformative. I fell in love with the graphic novel format and its power to tell emotionally layered, visually rich stories.
In 2019, I took a two-month sabbatical from my full-time job to focus on my craft. I joined a Facebook group called Illostories, where that month’s prompt was to draw two graphic novel pages based on a childhood memory. Amazingly, two of the flashback scenes in How to Draw a Secret came directly from that exercise!
Soon after, I attended SCBWI’s summer conference in LA, which was a truly life-changing experience. In particular, Meg Medina’s keynote challenged us to dig deep into our childhoods—to remember what it felt like to be 8 or 10 or 12 and ask the hard questions we didn’t yet have words for. That moment gave me the clarity and courage to tell this story—to explore family, memory, and the power of finally speaking the truth.
Q: How was the book’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?
A: The book was originally called Secrets, but we changed it after some feedback that the title felt too broad and heavy. My editor, Anne Hoppe, came up with How to Draw a Secret, and I immediately loved it. The title invites curiosity—it sounds almost like a step-by-step guide, but of course, drawing a secret is anything but simple.
For me, the title also captures the heart of the book. Cindy, the main character, is an artist who’s struggling to make sense of the feelings she can’t quite name. Her secret is something she carries deep inside, and throughout the story, she’s trying to give it shape—through words, drawings, and the courage to speak up.
Q: The writer Linda Sue Park called the book “beautiful to look at, and especially beautiful because of the total honesty in Cindy’s confusion, determination, and love for her flawed family.” What do you think of that description?
A: I’m incredibly honored by Linda Sue Park’s words. Her books meant so much to me growing up—her storytelling, her emotional depth, her clarity. To have someone I admire so deeply respond to my work with such generosity is surreal and humbling.
What she said really resonates with me. At its core, How to Draw a Secret is a story about a kid trying to make sense of a confusing, imperfect world. I tried to approach Cindy’s emotions—especially the messy, unresolved ones—with total honesty. It means a lot that Linda Sue recognized that, and I hope readers will too.
Q: What impact did it have on you to create this book, and what do you hope readers take away from it?
A: Writing and illustrating this book was one of the most vulnerable and healing experiences of my life. Many of the secrets in the story were ones I held onto well into adulthood. In that sense, creating the book felt like an act of rebellion—speaking out about things I was taught never to name.
At first, it was terrifying. I remember how anxious I felt sharing early drafts with critique partners, or sending the manuscript out to agents. I didn’t always have the language to explain what the book was about, because I hadn’t fully processed the emotions myself.
But as I kept working—writing, revising, drawing—I found my voice. Storytelling gave me a new way to understand my past. It allowed me to reclaim it.
At first, I wanted to capture everything exactly as it happened, but I eventually learned that storytelling is about emotional truth, not documentary accuracy. By shaping the story, I found clarity—and hopefully created something that resonates beyond just my experience.
There are a few key ideas I hope readers take away:
Perfectionism is a trap. Cindy tries so
hard to hold everything together—her drawings, her family, herself. I think a
lot of kids (and adults!) will recognize that pressure. Especially in cultures
where appearances and obedience matter, it can feel dangerous to be messy or
flawed. But I believe there’s power in imperfection, and in telling the truth
even when it’s uncomfortable.
It’s okay to talk about hard things.
Secrets can weigh us down. When we don’t have space to name our feelings, we
carry them alone. I hope this book helps kids feel less alone—and shows them
that it’s brave to open up.
Family is complicated. Love and pain can coexist. There’s no such thing as a perfect family, but there can still be connection, healing, and hope.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I’m currently working on another middle grade novel. Unlike How to Draw a Secret, it’s not autobiographical—but it’s still deeply personal. It’s a story about friendship, identity, and redefining success on your own terms.
The themes I keep coming back to are ones I’m still working through myself—how to belong, how to speak up, what success means and how that changes throughout life, how to be kind to yourself.
More broadly, I’m excited to keep exploring different formats—picture books, board books, chapter books. I’d love to build a body of work that grows with readers, meeting them at different stages of their lives. My biggest hope is to keep telling emotionally honest stories that make kids feel seen.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: You can learn more about my work at cindychang.com. I also love doing visits at schools (in-person or virtual), events, and conferences so would love to collaborate with folks who are interested! Please feel free to reach out to me on my website.
If you’re interested in writing and/or illustrating, my advice would be just to keep going. This is a long game, and it’s all about perseverance and showing up. Keep going. Keep making. Your story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear!
Happy reading and hope folks enjoy How to Draw a Secret!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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