Trespassing With … Tracy Quan

It’s rather difficult to spend any time chatting with Tracy Quan, author of the Nancy Chan series, and not develop something of a crush. No, no this will not turn into one of those sycophantic celebrity profiles so loved by glossy women’s mags, where writers gush about sighting a well-thumbed spiritual guide on the kitchen table of a celebrity, and consequently, in describing said celebrity, use terms such as ‘culturally solvent’ (one Nicole Kidman profile springs to mind). I am simply warning you that there is something rather charismatic about Ms Quan, and more than just a little mystery.

Former call-girl turned novelist, Tracy is also a columnist for The Guardian and contributes to ABC Unleashed (we suggest you make both regular reading) as well as having written for Cosmopolitan, Financial Times, New York Times, International Herald Tribune, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post and South China Morning Post – to name a few. And just to complete the package, her first novel, Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl was optioned by Sony for HBO television series.You can find out more about Tracy at her website, which is here.

Trespassing With …. Tracy Quan

1. Name:  Tracy Quan
2. Occupation: Author
3. Reason I am being trespassed: My incorrigible babies, those Nancy Chan novels are based on my life as a call girl. I’m a columnist for The Guardian and a contributor to ABC Unleashed 
4. Fave movie:  Pretty Woman – soon to be replaced by Hustle + Flow. Depends on my mood, pretty or gritty.
5. Fave shopping spot: In London, it’s Brora on the Kings Road. In New York, Bloomingdales.
6. My best memory:  I was being very naughty, going through a phase. I’m lucky to be alive.
7. Fave book: A Tintin adventure, The Blue Lotus – inspiration for my latest novel Diary of a Jetsetting Call Girl.
8. When I was little I wanted to: Drop out of high school and have lots of love affairs.
9. Fave TV Show: Bewitched.
10. Can’t live without: My Bodum cafetiere, my favourite cashmere hoodie, the London Review of Books. These keep me alert, warm and grounded. 
11. If I could live anywhere in the world, I would choose:  To stay right here in Manhattan, but my apartment would magically expand to twice its natural size.
12. Last film I watched was:  The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.  Bring your hanky.  
13. First album I ever bought: No way!
14. Song I can’t get out of my head: Tanto Tempo by Bebel Gilberto
15. I wish I wrote/sang/directed:  I don’t think that way. I’m grateful for the talents I was given, and making this work for me is enough of a challenge.  Other people’s talents make it possible to sit back, enjoy the show. For a working artist that’s one hell of a luxury.
16. When I grow up I want to be: More organized, less scattered. 
17. My goals for the next two years:  Finish my next book.  Launch my next book. Then start another writing project.
18. Five years: Stay open-minded. Learn how to make a soufflé. Improve my foreign language skills. Branch out.
19. Ten years: Don’t want to jinx anything, but I hope to surprise myself and maybe grow up some more. 
20. The thing that bugs me about life is: Fanatics looking for easy answers.
21. But the thing that makes it all worthwhile is: Small pleasures, big questions.
22. Top three travel essentials are: A tiny Fulton umbrella which doubles as a parasol; towelettes for cleaning my hands (and everything in sight); a silk sleeping bag. 
23. The first thing I do each morning is: Hit the snooze button.
24. I unwind by: Discussing Barack Obama’s cabinet appointments with anyone who will listen.  
25. The last thing I do at night: Insert earplugs…. Lovely.
26. I wish I could: Fly! Don’t you?
27. The celeb I am crushing on, but am embarrassed to admit is: The president-elect of the US. I should be more sceptical, but I can’t help it.
28. The celeb I am crushing loud and proud on is: His regal yet down-to-earth wife, Michelle Obama. She inspires me.
29. My most frugal desire is: Fresh sardines sautéed in olive oil with green pepper corns, served with basmati rice and figs. Pretty frugal, if the figs are in season.
30. On Sundays I like to: Listen to Bobby Short and Noel Coward on my vinyl turntable. 
31. I got my big break when: I began wearing contact lenses. Everything fell into place.
32. Right now I am craving frosted cupcakes but normally my fave food is raw oysters.
33. Parliamentary democracy makes me buzz but demagoguery depletes me.
34. The advice I’d give Trespass readers is: If you don’t control your own story, somebody else will. So control your spin, baby – it’s yours!
35. One Reason they should love me is: Doesn’t everyone need love?
36. Last thing I bought: Vitamins.
37. I wish I never: Had to watch what I eat. I’m such a foodie!
38. Ideal Invention:  A pill that makes your favourite haircut stay exactly as is for as long as you’re taking it. The effect would wear off after 48 hours, but you could take it for months. Imagine!
39. One word to describe me is: Paranoid.
40. The mark I want to leave on this world: Is within my reach.
41. I am on to it by: Never taking that for granted.

Don’t forget, we have a copy of Tracy’s latest novel, Diary of a Jetsetting Call Girl to give away. Check out the Giveaways of the Month section.