We were lucky to catch up with Grace Chan recently and have shared our conversation below.
Grace , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?
Back in 2016, I had my personal essay published in the LA Times for their weekly LA Affairs column!
It was a raw and true story of an all-too-familiar tale; falling for the wrong guy…but with a twist. He ended up cheating on me, with a girl who was also Asian…AND also named Grace. And the WAY I found out about it….well. You’ll just have to read and see. Truth really is stranger than fiction sometimes!
You can read the story here: https://www.latimes.com/home/la-hm-affairs-20160227-story.html
Getting such a raw, heartbreaking, and preposterous story out in the world was both exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure. I had my share of mean comments and accusations of “This didn’t really happen. You’re a liar.” But it DID really happen. And telling my truth, no matter how ridiculous and outlandish, was ultimately freeing and gave my sad little story a happy ending. And of course…getting paid for my essay/personal story was thrilling and validating. I have that LA Times newspaper page framed in my home to remind me that dreams sometimes do come true. And if I can pass down any knowledge from what I learned, it is this: whatever pangs of heartache and sorrow you are now feeling, know that this too shall pass. Be brave and hold your head high, and know that it just might be the catalyst for something truly amazing, yet to come.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Yes of course! My name is Grace Chan, and I’m basically an 80’s kid who never grew up. I’m a nostalgia collector who’s keeping the 80’s alive! I have a huge collection of 80’s clothes, toys, books, and VHS because those are things that “spark joy” for me…minimalism has never been my thing! I love showing off my extensive collections on social media and you can find me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/gracemarian/
I’m currently writing my first YA horror/thriller novel set in the 80’s which I’m super stoked about. I’m a huge fan of 80’s horror films and books, having grown up taping movies like Nightmare on Elm Street off of TV and reading Christopher Pike and Stephen King as a tween, so it’s been a lot of fun thus far in my writing journey for this book in progress! I’m also a zine creator! I created the “I Heart Rudy” Monster Squad fanzine which is a loving tribute to one of my favorite 80’s horror movies, “The Monster Squad”. And I’m still getting used to calling myself an 80’s influencer. I’ve had a lot of fun collaborating with retro brands and companies such as Trapper Keeper, ESPRIT, Member’s Only, Stranger Things, Sweet Valley Twins at Random House Books, even Elvira’s clothing line with Mystic Museum, to name a few. I only collaborate with brands and products that I’m really passionate about, and I hope my genuine enthusiasm shines through in all of my collabs!
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
What I’m about to say may not be the most popular, so I hope you’ll bear with me. I personally think this is the most difficult time that artists and creatives have had to face with the rise of AI-generated content, and it concerns and alarms me. I mean, look at me…I’m an 80’s kid with an analog heartbeat. You already know which side of the argument I’m on. To me, AI should be a tool to assist us, similar to Photoshop and editing…NOT take over entire industries that impact artists, painters, writers, actors, animators, and other creatives. AI art, to me, is soulless without the hand of the artist. As I am currently writing my book and also seeing other creatives in action, I see us pouring our emotion and the accumulation of all that we’ve learned and held dear to our hearts throughout our lives INTO our creative endeavors. NO AI is going to replace that.
So to answer your question, in my view, we as a society can do A LOT to support artists. Go buy books from authors you admire. Go buy art from indie artists you think are awesome. Go see movies that utilize practical effects as much as possible. SHOW the folks in charge what kind of content you prioritize and want to see. We lead with our pocketbooks first!
Also I’m not knocking folks who have AI art accounts. We all have different interests and that’s ok. But at the end of the day, that is not something I follow or will “like” or promote. Artists and creatives hold so much value in the world…they are always on the frontlines of transmuting this weird and wacky thing called Life into something we can all collectively enjoy and try to make sense of. Let’s put them first!
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Oh wow, ok. Well I’m going to frame this differently. The lesson I had to actually learn and take to heart is that you’re never too old to start doing what you love. I mean, we live in a very youth-centric culture, where 25 year olds are bemoaning how “old” they are, and 12 year olds are shopping for “anti-aging” skincare at Sephora. It’s kind of nuts, right? So it’s easy to fall into that trap and think, ‘Oh, this is a young person’s world, and perhaps I don’t have anything fun and creative to offer anymore’ which is absolutely, positively BS! Don’t fall for that internalized crap!! In the loving words of Dr. Seuss
“Today you are YOU
That is truer than true
There is no-one alive who is
Youer than YOU.”
And I just have to trust that, that I have something different and special and unique to offer. I’m writing my book, I’m working on other creative projects, I’ll be a part of a rad documentary on the revival of 80’s culture and the 80’s community that I’m super stoked about. You’re never too old. You are YOU and have something amazing to give to the world. Make it happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gracemarianchan.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracemarian/
- Twitter: https://x.com/Gracemarianchan
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gracemarianchan
- Other: https://iheartrudy.bigcartel.com – Where you can purchase my Monster Squad zines!
https://bust.com/big-big-hair-and-bright-bold-patterns-of-the-80s-are-back-and-thriving-on-instagram/ – I was in featured in the Fall 2023 issue of BUST Magazine!
https://jezebel.com/why-are-some-zoomers-so-wistful-for-the-80s-1848179583 – I was featured in Jezebel!
https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/kate-bush-and-mullets-why-young-people-love-a-decade-they-werent-alive-for-c-8100213 – I was featured on Australia’s Channel 7 News!
Image Credits
Studio portrait by Tom’s One Hour Photo