Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Jing Chan.

Hi Michelle Jing, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My parents are both Chinese immigrants and I was born and raised in a small, conservative town in Colorado where we were one of the only Asian families. Culturally and socially, I always felt like an odd duckling who didn’t fit in with my peers at school. Books were my first love, and ever since I could hold a pencil, I was always drawing and writing little stories based on my emotions and experiences and the fantasy worlds and characters I imagined. However, I never considered becoming an artist or author for a living. I actually wanted to be a lawyer for 15 years of my childhood (because I liked to talk and I thought lawyers argued in court all day!). As I got older, I still made art occasionally for fun, but once I got to high school and started to think more seriously about my college plans, my creative hobbies fell by the wayside.

I went to school at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where I studied Systems Engineering and Economics. After college, I moved to the Pacific Northwest and worked as a Program Manager in the tech industry for several years until the pandemic hit. The onslaught of the pandemic and quarantine forced me to slow down for the first time in my life and reflect. I realize that although I had achieved everything that I and my parents had wanted for me, I still felt unhappy and unfulfilled. I started creating art again for the first time in almost 8 years as a hobby.

At first, I was creating and posting art just for myself, but then discovered the world of children’s book illustration. I was intrigued by the industry and incredibly touched to see how much more diverse children’s books had become since I was a kid myself. I remember the first picture book I read as an adult–EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS written by Joanna Ho and illustrated by Dung Ho–and how I immediately started crying when I finished reading the book. It spoke to the internalized racism and shame about my culture that I felt so strongly as a kid; I knew that if a book like this had existed when I was growing up, I would have learned to be proud of who I was.

I credit this book with igniting my interest in the publishing world. I started learning more about how to become a picture book illustrator, and on a bit of a whim, I began querying (applying to literary agents). I received offers of representation, including one from my incredible agent, Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and the rest is history!

For my first 2.5 years in this industry, I was juggling both my publishing career and my full-time job in tech. Due to both physical and mental health issues from overworking, I finally made the leap in 2024 to leave my full-time job and now I’m a full-time author-illustrator. I’ve now illustrated 10 books across picture books, middle grade, and young adult genres, including my own author-illustrator picture book (WEIWEI’S WINTER SOLSTICE) coming out from Bloomsbury at the end of this year. I am also in the process of writing and illustrating my debut young adult graphic novel (SOMEWHERE IN THE GRAY) coming out in 2027. A common thread throughout all my work is creating stories that celebrate diversity and teach kids to love their authentic selves. I strive to make the kinds of books that I wish I had as a kid myself.

Although this industry has many challenges that are exacerbated by the bigotry and hate of the current political climate, I feel incredibly grateful every day that I get to take a chance on myself and try this career full-time. Nothing is every guaranteed–especially in a creative field–but I’m putting my all into doing this for as long as I can.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not! My relationship with my parents was one challenging situation to navigate along my journey. As immigrants who came to the US with no generational wealth or financial security, they and my grandparents worked tirelessly–often in grueling jobs with long hours and difficult manual labor–to build a better future for their children. Seeing their sacrifices motivated me to push myself academically and professionally throughout high school, college, and my career in tech. I never wanted them to feel like their sacrifices were made in vain.

When I initially started in publishing, I never fathomed that my publishing career could get to the point where I could make a living. I had always intended to stay in the tech industry while working on books. However, by the end of 2023, my mental and physical health were both suffering due to years of long hours and arm/wrist overuse from working two desk jobs. At one point, I could not sit, draw, or type for more than 10-15 minutes at a time without horrible pain in my arms and hands, was going to physical therapy daily, and was icing my swollen arms every night. The quality of my work at both jobs was beginning to suffer, and I had to make the choice to say goodbye to one or the other for the sake of my health.

Though my parents supported my creative interests when I was growing up, their support was conditional on these interests being purely hobbies. It took several months and discussions for them to understand and accept my decision to leave my full-time job in tech–and for me to accept that decision myself and make peace with the idea of what it meant to honor their sacrifices as immigrants.

Today, my parents are extremely supportive of my art and books. They are the first ones to preorder a book when it becomes available and have even helped me table at a local art market. Although this may not be the decision they would make if they were in my shoes, they now understand and support that it is my decision to make. I’m grateful that we’ve come to understand and empathize with each other better through this journey and will always be grateful for the sacrifices they have made.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I create children’s books! Most of my books are in the picture book space; I have illustrated picture books for publishers like Penguin Random House, Macmillan, Hachette, and Bloomsbury. Among these picture books are: two Golden Books–LUNAR NEW YEAR: A CELEBRATION OF FAMILY AND FUN (written by Mary Man-Kong), MY LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK ABOUT PRIDE (written by Stonewall and Newbery Award-winning author Kyle Lukoff); an award-winning book recognized by the Children’s Book Council (MAMIE TAPE FIGHTS TO GO TO SCHOOL written by Traci Huahn); and a picture book (STAY ANGRY LITTLE GIRL) based on Madeleine L’Engle’s iconic classic, <i>A Wrinkle in Time</i>. I also occasionally create covers for middle grade and young adult novels such as acclaimed audiobook narrator Natalie Naudus’ debut, GAY THE PRAY AWAY.

In addition to illustrating books, I also am an author-illustrator who writes books as well. My first author-illustrator picture book, WEIWEI’S WINTER SOLSTICE, is a cozy story about Dongzhi (a traditional Chinese holiday celebrating the winter solstice) and comes out in October 2025 from Bloomsbury. My debut young adult graphic novel, SOMEWHERE IN THE GRAY, is about asexuality and out 2027 from Macmillan.

I am probably best known for my picture books, but also my viral short comic, MY GRANDPA’S SUITS, which is about my grandpa’s immigration journey from China to Wyoming and was featured in Buzzfeed, Upworthy, and Yahoo News.

I am most proud of messages I get from parents and educators about how my books have impacted them or their children–as well as notes or quotes that kids themselves have said to me at in-person events or school visits! It is beyond rewarding to know that all the hours and hard work poured into your art and books have made a small difference in making the world a safer, kinder, and more empathetic place for young people.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.michellejingchan.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellejingchan
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@michellejingchan

Image Credits
M. Mendelsohn