Author Q&A: Aline S. Davies & Beth Wright

Author/ Bookish Everybody
5 April 2026

Aline Siobhan Davies is originally from Hong Kong and has lived in London and Shanghai. She took a creative writing class during her university years in London and loved the process. She says her father, a keen writer and academic, shared the best advice he ever received from his former colleague and author Paul Theroux: “Whatever is going on in your head or your heart, write it down,” advice she keeps close to her heart.

Beth Wright originally came to Hong Kong for work in 2008, for what was meant to be two months, but is nearing 18 years. She now works almost exclusively with women, supporting them through their health journeys, and education is a huge part of that work.

Happy Hormones: Recipes to Balance and Thrive is their first book together.

How did you become a writer?

AD:

I have been developing and documenting recipes for quite some time, but the true catalyst for my writing journey was the opportunity to co-author a cookbook with Beth. I am not a traditional writer, and I have to say putting this book together is one of the hardest projects I’ve ever done. However, because Beth and I share such a deep passion for food, wellbeing and women’s health, the writing process became a natural extension of our mission. We believe that food is the ultimate act of self-care. We wrote this book to inspire others to create easy, delicious dishes that make them feel nourished – inside and out – regardless of what stage of life they are in.

BW:

As a child, I was an avid reader. I always had a book in my hand and was convinced I would one day write one myself. I didn’t imagine it would be educational, but writing has always been something I’ve loved. Putting pen to paper is cathartic, and there’s something powerful about telling a story or sharing an idea that might help someone else.

The real challenge for me was learning how to distil evidence-based health and hormone information into something women could actually connect with and use. Science matters, but if it doesn’t resonate or sit in real-life context, it doesn’t help anyone. Working with Aline made that challenge genuinely enjoyable. The book was a true collaboration – two people driven by a shared passion for food, health, and supporting women in a practical, realistic way.

Tell us about your writing method. Is there a secret?

AD:

When you are genuinely curious or passionate about what you are writing about, the process feels much more natural, and that authenticity always shines through in the final outcome.

BW:

I always start with the information. When it comes to nutritional science or a woman’s body, evidence and context matter. From there, I try to translate that information into something that feels clear, practical and relatable. Empathy is essential, and a bit of humour goes a long way too – especially when we’re talking about hormones. Women don’t need more jargon. They need information they can actually apply to real life.

Which author, alive or dead, would you most like to meet?

AD:

There are so many authors to choose from! I have always been a lover of crime fiction—particularly Nordic noir like Jo Nesbø, or the classics by Agatha Christie. Beyond the mystery genre, I deeply admire Zadie Smith. Her novel On Beauty is a particular favourite; its portrayal of an interracial academic family navigating ethnic and cultural differences resonated with me profoundly.

From a culinary perspective, I would love to meet Meera Sodha. I find her cooking style and recipes to be very much aligned with my own approach to food—vibrant, accessible, and flavour-focused.

BW:

I’ve recently rediscovered my love of fiction after years of burying my head in health books, and I’ve remembered the joy of not being able to put a book down. There really is no better feeling. I blame my sister entirely for introducing me to this world, and I currently lose myself in the writing of Sarah J. Maas. I once read that when we read fiction, the brain doesn’t just process the words – it experiences them – and that really resonated with me.

If I could go back in time, it would have to be Shakespeare. Not just for his writing, but for his wicked sense of humour. I suspect he’d be great fun to hang out with.

Tell us about your favourite bookshop in the world.

AD:

I love bookshops. One that brings me fond memories, especially with my father, is the London Review Bookshop in London and The Haunted Bookshop in Cambridge.

BW:

I’ve always loved bookshops. Fun fact: I worked in one for years while I was at school, and most lunch hours were spent devouring books in the staff room. One of my favourites has always been Stanfords, the map shop in Covent Garden. I could happily lose hours in there.

What advice would you give your younger, writer self?

AD:

I would tell her not to take everything so seriously and not to be afraid to put her work out there. It’s easy to get caught up in perfectionism, but real growth happens when you start sharing your voice with the world.

BW:

Stop overthinking it. And stop waiting for it to feel perfect. The value is in putting your voice out there and trusting that it will land with the people it’s meant for. If you have a story to tell – tell it!

Happy Hormones: Recipes to Balance and Thrive is available at Bookazine.

About the Author

Bookish Everybody

Books and reading are too often on the periphery. Enter: Bookish Everybody, a one-stop community of book enthusiasts to read or write reviews, join read-alongs, buy/sell/give books and join our competitions to win books: www.bookisheverybody.com.