Happy Diwali with Amos Lee

Wishing you in advance Happy Diwali or Deepavali as we call it in Singapore.

Adeline Foo, my author for my picture book Guai Wu The Chinese Elf, will be launching her third Amos Lee book entitled 'I'm twelve. I'm tough, I Tweet!'  this Saturday 6 November at Kinokuniya Bookshop at Takashimaya (Orchard Road). Do join her and her 'animated' Singapor-ish character Amos Lee to find out what both of them are up to this time!

You can also catch them a second time at Borders on the 13th November.

Have fun!

Singapore Writers Festival 2009 - Undercover

For writers and budding writers and anyone who loves books, Singapore Writers Festival kicked off last Friday at The Arts House and will be running till 1st November. Check out the official website (www.singaporewritersfestival.com) for programme information.

HIGHLIGHTS

26 October 2009, 7:30 pm
Inspector Singh Investigates: A Bali Conspiracy Most Foul by Shamini Flint

Come celebrate the launch of the new Inspector Singh book by author Shamini Flint. You just might discover why Daily Telegraph (United Kingdom) has described Inspector Singh as “a crime series hero like no other”. In this thrilling second book of the series, the Inspector is sent to Bali to help with anti-terrorism efforts, after a bomb blast has been set off on the island.

27 October 2009, 6:30 pm
Literary Pioneer Series: An Evening with Edwin Thumboo

Every society has its pioneers. Without Singapore's literary pioneers laying the foundations, Singapore literature would not be where it is today. Following a tradition started in 2007, SWF takes pride in focusing on SWF 2009 Literary Pioneer, Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo. Aside from exploring his works through the years with Jonathan Webster and Thiru Kandiah, there will be heartwarming moments aplenty as friends and family join the man himself in this evening of poetic melodies and anecdotes.

31 October 2009, 12:30 pm
Sudden in Youth: New and Selected Poems 1998 – 2009 by Felix Cheong

Expect inventive wordplay that cuts through the skin of language in Singapore poet Felix Cheong's new book, which brings together his best poems from the past decade as well as his recent writings. Whether assuming the voice of serial killers or strippers, or musing on love or God, he offers an insight as equally provocative as evocative.

31 October 2009, 03:00pm & 04:30pm and 1 November 2009, 02:00pm
Talks by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman, English author of graphic novel Sandman, novel American Gods, and children's books The Graveyard Book and Coraline will be making his way to the festival. For the first session on the 31st, find out if he writes in a different mindset when positioning his stories for children and teens, followed by reading extracts from Who Kills Amanda Palmer, a new photo book from the author based on a macabre collection of Amanda of American music duo The Dresden Dolls, in death poses. On the 1st, he will share some of his experiences and inspirations behind his many graphic novels and writings in the fantasy genre.

Also check out Wena Poon's new books The Biophilia Omnibus and The Proper Care Of Foxes.

It is a pity that I have missed a couple of talks and book launch due to family events - Heather's school performance last Saturday and classes on Sunday - so I am looking forward to this coming weekend.

LAUNCH OF OUR BOOKS - Guai Wu The Chinese Elf and Georgette's Mooncake

And don't forget Adeline Foo, Lee Kowling and I will be launching our new books Georgette's Mooncakes and Guai Wu The Chinese Elf this Saturday, 31 October, 6.30pm, at The Arts House. RSVP here on Faceboook. See you there!
GUAI WU ON THE RADIO

Guai Wu The Chinese Elf was reviewed by Michelle Martins on her Talking Books segment on 938Live. Check out this video below with the radio recording.

Book launch at Borders Books

Last weekend was a busy one for me and my family. There was launch events for my picture book Guai Wu The Chinese Elf and Kowling's book Georgette's Mooncakes at Borders Books, as well as a wedding of a dear friend of mine (Cindy) on a beautiful Sunday morning at Beaufort Sentosa.

(Click on the images to enlarge)
Our book launch at Borders Books went well on both days. Many thanks to all of you who came to support us. Thanks Jamie, Effendy and Melissa at the Parkway bookstores for their logistic assistance. I think I did better than the first time when I did my presentation at Little Lit. At least not as nervous. I also enjoyed coming up with my own craft activities for the children.


















I want to especially thank my girls Hannah and Heather, my husband Jon (who came despite being under the weather), Mariko and Wen for stepping forward to give me a hand with the events. Mari helped me to cut some of the templates for my shoe making session and brought for me my paintings while I went to the wedding before the event that morning while Wen helped me out with photography.

I held my tears when my mum and dad came to the bookstore until the end of the event. I am very touched by their support all along despite of their poor health. Thank you mum and dad for everything.

















Double book launch
In celebration with the release of Georgette's Mooncakes and Guai Wu The Chinese Elf, Ethos Books will be hosting a double book launch during the Singapore Writers Festival, on the 31st October 2009, 6.30pm to 7.30pm at The Arts House. For more info, please go to my Facebook Pages or visit the official website of Singapore Writers Festival.

I look forward to catching up with you again. In the meantime, wish me luck with a few new sets of paintings for OIC.

Hot off the press!

Labour of love
25 September 2009, Friday - I have been waiting for the moment to write this post for nearly 365 days. My parents had taught me well the virtue of patience.

This morning before I dashed off to meet my bookseller, Wai Han my publisher at Ethos Books, was so sweet to send over some copies of my newly printed books Guai Wu The Chinese Elf. For the first time, I feel relieved. I flipped through the book but didn’t scrutinise my paintings and the printing like I normally will do. Today, I told myself it’s time to walk tall. My work is done, or at least I am down with only the marketing aspect for my book. That’s right, illustrating and getting published is only part of the book business.

Almost an entire year of hard work is in this picture book. Is it worth it? YES, and I will do it again and again and again. I have learned so much from my author-partner Adeline Foo, my incredibly patient publishing team (Wai Han, Hoe Fang, Adeleena, Alvin and Merlin), Thomas and Hao You at PICA Scans, Steven and Ah Man at Utopia Press and everyone else whom had shared with me their wisdom in creating picture books. Thank you all for all your efforts.

Special thanks to Professor Ma Wenhai at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who had shared with me his personal pictures of China. His constant notes of encouragement are like cushions. My gratitude to Ken Spillman for all his inspirational and uplifting words.

Also, thanks in advance to the team at MarketAsia for distributing my books, all the staff of Borders Books for their support for the upcoming event on next Sunday, 4 October, 2pm at Borders Parkway, other book sellers, as well as each and everyone who will come and support me.

Last but not least, thanks to a few very important people in my life - Hannah and Heather (for everything that no adults can give and teach me), Jon (for providing for us), mum and dad (who has never once force me to become a doctor or a lawyer) and my sister Dawn (for looking after my mum and never once ask me to go get a properly paid job), my trustworthy neighbours Mariko, KiSeung and little Yuri (for your friendship, support, kind acts and for saving me time after time), my generous friends including Selena and Boo Kian (who never fail to bring out a smile on my kids’ face), Miko (who regularly buy me coffee to keep me awake on Sunday), May (who sends me love regularly from Toronto) and ALL my little friends (who loves peeping over my shoulder when I draw and paint) - each one of you is an inspiration behind my work.)

So, with further ado, I would like to invite you and your child to celebrate with me and Adeline for the launch of Gu Wu The Chinese Elf on the following dates:

4th October 2009. Sunday. 2pm. BORDERS BOOKS (Parkway Parade) There will be storytelling, guided shoe making session*, exhibition of original artwork and book signing.

* Parent/guardian's assistance for younger children is required.

You can find more info on my Facebook Page.

31st October 2009. Saturday. 6.30pm EARSHOT at THE ARTS HOUSE
Singapore Writers Festival event Joint book launch with Lee Kowling, illustrator for Adeline’s Peranakan series, for Georgette’s Mooncakes and The Beaded Slippers, also authored by Adeline Foo.

Kowling will also be launching her new book Georgette's Mooncake and The Beaded Slippers at Borders Books (Wheelock) on 3rd October 2009, Saturday from 2pm to 3pm.

Please see the image for details.

We look forwards to seeing all of you.

If you are a bookseller, a school teacher, a parent looking for have us over to do a talk, workshop, storytelling, please drop me an email.
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Almost there!
22 September 2009. Tuesday - I am glad that my book is finally printed. Last Friday, I went all the way to Tuas with my publisher to do the press check. Ah Man, the press operator at Utopia Press, patiently took me through the process and taught me how colours can be adjusted to make the final appearance more pleasing to the eyes. Binding should done on today. The books should be delivered to the publisher by Wednesday ... I can’t wait to see my labour of love in print. Stay tuned for updates regarding book signing and activities!

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Book information
Format: Soft Cover Trade
ISBN: 9789810828981