Shawn Seah's Blog

Street Names of Pioneers at the Singapore Writers Festival 2025

I am delighted to be invited to the Singapore Writers Festival 2025!

As an author and public speaker, I am always excited to talk about my writing, including my children’s non-fiction series, Our Amazing Pioneers, where my books bring Singapore’s pioneers to life for young readers.

On Saturday, 15 November 2025, from 3.30pm to 4.30pm, at The Arts House at The Old Parliament, Screening Room, I will be speaking as part of a panel on the topic: “Name Dropping: The Legacy of Singapore’s Street Names”, moderated by Wesley Leon Aroozoo.

This topic is close to my heart.

I am delighted to have distinguished professors Victor Savage and Brenda Yeoh as my fellow panellists.

In fact, back when I was researching and writing my first book, Seah Eu Chin: His Life and Times, I actually cited Savage and Yeoh’s books: Toponymics: A Study of Singapore Street Names and Singapore Street Names: A Study of Toponymics.

Seah Street in Singapore. For a blog post on the Mint Museum of Toys, please visit “History and Heritage: My Visit to the MINT Museum of Toys“. Photograph by author Shawn Seah.Liang Seah Street at night and on weekends is typically full of life. Photograph by author Shawn Seah.

They are experts in toponymics (the study of place names). Their books provided a starting point for me to explore Singapore’s history through street names. This is one reason why I’m looking forward to the panel discussion.

Also, the Singapore Writers Festival is one of Asia’s premier literary festivals, bringing together both international and Singapore authors to celebrate the art of storytelling and spark meaningful engagement with literature and the arts.

(In fact, I was a small part of the Singapore Writers Festival back in 2023. At the National Library’s Imagination Room, I narrated stories from Our Amazing Pioneers, covering Teochew leader Seah Eu Chin; Hakka heritage jeweller Ngeow Cher Seong; and charitable Arab Syed Omar Aljunied. Looking back, while the crowd was small, we had fun together!)

Author Shawn Seah was part of the Singapore Writers Festival 2023. Photograph by Shawn’s team.

This year’s festival theme, “Shape of Things to Come”, is bold and forward-looking, inviting us to reflect on the past and present, and envision the future with hope, courage, and imagination.

As Singapore marks 60 years of independence, the 2025 edition of the Singapore Writers Festival features a special SG60 Homage track.

After all, 2025 is a timely opportunity to explore how Singapore’s identity and heritage continue to evolve in a changing world shaped by new trends and technological advancements, like developments in generative Artificial Intelligence and Agentic AI.

During my panel, I will share from my own writing journey, including the children’s non-fiction series Our Amazing Heroes and Our Amazing Pioneers, and my explorations into the stories of pioneers remembered through our street names.

These include our amazing pioneers remembered through streets such as Eu Chin Street, Seng Poh Road, Seng Poh Lane, Liang Seah Street, and Seah Street.

Many other pioneers I wrote about, like Syed Omar Aljunied, Edwin Tessensohn, and Naraina Pillai, also had streets named after them.

It is a privilege to be part of this conversation at Singapore Writers Festival 2025, as we look ahead with optimism while honouring the stories and histories that have shaped us.

I believe that community support for local writers is vital, and festivals like this remind us of the importance of coming together to celebrate our shared stories.

I warmly invite you to join us at the Singapore Writers Festival 2025 to listen, reflect, and be part of this conversation.

Thank you for reading.

Cheers,
Shawn

About the Author

Shawn Seah is a published author and public speaker who makes Singapore’s history come alive through engaging storytelling. He is the author of the children’s non-fiction series Our Amazing Pioneers and Our Amazing Heroes, and speaks regularly about family history, Singapore Stories, and the art of storytelling at schools, literary festivals, and museums.

History and Heritage: My Visit to the MINT Museum of Toys

Sometimes, an unexpected adventure begins with a simple online contest.

Some time in August, I participated in an Instagram giveaway; it was about guessing the theme of the upcoming Pop-Up in the Museum at the MINT Museum of Toys.

I guessed sportingly: “Toy sports cars in line with the F1 theme!”

To my surprise, I received a message saying, “Congratulations!”

I had actually won a ticket to the invite-only preview of Pop-Up in the Museum at the MINT Museum of Toys!

And so it came to pass that, on 22 August 2025, I found myself walking along Seah Street, along my “Ah Gong’s road” (“grandfather’s road”), heading towards the museum.

Visiting the MINT Museum of Toys

The entrance to the MINT Museum of Toys, Singapore. Photograph taken by author.

The MINT Museum of Toys is a familiar landmark. It is home to a private collection of vintage toys and childhood memorabilia.

I first visited several years ago, but had not returned until this preview.

I scanned a QR code on my phone to enter (and later scanned again to exit).

Later, I found out that the museum store is unmanned, relying on visitors to pick up what they want and check out digitally. It is an unusual but refreshing concept.

Toys on sale at the MINT Museum of Toys, Singapore. Photograph by author.

The special Pop-Up in the Museum exhibition (23 August to 5 October 2025) focused on vintage, diecast toy cars.

Pop-Up in the Museum (23 August to 5 October 2025)

Opening remarks by Anna Koh, Marketing Communications Manager, at the Pop-Up in the Museum (23 August to 5 October 2025). Photograph by author.

I thought this was a good pop-up theme given that Singapore would be hosting the Formula 1 night race from 3 to 5 October 2025, at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

At the heart of Pop-Up in the Museum was vintage toy sports cars, showcased alongside Mattel’s Hot Wheels and Matchbox collections.

(I must confess that I enjoyed watching Disney and Pixar’s Cars, too, even though I was grown up by the 2000s.)

But what pleasantly surprised me most was the display of “Mandarin” diecast cars, which were made in Singapore in the 1980s, according to the museum.

“Mandarin” diecast cars that were produced in Singapore. Photograph by author.

I did not realise that our little island once produced such diecast toys, now considered collector’s items. To see them displayed was quite a nice touch.

The MINT Museum of Toys reminds us that history and heritage are not confined to grand monuments or dusty archives. They can be found in the everyday objects we once played with, cherished, and passed on.

Toys, after all, carry stories. These stories are especially meaningful because they remind us of our childhood (beyond reflecting more seriously the historical and cultural context of the times in which they were produced).

Nostalgia is Very Powerful

When I was young, I enjoyed reading Herge’s The Adventures of Tintin. One of the stories in the series was Explorers on the Moon. I enjoyed looking at the display as it reminded me of my childhood, when I enjoyed reading comics and graphic novels. I had numerous flights of fancy, imagining myself to be an intrepid explorer and adventurer.

Herge’s The Adventures of Tintin: Explorers on the Moon, on display at the MINT Museum of Toys, Singapore. Photograph by author Shawn Seah.

To take another example, my father (who was born in 1946) and I also loved watching Batman. Even before Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) kicked off a series of Batman sequels on the big screen, my father and I loved watching “vintage” Batman on the small screen.

(Well, to be fair to my father, Adam West’s character was probably not “vintage” to him, but the one and only “true Batman”, if there were even such a thing, whereas to me, and probably many others growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, Michael Keaton’s character probably springs to mind. But I digress.)

Batman and Robin toys are displayed in this museum, and it is easy to see the appeal: these toys bring back fond memories of the past. This is despite the fact that there are Japanese characters on the boxes; the toys are still immediately recognisable.

Batman and Robin on display at the MINT Museum of Toys, Singapore. Photograph by author.

I also watched Popeye on TV when I was a child. To see a display of a vintage Popeye was really quite nostalgic, and made me think of his pro-spinach propaganda on TV.

(Unfortunately, the pro-spinach propaganda did not convince me, and so I never ended up loving spinach, or any vegetables, for that matter.)

Popeye and his spinach cans, on display at the MINT Museum of Toys, Singapore. Photograph by author.

Some of the displays were uniquely Singaporean, snapshots of the past, like the Cathay Building and the Old Hill Street Police Station. The latter is prominent for its colourful windows and tourists from around the world come to take pictures of this building, holding up traffic once in a blue moon.

The Old Hill Street Police Station miniature display at the MINT Museum of Toys, Singapore. Photograph by author.The Cathay Building miniature display at the MINT Museum of Toys, Singapore. Photograph by author.

Even the museum’s location is a good one. Seah Street itself is steeped in history, if I may say so myself. To walk along a street named after my ancestor Seah Eu Chin (1805-1883), past shophouses and cafes, and see the historic Raffles Hotel, is to feel connected to a different rhythm of the city.

Seah Street sign at the Bras Basah area. For more information on streets named after members of the Seah family, please visit . Photograph by author was taken before 2020.

Winning an Instagram contest may have been a stroke of luck, but visiting the MINT Museum of Toys reminded me of something deeper.

History and heritage can be playful and fun.

I enjoyed re-learning and re-discovering how to have fun, explore, and have a spirit of adventure.

Sometimes the most meaningful discoveries come from places where you least expect them.

Thank you for reading!

Cheers,
Shawn Seah

Writing Crossing Borders: Reaching Beyond Singapore

Over dinner one day, a friend remarked to me:

“You’re definitely known in Singapore, especially for your family history writing, but I wonder about your reach beyond Singapore. Does anyone outside of Singapore even know about your writing or who the h*** you are?” (Identities have been hidden to ‘protect the innocent’.)

Well, it was a frank and fair question.

And it was a question that kept popping up in my mind.

Author and speaker Shawn Seah at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content 2025, with illustrator David Liew. Photograph by Shawn’s team.

This question reminded me of guidance I received while at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content in May 2025. It went something along these lines:

“While you are recognised for writing non-fiction stories for Singaporeans, there might be value in giving some thought to writing something that lends itself more readily to regionalisation and internationalisation. That would mean translations, more products, and ultimately greater reach.”

From a publishing perspective, this is actually good, sound advice.

And I have taken this guidance to heart.

However, upon reflection, actually my writing on Singapore has already reached several audiences beyond Singapore over the years. It’s true that these are niche audiences rather than broader, larger groups, but I have definitely reached some people in Malaysia, China, and the United Kingdom.

And naturally, I can and should do more to ensure that my writing reaches a broader, more international audience.

One early and unintended milestone came with my first book, Seah Eu Chin: His Life & Times (1st edition, 2017).

A copy of the first edition of Seah Eu Chin: His Life and Times. This first edition is out of print, so this photograph was taken at a library. Photograph by author Shawn Seah.

Although it was my first book and my maiden attempt, this self-published book took on a life of its own and crossed Singapore’s border into Malaysia.

(I was writing figuratively: the books were brought across the border by a kind person called Mr Ng.)

As far as I am aware, the now limited first edition book is currently available for sale only at the Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum, located at 42 Jalan Ibrahim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Seah Eu Chin: His Life & Times (2nd Edition, 2019) was subsequently translated into Mandarin, to reach out to Chinese-language audiences.

Cover of the Chinese translation of Seah Eu Chin: His Life & Times. World Scientific Publishing Company.

This translation has helped introduce Singapore history to some readers in China, creating opportunities for greater cross-cultural understanding and historical appreciation.

I recall one night, several years ago, a lady who shared the same surname as me came to collect copies of this Chinese translation from me, and as far as I understood her Mandarin, the books would be shared with our clanspeople in Yuepu village in China.

My writing has also been featured, referenced, and mentioned in overseas Chinese media platforms, including Sin Chew Daily (星洲网), a Malaysian Chinese-language newspaper; Sohu.com (搜狐网), a Chinese news and media portal headquartered in Beijing; and Guancha (观察者网), a Shanghai-based online news and aggregator site.

In Malaysia, writer Denise Lee featured my work in her thoughtful article, “Preserving History with Shawn Seah”, published on 1 September 2020 in THEMISSNISE. She reflected on the importance of history and how stories of pioneers like my ancestor Seah Eu Chin continue to shape the way we understand identity and community today. I’m grateful for her generous feature.

In fact, my book on Seah Eu Chin went beyond Asia. I was delighted when UK-based historian Stan Neal cited my research in his chapter, “Mediators, migrants and memories of colonial Singapore: the life and legacy of Seah Eu Chin”. This chapter appears in Singapore – Two Hundred Years of the Lion City (Oxford: Routledge, 2020), edited by Anthony Webster and Nicholas J. White.

Being explicitly referenced and mentioned in a scholarly publication alongside respected historians has been amazing.

These experiences remind me that heritage storytelling has international reach.

One broader point I’d like to make is that Singaporean writers who write exclusively about Singapore should not feel that their work is any less important than people who write for a broader, wider readership.

Travelling internationally? Think Changi Airport, Singapore! Photograph by author Shawn Seah.

Whether in the pages of a Chinese-language newspaper, a British academic text, or a heritage museum in Malaysia, Singapore’s stories can still spark interest, invite reflection, and build bridges across borders.

To fellow writers wondering whether your words will travel: keep going.

The world may be open to reading your stories and learning more.

Thank you for reading.

Cheers,
Shawn Seah

My Visit to Battlebox Singapore and Our Amazing Heroes

I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that Our Amazing Heroes is now available at Battlebox Singapore!

Author Shawn Seah with his children’s book series, Our Amazing Heroes, at Battlebox Singapore. Photograph by Shawn’s team.

My children’s book series celebrates several Singapore’s heroes who showed enduring values of strength, courage, and compassion during the Second World War: Ee Peng Liang, Captain Ho Weng Toh, and Mrs Elizabeth Choy. They are available at the Battlebox Singapore shop.

After visiting the shop to shoot my books (pun not intended), I visited the World War II bunker, which was a few steps away from the main shop.

This visit to Battlebox Singapore was definitely very meaningful; I am sure many history buffs will appreciate it too.

Stepping into the bunker feels like going back in time. Sure, the colonial masters are gone, along with their plans and political intrigue, leaving behind their an escape ladder for officers, separated toilets for non-officers, and empty (and somewhat chilling) rooms.

But a 21st century visitor can still imagine and ‘experience’ what it would have felt like.

Scene depicting the conference room where Lt General Arthur Percival made the decision to surrender to the invading Japanese forces. Photograph by Shawn’s team.

While admission is free (operator non-profit Global Cultural Alliance publicly stated that the site would be freely available and easily accessible to the public), visitors who pay can undergo an enhanced experience that includes an audio guide and anaglyph (red/blue) glasses.

This enhanced experience will bring history to life by letting people be involved in those scenes and not just passive bystanders, for example, using the anaglyph glasses to compare between Japanese and Allied perspectives of the battle right before the surrender.

Visitors can use anaglyph glasses for an enhanced experience. Photograph by Shawn’s team.

Battlebox Singapore is more than just about tunnels and wax figures, or old rooms and modern Virtual Reality and immersive technology (although I hasten to add that I liked the projections of scenes comparing the day before to the day after Singapore’s fall).

Scene at one of the rooms at Battlebox Singapore. Photograph by Shawn’s team.

This place carries an important, larger, national message, one that bears repeating in this SG60 year, as we mark 60 years of Singapore’s independence.

Hidden beneath Fort Canning Hill, this underground command centre reminds us that we Singaporeans must be ready to defend our island home ourselves.

These are arguably the two most famous photographs of (i) Lt General Percival and the British military leaders walking up the driveway of the Ford Motor Factory on the day of the surrender and (ii) the British surrender at the conference room of the Ford Motor Factory. Photograph by Shawn’s team.

After all, it was here that the British military leaders decided to surrender Singapore to the invading Imperial Japanese forces on 15 February 1942.

This surrender meant the beginning of many years of hardship, hunger, and suffering during the Japanese Occupation. But it also meant that this was the first time that our forefathers resolved that we could never again leave our fate to the hands of others, and we must determine our own future.

Our Amazing Heroes on display and next to Secrets of the Battlebox. Photograph by Shawn’s team.

If you are visiting this iconic heritage site, do remember to pick up copies of Our Amazing Heroes and bring these stories of heroism home!

Thank you for reading and your kind support.

Cheers,
Shawn Seah

How to Give an Amazing Assembly Talk!

School assemblies are an important part of pupils’ lives.

They are a shared community experience where the whole school comes together, to start the day or mark a special occasion, like 60 years of Singapore’s independence (SG60) or a school’s anniversary.

Author Shawn Seah speaking at Ngee Ann Primary School during an assembly talk. Photograph by Shawn’s team.

Speaking at a school assembly is an honour and a privilege.

You are responsible for engaging the entire school as well as teachers who are standing or sitting by the side of the school hall.

The heads of department, teachers, or librarians who invited you have entrusted you with this (sacred) duty.

All eyes are on you, and for that 20, 25, or even 30 minutes, you hold court.

A school assembly talk should be energetic, engaging, and exciting for the children. Or, as I like to put it, “edu-taining”.

When done well, a talk can stay with children long after the bell rings.

Here are some of my personal reflections and best practices, drawn from my experiences and mistakes of speaking to children aged seven to twelve at school assemblies across Singapore. They remind me of what worked well, and hopefully you might find some of these pointers useful too.

Author and speaker Shawn Seah introducing his children’s book series, Our Amazing Heroes. Photograph by Shawn’s team.

Have a lot of positive energy!

You have to begin with a lot of energy and a positive attitude to engage the students!

Come in with good posture, a bright presence, and a can-do spirit.

Let your enthusiasm show from the moment you step onto the stage.

Smile widely and think happy thoughts!

A big wide smile shows that you are friendly, confident, and approachable. It sets the tone.

Best of all, smiles are contagious. If you smile, they smile back.

I am often reminded of what Dale Carnegie once wrote about magician Howard Thurston in How to Win Friends and Influence People.

Each time Thurston went up on stage to perform, he said to himself: “I am grateful because these people come to see me. They make it possible for me to make my living in a very agreeable way. I’m going to give them the very best I possibly can.”

Thurston was grateful for his audience’s support.

And I am sure they loved and respected him back.

These are words of enduring wisdom that I try to live by.

Whether it is for a magic performance, a keynote address for adults, or an assembly talk for primary school pupils, these are truly words of wisdom.

Show of hands!

One of the best ways to start your assembly talk is with a quick poll.

“Hands up if you’ve heard of Tan Tock Seng!”

“Who wants to be a time traveller? Raise your hands!”

“Who’s excited to hear stories today? Quick show of hands!”

These questions invite children to respond, think, and compare their answers with their friends. You create immediate interaction. The hall comes alive.

Polling students is fun!

Are… youuuuu… ready?!!!

I also like to dramatically point the microphone at my audience and rally them, “Are you ready to hear some stories?”

Then I pause. “I can’t hear you!” or “That’s not loud enough!”

And again, I shout, louder: “You can do better than that!”

This call-and-response builds excitement and children love the playful energy.

Use strong images, not just words, on your slides

Children respond well to colourful, large, and vivid pictures.

A slide with a striking photo or bold illustration draws attention.

Images can evoke wonder. They spark questions.

Involve them early and often

I typically ask questions throughout my storytelling session.

“What do you think happened next?”

“If you were there, what would you have done?”

“Do you think they lived happily ever after?”

These questions invite children into the narrative.

Let them wonder, guess, and imagine.

Use familiar words and concrete examples

Speak plainly.

Use clear, everyday language.

Avoid jargon or complicated expressions.

Children understand best when you paint a scene they can imagine.

Describe the sights, sounds, and smells.

Tell them about the muddy ground, the noisy ship, the bright lanterns.

The more concrete your examples, the more they remember.

And they can remember details.

Author and speaker Shawn Seah giving an assembly talk. Photograph by Shawn’s team.

Remember, this is performance art

An assembly talk is not just an ordinary talk. It is a performance.

In fact, it is closer to a one-person play.

Your voice needs to carry across the hall.

Project your voice. Vary your tone. Use dramatic pauses.

Let your face and hands do some of the talking too.

Move around the stage.

Make eye contact with different parts of the audience.

Sometimes, I dramatically walk among the children to make a point. It surprises them and draws them in.

Repeat, repeat, repeat

Children learn through repetition, repetition, repetition.

If there is one key word, phrase, or idea you want them to take away, repeat it many, many, many times throughout your talk. Naturally, you can use rhythm, rhyme, and alliteration to make repeated lines memorable.

Repetition works.

Repetition reinforces.

Repetition sticks.

Frame things from the children’s perspective

An assembly talk is for the children, so it makes perfect sense to frame things from their perspective, so that they can better enjoy the talk.

Try to put the pupils into the shoes of the people you are speaking about.

“Imagine you were hiding in a rubber plantation during the Second World War. What would that feel like?”

“Imagine you were on the ship with Pillai. What would it be like?”

“What would you have done if you were there?”

Let them feel the story.

When children relate personally, they remember more.

Give them room to imagine what they would do or how they would feel.

Always connect what you are saying to the present

I try my best to help them see how the stories matter today.

I try to connect the values and lessons from the past to their own lives.

Maybe you are sharing a story about kindness, resilience, or courage. Remind them that these are good values they can show today, in school, at home, or with their friends.

But forgive yourself when things don’t go as planned

I have spoken to many, many groups of people, and children are an especially tough crowd.

Not everything will go perfectly.

Sometimes the tech does not work well. The microphone shrieks. The children are sleepy and not in the mood to cooperate with you.

Don’t worry. My advice: forgive yourself.

Bear in mind that this is the biggest mixed-ability and mixed-preference class that you will face. Some are sleepy, some hungry, some bursting with energy. Some are listeners, others readers, and yet others are read-write types.

Just do your best. Speak from the heart. And if things do not go perfectly, that is life. Forgive yourself and do not be too hard on yourself.

Students catching up with their favourite author! Photographs by Shawn’s team.

Just remember that assembly talks are not just moments to deliver a message (only).

They are moments to inspire.

When that connection happens, when children look up at you and have a sense of wonderment on their faces, or ask you many strange and weird questions after that, you know it was all worth it.

Thank you for reading.

Cheers,
Shawn Seah

Note: This is a longer and more detailed piece based on a story I previously posted on Medium.

Fact Attack at the Singapore Children’s Book Festival (SCBF) 2025!

I enjoyed moderating a panel discussion called “Fact Attack! Making Non-Fiction Fun and Fascinating” at SCBF 2025!

It was an honour to take part in the SCBF for the first time, during its second edition.

The whole idea of my panel was that non-fiction books did not have to be dry and dull. As I personally believe in edutaining children and making history come alive, I readily agreed to be part of the panel.

From left to right, Ng Yi-Sheng, Shawn Seah, and David Liew during a panel discussion. Photograph by Shawn’s team.

My fellow panellists were award-winning author Ng Yi-Sheng and talented illustrator and crafter David Liew (according to him, sometimes confused with award-winning children’s book author David Seow).

And Yi-Sheng even brought Mr Monyet along, a monkey puppet. I hasten to add that this was the first time I had ever had a puppet attend any of my talks.

The three of us (and the monkey) talked about our love of history; the uses of humour; writing on problematic parts of history for children, like opium and war; parents’ concerns on how facts were portrayed; the limits of artistic licence; how facts ought to be conveyed to children; as well as how to scope stories to young children.

From left to right, Mr Monyet (the monkey puppet), Ng Yi-Sheng, David Liew, and Shawn Seah at the SCBF 2025. Photograph by Shawn’s team.

It was really an engaging experience!

Being part of a festival dedicated to books for children feels amazing, just like when I was speaking at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC). I appreciated the fact that SCBF 2025 was more than just a celebration of fiction, but non-fiction children’s books as well, just like AFCC 2025.

I have actually moderated many panels over the years, like a panel during the Baba Nyonya Literary Festival 2022 and the NTUC Career Festival 2025. But this one was easily the funniest and most humorous panel I have had the privilege of moderating.

I was glad that we shared laughter, learning, and maybe a little inspiration with our audience too.

Thank you to the Singapore Book Publishers Association and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, University of the Arts Singapore, the organisers of the SCBF, for inviting me to be part of this amazing festival. And I look forward to being called back again!

Thank you for reading.

Cheers,
Shawn Seah

Bringing the Past to Life: My Experience at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) 2025

On 24 May 2025, I had the privilege of speaking at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) for the first time!

My session, “Discovering Singapore’s History: Adapting War Narratives into Meaningful and Engaging Children’s Stories,” focused on how educators, docents, and content creators can help the young connect with war narratives or World War II stories.

Question and Answer (Q&A) at Shawn Seah’s talk at AFCC 2025. Photograph by writer’s team.

It was a joy to share the stage with prominent illustrator David Liew, who moderated the session with warmth.

Despite our age gap, I discovered that David and I had many things in common: we are former educators, we have many friends in common, and we share a passion for history.

During my talk, I shared about the broad historical context as well as introduced my children’s book series, Our Amazing Heroes.

The year 2025 is special for Singapore and Singaporeans.

It marks Singapore’s 60th year of independence (or SG60).

It also marks 60 years of the Singapore Armed Forces (or SAF60).

And it is also the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

That is why this year, in particular, is especially timely to reflect on Singapore’s history.

And this is the background as to why I launched my children’s book series Our Amazing Heroes this year.

I shared about the importance of dramatic scenes and illustrations, grabbing children’s and adults’ attention.

However, war stories for children should not just be about war. I spoke about the importance of focusing on inspiring stories that convey important values, like courage, compassion, and resilience.

I also talked about keeping stories relatable and relevant, and above all how I connected various stories to each other through what I called a “Marvel Cinematic Universe” approach towards episodic storytelling.

After my talk, we had a very enjoyable and engaging Question and Answer session where the attendees asked insightful and interesting questions. I had a lot of fun exchanging views!

David Liew and Shawn Seah at AFCC 2025. Photograph by writer’s team.

Beyond my talk, AFCC was a chance to explore the rich world of children’s literature. I attended a thought-provoking session by Lianne Ong and Kenneth Heng on writing about social issues like rough sleeping.

The talk was an important reminder that children’s books can (and should) tackle tough topics with care and empathy, especially in the age of the Internet.

I also visited the Book Illustrators Gallery, which was quite curiously located at Bras Basah Complex, near the National Library. I am guessing that this was probably a sign that space is always a premium for book events in Singapore! It was also great catching up with artist and designer Derrick Tham there.

Author and speaker Shawn Seah holding up copies of Our Amazing Pioneers at the AFCC 2025 Festival Bookstore: Closetful of Books. Photograph by writer’s team.

And of course, it was definitely a joy to see Our Amazing Pioneers available for sale at the festival bookshop. It was a good reminder of how far I have come along my writing journey.

AFCC 2025 was a wonderful experience of learning, sharing ideas, and connecting with others who believe in the power of stories to spark curiosity and inspire change.

I’m grateful for the warm conversations, the kind support from many people, and the shared commitment to making a difference through books.

Author and speaker Shawn Seah standing in front of the AFCC 2025 logo. Photograph by writer’s team.

I hope I will be invited for the next festival and be able to continue telling stories that matter.

Thank you for reading.

Cheers,
Shawn Seah

Stories of Courage and Resilience at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content 2025

I’m delighted to share that I will be speaking at the upcoming Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) 2025!

This is my first time being a part of this festival, so I am really excited and looking forward to it.

I will just do my best.

Organised by the Singapore Book Council, the AFCC is the leading literary festival in Asia for children’s stories and young adult literature.

Aimed at authors, illustrators, translators, publishers, educators, and media professionals, the festival offers a range of programmes, including panel discussions, presentations, workshops, masterclasses, and networking sessions that promote children’s stories and young adult literature with a focus on Asian themes.

This year, the 16th edition of the AFCC will take place from 22 to 25 May 2025 as an in-person event at the Singapore National Library.

My speaking slot will be on Saturday, 24 May 2025, 10.30am to 11.30am.

What Will I Be Sharing at AFCC 2025?

My talk is called: “Discovering Singapore’s History: Adapting War Narratives into Meaningful and Engaging Children’s Stories!”

Historical storytelling, especially on topics like war heroes, is sometimes seen as difficult to adapt for younger audiences.

However, these stories help children discover their country’s history, introducing them to darker times and the heroes who arose to overcome the odds and shape the present.

By appreciating these narratives, children can imbibe enduring values like courage, compassion, and contributing to society, and hopefully feel inspired by those who made a difference in trying times.

In my talk, I will be sharing the approaches that I have taken in my children’s book series, Our Amazing Heroes, towards translating these complex topics into engaging and accessible stories for children.

I will share what I consider some of the best practices in historical storytelling and creating dramatic action to engage children, balancing between excitement and maintaining gravity.

I also share about how we might best use illustrations to accompany text and give weight to words. The talented artist, Patrick Yee, helped to bring my visions to life.

And I also share about how writers might be able to weave in values and virtues into the stories.

I will also be touching on utilising episodic storytelling, akin to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, from my prequel series Our Amazing Pioneers.

This “historical cinematic universe” that I have created can help to make history appealing, relatable, and convey challenging messages.

Other Interesting Nuggets

One interesting nugget is that the AFCC also has a long-standing partnership with the Puttnam School of Film & Animation (LASALLE College of the Arts) for a content adaptation challenge. I am not revealing any spoilers here, but AFCC is collaborating with them on something exciting. And as one of the featured authors, I am definitely looking forward to seeing the eventual outcome at the festival grounds!

Another featured author at the AFCC 2025 is the award-winning author, Lianne Ong! In all my interactions with her, she has been most kind and encouraging (once, she even gave me guidance on how to write children’s books and told me about the importance of social media).

On 25 May at 9.30am, Lianne and Kenneth Heng will be speaking about the first Singaporean picture book on homelessness, The Uncle Downstairs, in their presentation titled, “Children Need to Know: Writing About Social Concerns, including Homelessness, for Today’s Children“, according to AFCC’s website.

Another interesting titbit is that there might be many South Korean attendees this year. After all, as this year marks 50 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and South Korea, the AFCC 2025 features South Korea as the Country of Focus!

For Kind Support

To support a Singaporean writer’s children’s book series, Our Amazing Heroes or Our Amazing Pioneers, please visit:

Our Amazing Heroes (full set)

Our Amazing Pioneers (set of five)

However, and I really do sincerely apologise, the AFCC is a ticketed event (unfortunately, it is not a free public event). Discounts are available for students and seniors.

To get tickets to AFCC 2025, please visit: https://afcc.com.sg/2025/page/tickets

Thank you for reading. And I look forward to seeing you there!

Cheers,
Shawn Seah

Some of My Favourite Books

As a writer, I love writing, but I love reading too.

In this short and simple post, I share some of my favourite books.

This is a non-exhaustive list of recommended books, of course.

(This list also does not include my amazing children’s books from Our Amazing Heroes and Our Amazing Pioneers, or my books for general readers like My Father’s Kampung: A History of Aukang and Punggol and my family history books.)

Some of these books are the kind of books you read and reread, finding new insights or ideas each time.

Others are childhood favourites, the sort that first sparked my love for reading and telling stories.

A few are books I stumbled upon by chance, only to realise later how much they resonated with me.

This is just a list of books I’ve enjoyed, books that have mattered to me in one way or another. And there is no right or wrong answer.

If you find something new to read from this list, great. If you have already read them, we have that in common.

Graphic Novels

• Triumph of Two Face, by Doug Moench and Tom Mandrake
• The Empire Strikes Back, adapted by Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson

Books on Reading or Writing

• Confessions of an Advertising Man, by David Ogilvy
• How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading, by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles van Doren
• The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century, by Steven Pinker

History Books

• The Spartacus War, by Barry Strauss
• The Education of Cyrus, by Xenophon
• The Penguin History of Economics, by Roger Backhouse
• The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, by William Shirer

Singapore History Books

• Diplomacy: A Singapore Experience, by S Jayakumar
• Defending the Lion City: The Armed Forces of Singapore, by Tim Huxley
• One Hundred Years of the Chinese in Singapore, by Sir Song Ong Siang

Self-Help and Other Books I Enjoy

• The Psychology of Money, by Morgan Housel
• Same As Ever, also by Morgan Housel
• How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie
• Talent Is Overrated, by Geoffrey Colvin
• Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, by Amy Chua
• What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, by Marshall Goldsmith

Looking back at this list, I will admit that this looks like a rather eclectic and random list of books.

However, I personally like these books and enjoyed them, and these were at the top of my mind. Over the years, there were many other books, from a wide range of genres, that I enjoyed reading too.

How about you? What are the books that have brought you joy, shown you new insights, or made you think?

Thank you for reading.

Cheers,
Shawn

Delivering Engaging Lectures: Personal Reflections from My Experiences as a University Guest Lecturer

I share my thoughts on how to deliver an engaging lecture, drawing from my experiences in delivering guest lectures at university (and, to a smaller extent, my past experiences in delivering junior college lectures).

Some of these reflections are immediately applicable while others depend on the situation or take more time. Regardless, I hope these reflections will be as useful to you as they have been to me.

First, you have to do your homework.

The secret to success is in the pre-lecture preparation.

I spend time preparing for my lectures, developing or refining decks of slides with clear content, visuals, diagrams, and, sometimes, even videos.

Think about the level and background of your audience.

Tweak your content to be accessible and relevant to them.

Even if I am familiar with the material, I still think about what I want to say and rehearse up to seven times.

I will recite my lines, paying attention to where words roll off the tongue smoothly.

I will sharpen or simplify sentences. I’ve found that, unsurprisingly, shorter, sharper sentences work best.

If inspiration strikes, a catchy soundbite or elegant turn of phrase will emerge, and I write it down and recite it a few times.

If I need to re-familiarise myself with the content, I will read up. (Yes, I even read books that I have written before.)

Even if I have used my deck of slides many times before, I will still review the slides. Sometimes, I spot glaring typos in my slides.

At other times, I see phrases that make me cringe.

And at other times, I see facts, arguments, or reflections that have evolved since my last lecture. I will take the opportunity to make sure my materials are as up-to-date as I possibly can.

Reviewing, reciting, and rehearsing your lecture materials will help ensure that you are able to give your best to the audience.

Second, on the actual day, warm the crowd up before you begin.

In the case of a guest lecture, you do not personally know many of the people in the crowd.

In contrast, when you are giving lectures at junior college or you are the regular lecturer for a course, you typically already know your tutorial classes or form classes.

This can make a huge difference.

It’s because you are speaking essentially to people you know personally if you have spent prolonged periods of time with the same students.

And what tends to happen after a semester, or a year, or two, is that even for the rest of the students who are not in your tutorial classes or form classes, they would recognise you and you would gradually recognise them.

It is easier to build rapport with people you recognise than people you don’t.

So, when giving guest lectures, you might have to speed up this process and start speaking with a few people in the room before the talk starts.

At the very least, speak with the professor who invited you and his or her teaching assistant. Understand them and what they are interested in.

Speaking with people before the talk starts will help them get to know you as a person; you can better understand some of the things they came here to learn about; and you can have a few friendly faces to look at during your lecture.

Maintain eye contact with your audience to show them that you are engaging with them.

Third, have multiple hooks.

People are interested in different things.

This is perfectly natural.

When delivering a lecture, you have to hold the attention of your audience and if you are only appealing to one segment or group, you might bore others.

So, the idea of multiple hooks is essentially to speak about things that relate to different people and in a way that would interest them.

A hook is essentially how you grab hold of your audience’s attention and make it engaging and relevant to them.

Taking history as a starting point, some history lecturers you might have come across can inspire sleepiness.

Yet others, teaching the exact same material, can inspire miraculous feats of scholarship, often beginning with an intriguing question, a surprising fact or figure, or a compelling anecdote.

Many years ago, I attended a lecture given by a talented teacher. Let’s call him Mr H.

I was struck by how Mr H always seemed to be linking the past and present together, drawing links between historical events and life today. He would ask thought-provoking questions for more cerebral students to mull over and then immediately jump to talking about more day-to-day things like movies, newspapers, and computer games. He would show dramatic pictures on one slide and raise detailed discussion points on the next.

He was essentially drawing on the principle that you have to vary your approaches to maintain people’s interest. He related knowledge to different things that different people were keen on.

This is related to my next point.

Fourth, involve your audience.

Most lectures tend to be a one-way street. The sage on the stage delivers the wisdom; everyone else listens respectfully.

But what if lectures were interactive?

After all, some learners learn by participating actively.

I use many questions when delivering my lectures. Other than increasing engagement and participation, it actually helps learning because students are now thinking of the answers.

You can also quiz the audience, by using live polls or quick quizzes to gauge their understanding.

You can also ask people to raise their hands: “With a show of hands, how many of you…” Their raised hands will give you a sense of how many think, believe, or feel a certain way. If you want them to discuss some questions, you can even use “think-pair-share” to deepen engagement.

I used to love this one very much.

Basically, the core concept is to give them a question, problem, or debate topic to think about individually; then they can exchange ideas with their neighbour sitting next to them; and then they can volunteer to share with the entire class.

Fifth, speak conversationally.

There is such a thing as a “lecturer tone”.

You might have heard it before. You know what I am talking about.

There are many different tones from many different personas, like “a pastor tone”, “a Roman Catholic priest tone”, and definitely a “lecturer or teacher-y tone”.

One of my biggest secrets in delivering engaging lectures is that I simply don’t use a lecturer’s tone.

Instead, I just speak like my normal self: conversationally.

I also use clear and simple words, phrases, and sentences — those I would actually say on a day-to-day basis.

Part of the fear some people have is that if they use simple words, people would think they are simple.

But the surprising fact is that even very high-level people use simple words for communication.

Now, speaking conversationally doesn’t mean that you let all your bad habits out, like dropping “F” bombs all over the place or being plain mean, nasty, or rude.

In particular, I believe you do have to mind your Ps and Qs and remember to be sensitive and sensible.

Speaking conversationally is more like speaking nicely to your grandma, a fairly intelligent layperson whom you like.

For example, you wouldn’t say, “Ah Ma, to analyse the cake popularity situation (or lack thereof), we have conducted a multi-variate regression analysis, assuming the heteroskedasticity of the error terms, to find out the correlation between various factors…”

No, you would simply say, “There are many reasons why people might not like your cake, Ah Ma.”

(And if you are Asian like I am, you will probably hasten to add politely and respectfully, “But I love your cake, Ah Ma.”)

Apply that same principle to lecturing.

If you understand something deeply, there has to be a way to put it across more simply, accessibly, and conversationally, without big, fancy, and confusing words.

And your listeners will thank you for doing so.

Sixth, notwithstanding, you must still be a “sage on the stage”.

Direct instruction remains important in delivering lectures.

At the end of the day, a strong delivery is still needed: basically, being able to stand confidently in front of a large room, command the audience, and directly deliver a strong message.

A strong delivery is active. The speaker must look at the audience and, while delivering the message, sense changes in mood and feeling.

When I was a teacher many years ago, this concept was known to me as “withitness”.

Withitness is the capacity to perceive the learning needs of students, notice their subtle behaviour, understand their nonverbal and verbal cues, and respond quickly to unexpected situations.

You know how some teachers have eyes at the back of their heads?

That’s withitness.

When the audience is starting to lose interest, the speaker must pick up the pace, or change volume, or even pause dramatically.

When the audience starts to lean forward and attention has been granted, the speaker must not lose the interest, but build on it and continue delivering point after point right home.

The speaker must deliver the firepower to the demands of the moment, adjusting slightly, refining the actual approach along the way.

Because I believe in a growth mindset, I believe delivery can be strengthened through training and practice over time.

You can also learn about lecture delivery from observation.

If you observe good speakers, what do you see or hear? How did they deliver the message such that you were mesmerised?

Over time, you can grow into a sage on the stage.

In summary

Prepare your slides, script, and content, and rehearse well, in advance of your lecture.

Warm up the crowd early on the day itself, build rapport, and be approachable.

Prepare multiple points of interest to hook the audience, grabbing their attention and making them think.

Think through several good, open questions that you would ask. Ask the audience to participate at relevant junctures.

Practise speaking conversationally in clear, concrete, and simple terms that people can understand.

Confidently and actively deliver your lecture, commanding the room, and paying attention to what is happening and adjusting slightly along the way.

Of all these reflections, if I had to choose the most important point, I would return to what I shared right at the start: I think preparation and practice are the most important.

If you prepare, rehearse, and review how you deliver your lecture, to the best of your ability, the audience will likely see, hear, and feel the strength of your message.

And over time, with more practice and experience, you will find that like me you enjoy giving engaging lectures as much as other people enjoy listening to what you have to share.

Thank you for reading.

Cheers,
Shawn Seah

(The original story was first posted on my Medium blog. It was, rather surprisingly, one of the most viewed, most read, and highest earning articles. This story was updated on 1 September 2024.)