David Seow's Blog, page 24
July 4, 2015
June 29, 2015
June 21, 2015
June 19, 2015
AFCC Celebratory Dinner
The next day, I had the honour and pleasure of attending the a final dinner hosted by Chairman Ms Claire Chiang and her husband Mr Ho Kwon Ping at their home. I caught the bus with Vasantha, Kenneth, Auntie Susanna, Alycia and the entire China Delegation.
Juat. Leo, Dave Liew, Evelyn. Emily and Mr Rama where already there when we arrived and we settled in for an evening of delicious food, good conversation and great company. Thank you to our gracious hosts. It was a lovely way to end a wonderful festival.
Juat. Leo, Dave Liew, Evelyn. Emily and Mr Rama where already there when we arrived and we settled in for an evening of delicious food, good conversation and great company. Thank you to our gracious hosts. It was a lovely way to end a wonderful festival.
KiddiWinkie School Visits
So after the excitement of AFCC, Denise and Kelvin arranged for me to make visits to KiddiWinkie at Thompson and Novena. I had actually planned to visit earlier this year, but I was felled by a bad bout of the flu so these visits were make-up visits.
The kids were great as always. Thanks for having me kids.
The kids were great as always. Thanks for having me kids.
KiddiWinkie School Visits
So after the excitement of AFCC, Denise and Kelvin arranged for me to make visits to KiddiWinkie at Thompson and Novena. I had actually planned to visit earlier this year, but I was felled by a bad bout of the flu so these visits were make-up visits.
The kids were great as always. Thanks for having me kids.
The kids were great as always. Thanks for having me kids.
AFCC Day Seven (LAST DAY)
So I set my alarm and just in case I snoozed past that I got my mum to give me a wake up call. I was more nervous about moderating Wendy Binks' session than Ying's because I was not feeling 100% and I could hear my voice fading in and fading out, so how on earth was I going to moderate.
Wendy's session was great, what can I say, the lady's a genius. I bought her book and I got her stuffed emu too. Hey, don't judge me, I collect toys!
After her session I went down for a snack and met up Shirin Yim Bridges. As you can see, I managed to pin her down to discuss our future publishing deals. This photograph is evidence of a *binding photographic contract of our deal* Thanks, Shrin. Looking forward to working with you.
After 'signing' my deal with Shirin. Sarah and Sally Murphy wanted to get into the picture decided to pose 'red-carpet' style in front of the AFCC backdrop. I was tempted to ask them who they were wearing but figured I would have to google the designers online to find out who they were, so I ultimately decided not to.
After that I ran into Simon who was prepping for their speed pitch sessions. Sarah and Linda were pitching too and I tried my darnedest to make them nervous but they know me too well and it didn't work.
Simon was so prepared that it was not even funny. Sarah, well, let's just say Sarah had her books and her natural charm. OK, Sarah was prepared as well. I managed to sneakily snap two shots as they were pitching. I don't know why they call it a speed pitch when it's really not that speedy. Here they are both pitching to Alison Norrington.
After their pitch session, I hung out for a bit at Closetful of Books before grabbing a drink at the Library with Wendy and then heading home to change for the last event of the Festival, China Night at the SMU Administration Building.
Felicia, Ken, Evelyn and Myra
Emcees for the evening: Amy Cheng and Caleb Tsai
The Teng Ensemble
I hadn't heard of the Teng Ensemble before and I was pleasantly surprised by the pieces they performed. They even arranged a piece especially for AFCC. Now I can't wait to get it on CD. Then it was time for our Chairman, Ms Claire Chiang to deliver her closing speech. I get a tad sentimental at the end of every the AFCC, because I think of all the hard work everyone's put in to make it a success and it's always a bit sad when it comes to an end.
The Chairman
The Deputy Director, Children and Juvenile Division
Hunan Publishing.
Then it was time for the rep from Hunan Publishing House to deliver the final speech of the evening on behalf of the country of focus, China!
With the speeches delivered, the evening was far from over, there was a special performance of R Chandran's 'The Snail who didn't Want his Shell' by the children of ACT3 International.
The Snail Who Didn't Want his Shell by Act 2 Int'l.
The kids were adorable and I think we should get them to perform every year. After they took their bow, Tsai and Amy invited the Chairman and the authors from both China and Singapore on stage to unveil Lion's Heart, Painted Thoughts, a collaboration between writers from both China and Singapore.
The second book that was unveiled that night was the Chinese translated version of Water by Chris Cheng and illustrated by Susanna Goho. Let me just say that Water's flowing around the world because it was translated into Hindi last year! It's a great book and I can't wait to see it translated into Japanese next year! (Japan is next year's country of focus).
Chris. who is half-Chinese, spoke briefly about the journey Water has taken him on and he paid tribute to his Dad.
The Chairman and Ms Sim Ann presented the representatives from the host country with a specially commissioned piece of art by Susanna Goho-Quek.
That wasn't the only piece that Susanna was commissioned to paint. She also created a special piece as a token of appreciation for Ms Sim Ann.
With that, AFCC had officially come to a close and it was time to let loose, mix, mingle and munch from the buffet. Congratulations to the entire NBDCS team for pulling off yet another fantastic AFCC. I'm looking forward to next year's festival.
Evelyn, Chris. Auntie Susanna
Fred, Malavika and Adan
The NBDCS Team
Wendy's session was great, what can I say, the lady's a genius. I bought her book and I got her stuffed emu too. Hey, don't judge me, I collect toys!
After her session I went down for a snack and met up Shirin Yim Bridges. As you can see, I managed to pin her down to discuss our future publishing deals. This photograph is evidence of a *binding photographic contract of our deal* Thanks, Shrin. Looking forward to working with you.
After 'signing' my deal with Shirin. Sarah and Sally Murphy wanted to get into the picture decided to pose 'red-carpet' style in front of the AFCC backdrop. I was tempted to ask them who they were wearing but figured I would have to google the designers online to find out who they were, so I ultimately decided not to.
After that I ran into Simon who was prepping for their speed pitch sessions. Sarah and Linda were pitching too and I tried my darnedest to make them nervous but they know me too well and it didn't work.
Simon was so prepared that it was not even funny. Sarah, well, let's just say Sarah had her books and her natural charm. OK, Sarah was prepared as well. I managed to sneakily snap two shots as they were pitching. I don't know why they call it a speed pitch when it's really not that speedy. Here they are both pitching to Alison Norrington.
After their pitch session, I hung out for a bit at Closetful of Books before grabbing a drink at the Library with Wendy and then heading home to change for the last event of the Festival, China Night at the SMU Administration Building.
Felicia, Ken, Evelyn and Myra
Emcees for the evening: Amy Cheng and Caleb Tsai
The Teng EnsembleI hadn't heard of the Teng Ensemble before and I was pleasantly surprised by the pieces they performed. They even arranged a piece especially for AFCC. Now I can't wait to get it on CD. Then it was time for our Chairman, Ms Claire Chiang to deliver her closing speech. I get a tad sentimental at the end of every the AFCC, because I think of all the hard work everyone's put in to make it a success and it's always a bit sad when it comes to an end.
The Chairman
The Deputy Director, Children and Juvenile DivisionHunan Publishing.
Then it was time for the rep from Hunan Publishing House to deliver the final speech of the evening on behalf of the country of focus, China!
With the speeches delivered, the evening was far from over, there was a special performance of R Chandran's 'The Snail who didn't Want his Shell' by the children of ACT3 International.
The Snail Who Didn't Want his Shell by Act 2 Int'l.The kids were adorable and I think we should get them to perform every year. After they took their bow, Tsai and Amy invited the Chairman and the authors from both China and Singapore on stage to unveil Lion's Heart, Painted Thoughts, a collaboration between writers from both China and Singapore.
The second book that was unveiled that night was the Chinese translated version of Water by Chris Cheng and illustrated by Susanna Goho. Let me just say that Water's flowing around the world because it was translated into Hindi last year! It's a great book and I can't wait to see it translated into Japanese next year! (Japan is next year's country of focus).
Chris. who is half-Chinese, spoke briefly about the journey Water has taken him on and he paid tribute to his Dad.
The Chairman and Ms Sim Ann presented the representatives from the host country with a specially commissioned piece of art by Susanna Goho-Quek.
That wasn't the only piece that Susanna was commissioned to paint. She also created a special piece as a token of appreciation for Ms Sim Ann.
With that, AFCC had officially come to a close and it was time to let loose, mix, mingle and munch from the buffet. Congratulations to the entire NBDCS team for pulling off yet another fantastic AFCC. I'm looking forward to next year's festival.
Evelyn, Chris. Auntie Susanna
Fred, Malavika and Adan
The NBDCS TeamJune 18, 2015
AFCC Day Six
I arrived late on day six because I had to take care of a few things to take care of before heading out. I was sorely disappointed that I missed Candy Gourlay's keynote talk. I did, however, make it on time for The Nuts and Bolts of Self Publishing: The Good, the Bad and the Fabulous, a panel discussion by Sarah Mounsey, Emma Nicholson, and Hidayah Amin. Award-winning author, Emily Lim, moderated the session.
The multiple award-winning, Emily Lim, moderates the panel.All three ladies have self published their books to great acclaim. Emma's already been signed to an agent, Sarah won the Bronze medal in the MoonBeam Awards and and Hidayah scored a double whammy when she won this year's Hedwig Anuar Children's Book Award and the Grand Prize for the Samsung Kidstime Awards. Congratulations to all three ladies who shared their invaluable insights into the adventurous and sometime treacherous world of self-publishing.
The Bronze Medal Moonbeam Award winner, gets ready for her talk.
Sarah addresses the audience.
Two-time winner, Hidayah Amin, takes to the podium
Author of the popular Princess Petunia's Dragon, Emma, takes her turn.
Later in that afternoon, I attended the most anticipated event for aspiring authors, The First Pages Critique with Sarah Odedina, Shirin Yim Bridges, Ying Chang Compestine and Edmund Wee and moderated by Kathleen Ahrens, who always does a brilliant job of reading the manuscripts. First Pages is always a nerve wracking experience for any author. During the session, the first 100 words of the author's manuscript are read aloud and then critiqued by the panel.
The Panel: Edmund Wee, Sarah Odedina,Ying Chang Compestine & Shirin Yim Bridges
To the uninitiated writer, it may feel like you've been sentenced to death by literary firing squad. The wait to hear your manuscript being critiqued is unbearably indescribable and when they finally do get to yours, beads of perspiration embroider your brow, your heart practically hurtles right through your rib cage and you can almost feel the unmistakable trickle of pee running down your leg. Relax, it's all part and parcel of the course. You're not a real writer until you've peed on yourself.
Ying Chang Compestine and Shirin Yim BridgesMost of the time it's not as bad as you think it will be. But sometimes it can seem like an editorial blood bath! Am I joking? I'll leave that for you to decide. But it's an experience that every writer should go through. It's good for you.
Authors: Sarah, Simon, Helle and Linda anxiously await literary execution or salvation.
The surviving members of the critique session made their way down to the festival bookstore, Closetful of Books, for a spot of shopping before taking a group photo with the SCBWI members.
I managed to grab a few minutes with friend and best-selling genius of an author, Candy Gourlay, whom I missed at last year's London Book Fair. Candy was off to London a few hours later, so our meet-up was all too brief, but we did manage to take a photo. Candy says I never smile, but I beg to differ - see the photo below.
Candy says I never smile! See I do!Singapore's best-selling award winning author, Emily Lim took time to catch up with her American counterpart, Ying Chang Compestine before the group left for Boat Quay for the SCBWI AFCC Family dinner organised by Catherine Carvell. After a full day of sessions most of us wanted to unwind, relax and fill our tummies. I, on the other hand, opted to go for the literature lecture, which was conducted in Chinese with live English translation.
Emily and Ying
Stanley, the nickname I've given my stomach, began to growl and so I skipped out on the Q & A session and shared a cab to the SCBWI Dinner with Best-Selling author Chris Cheng.
And we all spent the night, eating, drinking, catching up with old friends and making new ones. All in all, it was another pretty awesome SCBWI/AFCC dinner.
Emily and Helle
Catherine and Kathleen
L to R: Chris, Avery, Kathleen and Catherine.
Simon and Dave Liew
Linda, Helle and Simon
Adan and Felicia
The multiple award-winning, Emily Lim, moderates the panel.All three ladies have self published their books to great acclaim. Emma's already been signed to an agent, Sarah won the Bronze medal in the MoonBeam Awards and and Hidayah scored a double whammy when she won this year's Hedwig Anuar Children's Book Award and the Grand Prize for the Samsung Kidstime Awards. Congratulations to all three ladies who shared their invaluable insights into the adventurous and sometime treacherous world of self-publishing.
The Bronze Medal Moonbeam Award winner, gets ready for her talk.
Sarah addresses the audience.
Two-time winner, Hidayah Amin, takes to the podium
Author of the popular Princess Petunia's Dragon, Emma, takes her turn.Later in that afternoon, I attended the most anticipated event for aspiring authors, The First Pages Critique with Sarah Odedina, Shirin Yim Bridges, Ying Chang Compestine and Edmund Wee and moderated by Kathleen Ahrens, who always does a brilliant job of reading the manuscripts. First Pages is always a nerve wracking experience for any author. During the session, the first 100 words of the author's manuscript are read aloud and then critiqued by the panel.
The Panel: Edmund Wee, Sarah Odedina,Ying Chang Compestine & Shirin Yim BridgesTo the uninitiated writer, it may feel like you've been sentenced to death by literary firing squad. The wait to hear your manuscript being critiqued is unbearably indescribable and when they finally do get to yours, beads of perspiration embroider your brow, your heart practically hurtles right through your rib cage and you can almost feel the unmistakable trickle of pee running down your leg. Relax, it's all part and parcel of the course. You're not a real writer until you've peed on yourself.
Ying Chang Compestine and Shirin Yim BridgesMost of the time it's not as bad as you think it will be. But sometimes it can seem like an editorial blood bath! Am I joking? I'll leave that for you to decide. But it's an experience that every writer should go through. It's good for you.
Authors: Sarah, Simon, Helle and Linda anxiously await literary execution or salvation.The surviving members of the critique session made their way down to the festival bookstore, Closetful of Books, for a spot of shopping before taking a group photo with the SCBWI members.
I managed to grab a few minutes with friend and best-selling genius of an author, Candy Gourlay, whom I missed at last year's London Book Fair. Candy was off to London a few hours later, so our meet-up was all too brief, but we did manage to take a photo. Candy says I never smile, but I beg to differ - see the photo below.
Candy says I never smile! See I do!Singapore's best-selling award winning author, Emily Lim took time to catch up with her American counterpart, Ying Chang Compestine before the group left for Boat Quay for the SCBWI AFCC Family dinner organised by Catherine Carvell. After a full day of sessions most of us wanted to unwind, relax and fill our tummies. I, on the other hand, opted to go for the literature lecture, which was conducted in Chinese with live English translation.
Emily and YingStanley, the nickname I've given my stomach, began to growl and so I skipped out on the Q & A session and shared a cab to the SCBWI Dinner with Best-Selling author Chris Cheng.
And we all spent the night, eating, drinking, catching up with old friends and making new ones. All in all, it was another pretty awesome SCBWI/AFCC dinner.
Emily and Helle
Catherine and Kathleen
L to R: Chris, Avery, Kathleen and Catherine.
Simon and Dave Liew
Linda, Helle and Simon
Adan and FeliciaJune 16, 2015
AFCC Day Five
SCHOOL VISITS: The Singapore & International Experience with Sarah Mounsey
Celebrating Our Stars
Celebrating Our Stars
