David Seow's Blog, page 3
September 30, 2020
The Day I Met Jennifer Aniston
I love Jennifer Aniston. She's my favorite actress. So please bear with me as I tell you all about the day that I 'met' her. The bookstore was rather empty, not surprising as it had just opened. Store staff exchanged obligatory pleasantries with one another, asking about dinner and movie dates the night before as they wearily began their long hours on their shift. It always amazes me how American sales staff have perfected the service industry, always exhibiting an exuberant willingness to help and attend to every need of the customer, even the most belligerent and antagonistic ones.
Back home in Singapore, the easiest way to get out of helping customers is to say 'I don’t know' which seems to be the refrain of a lot of sales staff in the smaller stores and some of the bigger ones too. I wove my way through the many aisles of books—hobbies, and craft, biography, history, politics, self-help—to the children’s section and there, displayed along the side of classics like Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are and Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo, was my book, Blow a Kiss.
I stood savoring the moment before someone breezed past me and picked up the only copy left. I watched the lady, her sandy blonde hair partially obscuring her face, swaying with the smallest movement of her head. She tucked a stray follicle over her ear as she flipped the pages with her other hand, smiling satisfied with what she had read. She closed the book, wrapped her arms and around it, clutching it to her chest, and walked off in the direction of the cashier.
I had caught the briefest of glimpses of her face, her aquiline jaw, her soft bioluminescent skin…it was, could I believe it, Jennifer Aniston! My gut leaped up to my throat, yes, my gut. My head was spinning, this was Jennifer Aniston, The Jennifer Aniston from Friends.Jennifer Aniston who starred in the loveable clunkers 'Leprechaun' and 'Ferris Bueller' the series. Move, my brain finally told me and I practically ran to the cashier, no I sprinted, and by the time I got there, I was winded. I was standing so close I could smell her intoxicating perfume…I found my voice, which goes up a couple of octaves whenever I’m nervous. ”Er hmm, Miss Aniston," I stammered, the head of blonde hair turned around and I could see her eyes for the first time and she looked at me for a second. “Hello, yes?” “I’m your biggest fan I blurted. “I’m writer, ok a struggling one, but a writer nevertheless and a not very successful one.” My brain and mouth had never been so out of synch as it was now. “I love you,” I blurted. “Oh, that’s so sweet," she smiled, flashing her teeth, which are by no means capped or dentally enhanced.
She was born with those gems; dental science could not have created a more beautiful set of bicuspids, incisors, and canines. “Nice to meet you,” she said, shaking my hand with a firm yet gentle grip. My shake, on the other hand, was limp with the consistency of jello. “Well, have a nice day,” she said, turning back to face the cashier. She must have been thinking, Psycho. How do I get away from him?
I gulped. “Ms Aniston, I…I…just wanted to say I wrote that book.” She turned and faced me, and said, “You wrote this book? Really? I love it.” Ok, now at this point I was apoplectic. Jennifer Aniston had mentioned the words ‘Love’ and ‘you’ in one sentence and she was speaking to me! Did that mean she loved me? Everything was a blur. Her mouth was moving, her eyes were looking straight at me, direct eye contact. The rest of the world faded to a dull grey.
“Jen, are you ready now?” a man asked, joining her in the line, looking at his expensive timepiece and telling her that they were going to be late. What was he doing here I wondered? They broke up. He broke my Jen’s heart! “Oh, I was just talking to David. He’s the author of the book."
David, she said my name ‘David.’ “Hey’ what’s up man, I’m Brad” he said lifting his arm up and giving me one of those bro handshakes that I’ve never really understood. “Hi, BAD,” I muttered.
“So, you’re a writer,” said Brad, wedging himself between Jen and me. I tried to look past his full head of hair and his buff bod which had earned him the label of 'Sexiest Man Alive' twice. His pathetic attempts to engage me in small talk only elicited an ‘uh-huh’and ‘ah hum’ from me.
“Oh, wait, David, I’ve got to get you to sign this,” said Jen as she fished around her purse for a pen.
“Got it,” said Brad, whipping a sharpie from his pocket; then handing the book from Jen to me. “Make it out to Jen and Brad,” he said, cocking his head cockily, Then looking on as I signed, he said: "You forgot the ‘R’ in Brad." I quickly scrawled the ‘R’ and handed the book back.
“Thank you so much, David.” Jen smiled. He spun around and asked: “Done?”
Jennifer paid for the book and the man slapped me a high five and said ‘later’ as he walked off with his arm around her… "Nice meeting you,David." She called as they headed out the door. I stood there. The cashier said. "Market" Huh? I wondered, Market? Market? Market? What are you talking about? ' Market,' said Mom, who was suddenly standing above me. I was in bed. "It's late I want to go before all the fresh stuff is gone." I was still in bed.
This had all been a dream. And now I had to go to the market! One of my least favourite things to do.
August 31, 2020
July 31, 2020
Raffles Readers: A Century of Adventures
Ten years ago, I had an idea of doing a series of children's books about the famous Raffles Hotel that spanned a century. As most writers know, writing is a very solitary process and I wanted to get a group of writers together to develop this concept with me, but I did not know if I could find any writers who could come on board the project.
Around four years later, I had the opportunity to meet aspiring authors when I was a member of the Singapore chapter of the Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) which, at the time, was headed by the lovely, talented and very funny Catherine Carvell, so I knew most of the members were aspiring authors who were keen to have their work published.
So I broached the the subject with Emma Nicholson and Linda Fitzpatrick, during a meeting at, where else, Raffles Hotel and we agreed we should proceed. Simon Wray and Claire Thamboo came onboard shortly after that.
Emma Nicholson (The Spy in Room 25)Emma and I had just signed with an agent who thought the idea was brilliant. She then pitched the proposal to a potential 'backer' and before we knew it we were in a boardroom, meeting with high-powered executives, discussing the various possibilities of marketing the book both locally and internationally. We hadn't even started writing the stories yet! A verbal agreement was reached by the end of that meeting that we would commence work on the books and things would progress from there. 'That was fast and easy,' I said to myself. In hindsight, it really was too fast and easy. And way, way too good to be true.
Linda Fitzpatrick (Monster Mayhem)We set each of our stories in a different time period, spanning the 1920s to the 2000s and completed them by the set deadline. But then, for the following 18 months, we were repeatedly stonewalled. Our agent repeatedly assured us the project was on track. So when it feel apart, we were understandably disappointed, frustrated and very, very angry. 
Simon Wray (The Mystery of the Missing Silver)We parted with our agent, put the stories aside, and focused on other projects. Then last year, after some encouragement from a friend, I decided to submit the manuscripts to Penguin Random House SEA for consideration. I didn't expect anything to come of it. But after a few months, I received a reply offering us a publishing contract. There was one caveat. The stories would be published but as an anthology instead of a series of books.
Claire Thamboo (Ghost Bride)We were thrilled! After six long years, we were finally going to be published. I asked the talented Mark Yong to come on board as our illustrator and now our book is scheduled to be released next month. Thank you, God, leading us on this roller-coaster of a journey which finally led us to Penguin, the best publisher for the project. We hope you like our book and its tales of 'monsters' missing silver, spies, 'ghosts' and Stamford Raffles.
Mark Yong the illustrator
Kobe & Me (Stamford Raffles: Zombie Zapper)July 18, 2020
A Reading from Raffles Readers
A Reading from Raffles Readers
July 8, 2020
July 6, 2020
June 30, 2020
April 4, 2020
Duffy the Donkey: A Palm Sunday Story.
Duffy the Donkey
written with His Grace
A long time ago, there lived a famous donkey farmer, who bred the biggest, strongest and finest donkeys anyone had ever seen. People would travel for miles around just to buy one of his magnificent animals, but no one ever wanted to buy Duffy.
Duffy was the scruffiest donkey on his farm. He had a shaggy coat, an unruly mane and a tangled tail. He was also crossed-eyed and bow-legged. So this meant that Duffy was terribly clumsy and terribly clumsy donkeys were not very useful at all.
"Why can't I be like the other donkeys?” asked Duffy as tears streamed down his furry cheeks. "Now, now,” said his mother as she gently nuzzled him."Why do you want to be like those others?They are all the same but you are extra special. You're going to do something wonderful some day. You'll see."
But Duffy didn't think he was special or that he would ever do anything wonderful. So that night, when everyone was asleep, he decided to run away. Being crossed eyed and bow legged, he kept bumping into and breaking things before he managed to leave the farm.
After walking for on a long dark scary road, he met a big strapping donkey named Darwin.“You're the sorriest donkey I've ever met. Please don't walk too close too me. I don't want to be seen with something like you,” Darwin said. He was about to trot off when suddenly a pack of hungry wolves surrounded them.
"Eat him," said Darwin, prodding Duffy with his hoof. "He's far tastier than I am. Just look at how soft he is." He said, poking Duffy's stomach. "He's nice, soft and so delicious....”
The wolves looked at Darwin and then Duffy and they all rolled on the ground with laughter. "He won't do at all," they said. "If we eat him, he'll give us a stomach ache."
“But…but…” Darwin protested, but it was no use. Before he could utter another word, the wolves pounced on Darwin, gobbling him up within minutes.
Duffy hobbled away as fast as he could. And when he could walk no farther, he stopped at a large meadow and fell fast asleep. He awoke to find a fat man grabbing him by the neck and saying, "I've got you!" Duffy brayed in panic as the man lifted him up.
"Oh Sush your noise. I'm Mumfar, the great animal trader and I've special plans for you. I'm going to present you to the king as a birthday gift." Mumfar stuffed him in a cage, and then brought him to the palace as the king's birthday present.
Maybe I am going to do something wonderful at the palace, Duffy he thought. At the palace, hundreds of people were lining up to present the king with magnificent birthday gifts. He didn't seem to like any of them. Finally, it was time for Mumfar to present Duffy to the king.
"Your Majesty, I have something you really want.” The King's face lit up with excitement and he clapped his hands with glee. "Give me. Give me!"
"Voila," said Mumfar, presenting Duffy to the king.
The king blinked once and twice, just to make sure that he wasn't seeing things. Then he leapt up on his throne and screamed. "I wanted a monkey, not a rat. Take this man to away" bellowed the king.
His guards dragged Mumfar kicking and screaming all the way to
dungeons. As for poor Duffy, he was thrown out
of the palace with the day's garbage.
Since no one wanted him, Duffy sadly hobbled all the way back to the farm. When the farmer saw him, he was FURIOUS. He tied Duffy to a fence and left him there for many days and nights.One day two men untied Duffy from the fence.
The farmer said, "Excuse me, what are you doing?"
"The Lord needs him and he will send it back to you when he is done," the men replied.
So the farmer shrugged, and agreed to let the men take
him. Duffy wondered who wanted him. Why didn't he want the other donkeys? Who is this Lord?
The men brought Duffy to a man who had the kindest eyes he had ever seen. “I wonder why he asked for me?” Duffy said to himself. “You’re a very special donkey and that’s why I chose you,” said the man, as he petted Duffy on the head. Duffy immediately felt a warm glow spread all over him. Then 'Dwing' His eyes uncrossed; 'Boing' his legs unbuckled, and ‘Twing’ all the fleas dropped off his fur. It was the first time that Duffy could see straight and his legs felt stronger than they ever had.
The two men laid blankets on Duffy's back and the man with
the kind eyes and gentle smile sat on him. "Come, my little friend,
we ride to the city." Duffy began the journey feeling happier than he ever had– and for the first time in his young life he didn’t bump into as anything at all. People rushed around the man and Duffy, crying with great excitement.
Lots of people placed their cloaks on the road and spread branches that they had cut in the field. Everyone shouted "Hosanna, Hosanna", Hosanna in the Highest. Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!"
A King is sitting on my back, thought Duffy in amazement.
When they arrived at the temple, the man got off and petted him on the head. "Thank you. You’ve done well, my little friend."
Before Duffy could thank him, the man went into the temple. Later,
some people brought Duffy back to his farm, and everyone was
surprised to see how much Duffy had changed. "Duffy is that you?"
Everyone asked. "What happened?" So Duffy told them all about the kind man with the gentle eyes, and how they had ridden into the city with all the people cheering.
"See, I knew you were special and would so something wonderful," said his mother.
Now Duffy lived for many years after that. He never forgot the man with the kind eyes and gentle smile and told animals on the farm all about him. In time, Duffy became the wisest and most loved donkey around and he treated everyone with kindness, especially the donkeys that were crossed eyed, bow legged and clumsy.
Then one cold winter night when he was very old and very tired, Duffy snuggled up by a bale of hay for the night. Just, as he started to fall sleep, he felt a hand on his shoulder—it was the man with the kind eyes and the gentle smile. He was glowing like an angel. "Hello again, my little friend.”
Suddenly Duffy didn’t feel so old and tired. “It's time to come with me,” he said, cradling Duffy in his arms. "Where are we going?" Duffy asked. "Home,” smiled the man. “Home.”
The End
March 28, 2020
Raffles Readers: A Century of Adventures
Ten years ago, I had an idea of doing a series of children's books about the famous Raffles Hotel that spanned a century. As most writers know, writing is a very solitary process and I wanted to get a group of writers together to develop this concept with me, but I did not know if I could find any writers who could come on board the project.
Around four years later, I had the opportunity to meet aspiring authors when I was a member of the Singapore chapter of the Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) which, at the time, was headed by the lovely, talented and very funny Catherine Carvell, so I knew most of the members were aspiring authors who were keen to have their work published.
So I broached the the subject with Emma Nicholson and Linda Fitzpatrick, during a meeting at, where else, Raffles Hotel and we agreed we should proceed. Simon Wray and Claire Thamboo came onboard shortly after that.
Emma Nicholson (The Spy in Room 25)Emma and I had just signed with an agent who thought the idea was brilliant. She then pitched the proposal to a potential 'backer' and before we knew it we were in a boardroom, meeting with high-powered executives, discussing the various possibilities of marketing the book both locally and internationally. We hadn't even started writing the stories yet! A verbal agreement was reached by the end of that meeting that we would commence work on the books and things would progress from there. 'That was fast and easy,' I said to myself. In hindsight, it really was too fast and easy. And way, way too good to be true.
Linda Fitzpatrick (Monster Mayhem)We set each of our stories in a different time period, spanning the 1920's to the 2000's and completed them by the set deadline. But then, for the following 18 months, we were repeatedly stonewalled. Our agent repeatedly assured us the project was on track. So when it feel apart, we were understandably disappointed, frustrated and very, very angry.
Simon Wray (The Mystery of the Missing Silver)We parted with our agent, put the stories aside, and focused on other projects. Then last year, after some encouragement from a friend, I decided to submit the manuscripts to Penguin Random House SEA for consideration. I didn't expect anything to come of it. But after a few months, I received a reply offering us a publishing contract. There was one caveat. The stories would be published but as an anthology instead of a series of books.
Claire Thamboo (Ghost Bride)We were thrilled! After six long years, we were finally going to be published. I asked the talented Mark Yong to come on board as our illustrator and now our book is scheduled to be released next month. Thank you, God, leading us on this roller-coaster of a journey which finally led us to Penguin, the best publisher for the project. We hope you like our book and its tales of 'monsters' missing silver, spies, 'ghosts' and Stamford Raffles.
Mark Yong the illustrator
Me & Kobe (Stamford Raffles: Zombie Zapper)
