David Seow's Blog, page 33

Picture Book Review Master Class with Leonard Marcus and Marjorie Coughlan and Dinner with Andrea and Helen

So the festival was officially over but I had registered to attend the picture book review masterclass by Leonard Marcus and Marjorie Coughlan. I was so sleepy, extremely sleepy but I managed to drag myself out of bed in order to join Kenneth, Andrea and Naomi for breakfast as their hotel before the day-long workshop began.

I chose the picture book review masterclass because:


1.) It was being conducted by Leonard and Marjorie
2.) I'm a picture book author
3.) It would give me tips of what reviewers are looking for in a good picture book.

The class started at 10am promptly and I was late because there was a long line at the registration desk and I wanted to pay for the course before I actually attended it.




By the time I got to the room, everyone was introducing themselves. It's one part of any course that I feel least comfortable with and I just said, "Hi I'm David. I write books. I blog. That's it." 



I feel uncomfortable and awkward in a roomful of adults, especially when the attention is on me. I'm a writer. A loner. I feel most comfortable in front audiences who still require afternoon naps or diaper changes. In other words, the very young or the very old.

Anyway, shortly after my short, concise introduction, I got a text message and I wondered who could possibly be texting me so early in the morning. Could it be an editor or publisher who I had deluded into thinking I was the next big author with multi-million dollar sales potential? Could it be a transmedia exec offering me worldwide distribution for my stories? Perhaps it was MENSA calling to apologise for not recognizing my literary genius, or my plain genius, and asking if I would like to sign up as a member?  No to all of the above. So who was it from? Well, it was from Kenneth, giving me his critique of my introduction! And let's just say  I've had better reviews.




With that done, the class got underway a reading of Sendak's 'Where the Wild Things Are'. I was surprised that some people had never even read it. Though some did watch the highly questionable movie adaptation of it.



We discussed wordless picture books and translated picture books and all sorts of picture books. At the end of the day, Emma and I paired up to write a review of Susie Lee's wordless book 'Wave'.

Then it was time to pack up. Marjorie had one last drink and a curry puff with us before Kenneth and I had to head on over to Helen Mangham's house for a get-together with Andrea and Helen. They always host a wonderful party with fantastic food and drink during the AFCC and it's a wonderful way to bring the week to a close.







Emma, Simon, Emily, Pauline Loh were already there when we got there. Kenneth and I hit the buffet table and piled our plates high before settling down on her really comfy sofas and chatting with the other guests there.



Helen, Emma and I discussed a big huge upcoming meeting that we'll be having. Hopefully, I don't mess things up. Emily, Ken and Pauline discussed the high points of AFCC and then when it was time to go we thanked Helen and Andrea for a wonderful evening. Andrea was heading back to Manila the next morning and I'm supposed to get her my manuscript soon. Note to self: Start writing!

AFCC 2014 CLOSING NIGHT PARTY: MAKAN & MINGLE

"Every children's book brings a light in to a world full of darkness."  And if that's the case, NBDCS just lit up the entire region with yet another amazing AFCC!




In recent years, the festival has grown exponentially and it's due to the hard work and the long hours that Mr Rama, Kenneth and the whole team at NBDCS put in to make sure that it's an enjoyable and informative festival for everyone.




I'd like to think that my panel session with EmilyLim and Shamini Flint two years ago had something to do with it or the performance of There's Soup on My Fly by ACT3 a year later had a small part in it too, but who am I kidding. It's all down to their indefatigible efforts to make it bigger and better every year. And my word, they have succeeded!




After a year of planning and a lot of hard work on the part of the NBDCS team, the 5th Annual AFCC was coming to a close with one big party.


Kathleen Ahrens kicked off the evening by sharing a few words before Festival Director, Kenneth, took to the podium to thank everyone and the invaluable NBCS team, including the most energetic member Mr Rama. 



Then Mr Rama had a few words to say, swanking his speech by omitting a few people unintentionally. Don't worry, Mr Rama, I'll write your speech next year! :)



Then it was time for the party to begin. For the first time in months, the whole team let their hair down and truly began to relax for an evening with old and new friends.

I always feel this party is bitter-sweet because though we all had a wonderful time it signals time to part ways for another year or perhaps even longer. OK, so I am a sad, sorry, sappy, SAP but that's me. I admit it.




I'm really very proud of Kenneth, Adan, Carlo, Celine, Alicia, Jade, Judy,Vasantha, Preema, and Mr Rama for pulling off another amazing AFCC. And congratualations to the Board of Advisors led by Ms Claire Chiang. Long may AFCC continue. Anyway I'll stop rambling and let you have a look at some of the photos from the night.

AFCC Day 5

So the last day of AFCC was here. It's kind of sad how fast these festivals pass but then again that's a sign of a great festival.  First up my friend Emily Lim invited me for breakfast with Frané Lessac and Cristy Burne along with Emma and Sarah. 



I told them that whomever I give my books to tend to fall pregnant. Cristy definitely did not want any of my books. LOL


 
After breakfast, we headed to the library where Emma was taking part in the pitch incubator, a session where Eric Huang and Mark Checkley walked participants through the elements of a pitch. It was perfect timing as Emma, Sarah and I all had speed pitching appointments with both Eric and Mark right after that.



Emma had the honour of pitching during the session and she did a great job I think. Though, Eric and Mark did offer her some pointers to make it even better.


Let's just say that I was a bundle of nerves at the speed pitching session, but Eric couldn't have been nicer and that relaxed me for my pitching sessions with Mark and Galen.
With the sessions over and done with, Emma, Simon, and I darted off to Seah Street for lunch with our agents Andrea and Helen.



With our tummies full of chicken rice, we made it back in time for Andrew Weale and Ho Lee Ling's  amazing session about school visits. I learned a lot and I'm definitely using some of their ideas!







As Andrew was flying back to the UK early the next morning, he wanted to visit the Raffles Hotel one last time, so along with Auntie Susanna we visited the Long Bar for peanuts and ginger beer!



And then it was time to head back to the library for the last official event of the AFCC, the closing dinner: Makan & Mingle.

AFCC Day 4

The family of birds outside my window kept up with their early morning wake-up calls today and it's just as well as I was accompanying the super Sally Gardner to her interview at Channel News Asia.  I picked her up at the hotel and the taxi floored it to the studios by 8am.


Sally after her interview

We exchanged our identification for passes and waited for Kumuda who arrived a short time later. Sally's segment was scheduled for 8:40am and one of the producers escorted us to the studio.

No photos were allowed - presumably for security issues- so I couldn't take any photos, but as soon as she was seated and miked up, the interview began. She did a brilliant job and with the interview done, we headed back to the hotel for muffins and coffee. Thanks, Sally.




Back at the library, we sat in for Leonard Marcus' talk, 'From Golden Age to Librarian's Nightmare:Illustrated Books Over the Years'.  And after that I attended 'New Zealand: Small Nation, Big Writers' by Chris Szekely and Frances Plumpton.



Leonard Marcus
Chris Szekely
Then we had to set up for Emma's launch of 'Princess Petunia's Dragon'. Award-winning author Andrew Weale did an amazing reading. I wish I could read like him. I wish he had read at my launch! We all loved his performance and Emma's book launch was a hit!





Emma Nicholson
Emma and her princess

Andrew Weale: Genius Storyteller!
Emma, Linda, Emily, Simon and Sarah dashed off for the 'First Pages' manuscript critique session and at lunch they discussed the outcome. They all agreed that the critique session was helpful but perhaps a tad harsher than the previous years'.


Simon and Sarah


The authors I love to tease the most. Linn, Pauline and Emily
We had an agents meeting with Helen and Sarah of Jacaranda to discuss our upcoming projects which are progressing along nicely so let's keep our fingers crossed. Then I hopped on the escalators to catch 'The Future of Fantastic (YA) Fiction' with Sally Gardner, Payal Dahr and Lara Morgan.


The panel
There was barely any room there as it was as stuffed as I am after one of my sister-in-law's famous roast beef dinners. Still I managed to find a seat next to Emily Lim at the back of the room. Topics included the importance of language consistency and POV of the characters and Hollywood's adaptations of authors works.

Once the panel discussion and Q & A was over, everyone headed straight for Sally to get that all important autograph. Emily and Linda cut right in front of me. It's no wonder I 'lovingly' call them competition.


Fatima Sharafeddine
With our books signed, Denise and I joined Andrew and Emma at the Hanis Cafe for a drink before it was time to go to for the literature lecture: 'The Book As An Interactive Tool Between a Child and Language in the Middle East'. Fatima spoke about her experiences as a children's author in that part of the world. To say it was a fascinating talk would be an understatement.

After the talk, a buffet dinner was laid out for all the participants, but Denise and I had to meet Emma and Andrew for a vegetarian dinner at Funan Center. We rendezvoued at Raffles, where Emma and Andrew were having drinks before adjourning to the restaurant. The food was fantastic as usual and with full tummies, we headed home for a good night's sleep before the last full day of the AFCC.

AFCC DAY 3: A Day of Book Launches

The third day of the AFCC got off to a fantastic start when I met up with the wonderful Sally Gardner for a quick glass of Coca-Cola along with Denise from Closetful of Books, Evelyn Sue Wong, Felicia Low and Adan Jimenez.


After lunch Evelyn, Corinne Robson, Myra Garces Bascal and Ken Spillman launched their bibliography on rice to a packed roomful of participants. This year's festival theme is rice and so it is no wonder that this year's theme had me hankering for a nice bowl of fried grain.






Shortly after that it was time to get ready for my book launch of A Day with the Duchess. I'm always a bundle of nerves before any of my book launches. What if people don't show up? What if there aren't any kids? I'm so grateful to everyone who came and showed up to help. Mum, Auntie Susanna, Andrea, Corinne, Emma, Evelyn, Faith, Marjorie, Helen, Karen, Kristina, the two Lindas,  Sarah, Mika, Tilly, Dave, Kelvin, Simon, Peter and everyone. I'm sorry if I left anyone out. But a HUGE thanks.





The best launch was yet to come and I'm saying this without the hint of any bias. Auntie Susanna had discussed her launch for Fun at the Opera  with me and she seemed uncertain about what she was going to do, but you wouldn't have guessed it if you had been there.
The launch was absolutely brill. She started off by wearing one of her Chinese Opera hats. Niece Jeanne, and granddaughters Tilly and Mika were drafted in to help by donning Chinese Opera costumes.



Auntie Susanna regaled us with stories about growing up with an opera troupe and Claire Chiang told us about the big plans that are in store for what started out as a sweet little book. Auntie Su's Opera is going be heard long and loud for years to come. At the conclusion of her launch Auntie Susanna invited everyone to join in an opera dance as a classical Chinese flautist played. It was a fantastic, fun launch! I have to say Mum had more fun at Auntie Susanna's launch than my own.


Mum was feeling tired after both launches so I accompanied her back home, but not before stopping at my great friend Sarah Mounsey's launch for her third book in her award-winning trilogy Purple Paw Prints and the Itchy Spots. Sarah is always able to charm and capture an audience in a way that I could never do.

Once I was back home, I showered, changed and headed back out the door for India Night at Bugis Plus.  Mr SR Nathan, 6th President of Rep of Singapore was launching the translated versions of his book The Crab and the Crane.

HE and I share several similarities, if I say so myself. 1) We're both Singaporean. 2.) We write children's books  3.) We have the same publisher. And that's about it! While Mr President is climbing the heights of publishing...I'm er...stuck in first grade!
Auntie Susanna was at the forefront once again when it was announced that her book with Chris Cheng Water had been translated and she was called to the stage to pose before a phalanx of photographers.


With the formalities of the evening over, we were treated to a performance by the ultra talented Kiran Shah and Rosemarie Somiah that left is in stitches.




President Nathan was besieged by some fans for an autograph as the evening concluded. It reminded me of myself every time I approach a celebrity and hound them for their John Hancock. Note to self: STOP IT!

As HE was leaving, he took time to stop and pose for a photograph with Auntie Susanna. It turns out that he knew her Dad!



And so the third glorious day of the AFCC had come to an end. Once again kudos to the AFCC and NBDCS team. You always seem to out do yourselves.
Anyway I had better stop blogging as I'm supposed to accompany Sally Gardner to the TV studios for an interview soon! After that I have a pitch session and a meeting with my Angel Agents Andrea and Helen. Busy, busy, day!

AFCC Day 2

I barely got three hours sleep when a bird starting singing outside my bedroom window at about 5am. I have never wanted to shoot anything as much as I wanted to shoot that bird at that point. I couldn't get back to sleep so I finished my blog and got ready for the rest of my day.

I got to the  National Library at about 10am and then went to get my pass for the festival. Mr Rama, Kenneth and the rest of the SCBWI team had already been up and about for hours by the time I made it to the registration counter to collect my pass. Sheila Wee, story-teller extraordinaire, happened to be there by coincidence and she wasn't attending the conference, so I snapped  a quick shot of Ken, Jade, Mr Rama and Sheila before we went our separate ways.

Once festival pass was hanging around my neck, Emily Lim bounded in from nowhere and said that she was going for a talk about encouraging creativity in children. It was a really interesting and we both learned things that we can possibly use on school visits in the future.




Then it was tea time and I grabbed a sandwich and for  volunteers  and Alex and Theresa, who were manning the  SCBWI booth before I joined Emily once again for a joint talk by Leonard Marcus and James Mayhew about picture book reviews. I have to say they're both brilliant, quite simply brilliant.



Pauline and Partick Yee had a book launch that I missed because I was waiting at the wrong venue. What can I say...except I'm a sheer genius, not! Emily and I did bump into our agent Helen, perusing the illustrations in the library, so of course, we had to take a snapshot.  At the NLB Plaza, I had a pleasant surprise when I ran into Conoor Kripalani -Thadani and Naomi Kojima. Hopefully we'll have more time to catch up during the festival this week. By the way, Conoor will be launching her new book right after mine this afternoon!



Back at the SCBWI booth, Alex told me that someone was looking for my book A Day with a Duchess and that they could not find it at the official bookstore, but thankfully Celine from the book council helped clarify things. 




With that settled, I headed up to the POD @ the library to see if they needed help with the set-up for Celebrating Our Stars, a night where local authors are honoured. 

I headed back downstairs just in time for Kristina Thornton's book launch of Shabu Shabu Book Two. And she brought real rabbits to steal the show. I have to say they were adorable. I'm giving those bunnies the names of: Roast, Stew and Pie. Get it? Roast Rabbit, Rabbit Stew, and Rabbit Pie.





Kristina had a long line of fans lining up for her autograph by the time we had to head back up for the Celebrating our Stars celebration. Andrea, my agent was on my table as was Adeline Foo, Auntie Susanna and Linda Lingard.  Andrew, Emma, Corinne, Sarah and Dave Liew settled down at the next table and we all spent some time chatting and catching up.





Then Emcee Amy Cheng annouced things were about to start.



Kenneth addressed the audience and he gave a brilliant speech and I'm not saying that because he is my friend, but because it is the truth. He really writes a good speech. If I ever have to give one, please remind me to ask him to write it for me. I'll probably ask him to deliver it for me as well.




Linn Shekinah then told us that about 70 new children's book titles were published last year alone and then presented a slide show of all the titles, including mine! Thanks, Linn.




When Guest of Honour Ms Sim Ann  spoke of the importance of local books and she thanked the authors who had given her books for her children, who are huge fans of local books. Hey, wait, I wasn't one of those authors! I have to give her some of my books STAT! Unfortunately I didn't have my books with me, but Auntie Susanna managed to show her new book "Fun at the Opera" to her.


Ken Spillman then took to the podium to talk about a joint publication between Singapore and Australia: Near and Dear, which features works by both Australian and Singaporean authors, including AJ Low, Shamini Flint and Adeline Foo.





The authors of Near and Dear
The winners of the bilingual picture book were revealed and I was obviously thrilled when my friend Evelyn Wong won for her book The Naughty Mynah Bird.



After a brief talk from Samsung about a new platform for authors and a new children's book award, it was time for dinner. I was famished but I couldn't eat much because I had to head back for my nephew's birthday dinner and my sister-in-law is a fantasic cook. But here are some photos I took before I left.

AFCC 2014

The 5th Annual Asian Festival of Children's Content or AFCC officially starts today but the fun started yesterday with the set-up for all the action. Kenneth, Adan, Carlo and the AFCC Angels got to the National Library early to make sure that everything was going according to their well-laid plans.


Adan, Faith and Preema

Kenneth and Mr Rama  discuss the day's events.
Unlike the previous couple of years, the bookstore which used to be run by Denise of Bookaburra has now been taken over by the Woods in the Books team. 




After browsing around the mediamart, the area where various vendors like Samsung and this year's festival country of focus: India have pavilions set up, I joined author James Mayhew for a drink at the nearby Hanis cafe. 

Poor James has been in town for almost a week and we had a bit of a chat before illustrator Dave Liew joined us.



Once again, like last year, The Learning Connection was staging a  local children's story, Shekinah Linn's Spice Kids: Star Anise. A group of children sat enthralled as the performers brought Shekinah's story to life. Shekinah, no doubt, was really, really happy.



Dave and James were rescued from having to listen to me ramble on about publishing, when Stephanie and Faith from the Book Council came to tell them that it was almost time for their duelling illustrators session, a session in which they challenge each other to illustrate a story on the spot. And while the minutes ticked down to their challenge. And then it was time!

Award-winning author, Andrew Weale, Emma, Sarah and Linda made it to the library just in time for the event which thrilled everyone who watched these two ultra-talented illustrators duking it out with paper and paintbrushes. The kids loved that and James and Dave were besieged for autographs.








Auntie Susanna arrived after that and we discussed our upcoming book launches this weekend  and ran a couple or errands at the neighbouring Bras Basah Complex before it was time to get ready for the official launch.


Emma, Andrew, Sarah and Linda.As we headed back downstairs we spotted Kelvin and Denise from Closetful of Books at the drop-off point.  Denise is a huge admirer of AFCC Board of Advisors Chairman Claire Chiang, so Auntie Susanna and I took the opportunity to introduce her to Claire.  There's no need to describe Denise's reaction as you can see it for yourself from the photo below.


Denise and Claire
Auntie Susanna and Claire
James Mayhew and Sally Gardner

I ran into  Ken Spillman, Linda Lingard, Sally Gardner, James Mayhew, Corinne Robson and Marjorie Coughlan before there was a flurry of flash bulbs and the crowd surged forward, signalling the arrival  HE Ms Vijay Thakur Singh, High Comissioner of India

At the India's Pavilion,  HE and the official delegation from India presented the library with a set of favourite children's books from their country. I, for one, can't wait to read them.







We were then ushered to our seats at the library's plaza to await the arrival of the guest of honour, Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister of Culture, Community and Youth and second Minister of  Communications and Information.


Mr Rama and Mr Wong

Claire, Her Excellency and the Minister all addressed the guests before it was time to announce the winners of the Scholastic Asian Book Award.






Ms Lim Li Kok, HE Ms Vijay Thakur Singh, Mr Lawrence Wong, Ms Claire Chiang,
Ms. Seline Lee and the winners of the Scholastic Asian Book Award.
With the official part of the launch over, the Minister toured the Mediamart, stopping at various booths to test out their products. It was dinner time for the rest of us.





All in all in was a great  start to what will be another amazing AFCC. If you haven't registered, don't worry, you still have time to do so. Just head on down to the National Library and you can register on the spot.  See y'all later!

The Best of AFCC 2011-2013

AFCC 2011-2013

NBDCS Deputy Director and AFCC Festival Director Kenneth Quek Talks Books, Movies and his Weekends

My friend and Deputy Director of the National Book Development Council of Singapore, Kenneth Quek, appeared in the papers today to talk about the Books, Movies and his weekend. Great read in the run-up to awesomest book festival in town.



To register for the AFCC log on to:The Asian Festival of Children's Content

STAR STRUCK IN SINGAPORE

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a huge movie buff and collecting autographs is my hobby. I lucked out on the red carpet at the Olivier Awards in London last month, meeting the likes of Martin Freeman, James McAvoy and Tom Hiddleston.

Tom Hiddleston

And while I was still there, I heard that Hugh Jackman, Peter
Dinklage and Fan Bing Bing would be here for the X-Men Experience. I've had the pleasure of meeting Hugh before in Perth while he was on his very successful 'The Boy From Oz' tour and he is very fan friendly so I had no doubt that he would sign up a storm on the blue carpet if time permitted.


Hugh Jackman poses for me in Perth My Hugh Jackman and James McAvoy autographs signed in person.

I was sure that the turn out for this event would be huge as other red carpet events for Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Seth Rogen and Zhang Ziyi, Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Jamie Foxx have been massively crowded in the past.



Tom Cruise
Seth Rogen
Tom Hanks Andrew Garfield
Zhang Ziyi


Then when I arrived back in Singapore, my friend Ray told me that Zachary Quinto (Heroes, Star Trek) would be in town filming Agent 47 with Rupert Friend (Pride and Prejudice, Homeland). I met Leonard Nimoy, the original Mr Spock years ago, and I thought it would be cool if I could meet the new Mr Spock too.

As luck would have it, a friend and I managed to spot both Rupert and Zachary a short time later and I managed to give them my books as a souvenir of their stay here.

Rupert Friend
Rupert's autograph


Zachary Quinto Zachary's autograph
After the thrill of meeting Rupert and Zachary, I found out another celebrity was headed to our shores and that was Victoria Beckham, I managed to spot her from a distance but my friends Ray and Manfred managed to get some one on one time with the fashion designer and mum. 


Victoria Beckham at On Pedder
A few days later, I found myself on the blue carpet in front of Shaw House waiting for the XMen Experience Live, part of the worldwide publicity blitz for XMen: Days of Future Past.

As predicted the fans started lining up well before noon and by 5pm, the place was packed. Hugh was the first to hit the red carpet
and he was followed by Peter Dinklage and Fan Bing Bing.


Hugh Jackman

Ray and I were quite far down the line on the red carpet and by the time that Hugh reached us the organizers were ready to rush the stars along. Hugh scrawled a quick autograph on the sketch I did of him. It was similar to what most other fans got but Ray lucked out and got a 'Hugh Jackman' autograph on his poster. Then Fan Bing Bing  came over and signed my poster but I totally missed out on Peter Dinklage. I was somewhat disappointed but you can't win them all.


Hugh Jackman and Fan Bing Bing

Add caption

Fan BingBing autograph
A few days after the excitement of the XMen Experience, the lovey  Kate Bosworth Jetted into town for the Audi Fashion Festival.  Manfred, Daniel, Joyce and I were lucky enough to meet her after a fan meet and greet and she could not have been more charming or down to earth. She's stunning and person as well. What a thrill!

Kate Bosworth and me


Kate Bosworth's autograph


She took her time to pose for photos and sign autographs for each of us before she headed off for another event.  I managed  to give her a copy of A Day with the Duchess as a souvenir and she kindly thanked me. Thank you, Ms Bosworth! And with that a very exciting but tiring celebrity-packed few weeks came to an end.  
But wait, stars are still headed our way as of this very moment. Youtube sensations will be hitting town this very week and Nikki Reed will be here shooting a horror flick as will Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult later this year. I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to the star-filled coming months.