David Seow's Blog, page 34

The Writing Process Blog Tour

Photo credit: National Arts Council of Singapore


A couple of weeks ago, my friend and fellow author Anita Loughrey asked me to be part of an authors blog tour. First thought was that I'd get a ticket to the UK and I'd tour all over the country, talking and blogging and blogging and talking. WRONG! It's an internet tour!




Basically I have to write about myself which is what I've been doing for the past couple of years. I know, I know you want to log off right now, don't you? So I'll try to keep in short and sweet. So here goes:


What am I currently working on? I’m currently working on my chapter book first “The Shophouse”.

It is kind of a mystery suspense book with hopefully a lot of twists. It’s challenging but it’s about time I took a big step away from the picture book genre. I’m also working on another MG story that is part of a joint project with some other authors but that is confidential for now.


How does my work differ from others of its genre?It’s hard to say how my work differs from others in the genre. I guess the way it differs is how every other author’s book differs from the others. Each author’s voice, perspective, and style is different. So while they may write the same genre, the approach may be very different.


Why do I write what I do?I write what I write because I always have and probably always will. I started writing stories when I was in primary school and I’ve always had an over active imagination and although it has gotten me into lots of trouble in the past, it’s been very useful to me as an author.  I've written 30 or so picture books and I like writing picture books for the most part. I'm lucky because I what I've written has been published.  Having said that it's not easy being a picture book author in Singapore. It really isn't but there is nothing else I can do quite as well and that is why I write what I do.


How does my writing process work?My process is one of no process. It changes every time I sit in front of the computer. I’ve never been one to follow a set of rules either when it comes to writing or anything else. I don’t follow a regular timetable. I think I operate on quite a different system. If I am writing a picture book, I'll usually find something funny in a picture or a phrase that someone says and I'll start from that.


The three authors I'll be handing the blog tour over to next week are
Emily Lim





Emily Lim is an author of numerous children’s picture books which have been published in Singapore, Malaysia, China and Korea and also turned into animation, theatre and used throughout schools in Singapore. She is the first author outside North America to win 3 medals in children’s books at the IPPY awards and first in Southeast Asia to win the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award. She also won the Honourable Mention Award at Writer’s Digest 20th Self-Publishing Awards and has been shortlisted for a few other awards.  Emily's blog




Pauline Loh




Pauline has  been writing on a professional basis for more than two decades. I won first runner up for Scholastic Asian Book Award 2012 and First Time Writers and Illustrators Publishing Initiative 2009 award. Pauline's Blog



Jason Erik Lundberg




 A USian now living in Singapore, and the author of several books of the fantastic — Strange Mammals (2013), The Alchemy of Happiness (2012), Red Dot Irreal (2011), The Time Traveler’s Son (2008), and Four Seasons in One Day (with Janet Chui, 2003) — two children’s picture books — A New Home For Bo Bo and Cha Cha (2012) and Bo Bo and Cha Cha’s Big Day Out (2013) — and more than a hundred short stories, articles, and book reviews. Jason's Blog

Princess Petunia's Dragon Book Launch

Emma's book launch started promptly at 3:30pm and Erin kindly moderated the event for her.  A few days before Emma painstakingly crafted Freddy Dragon masks by hand for the

children to colour and take home with them. It's needless to say it was a time consuming task.





After a brief introduction, Emma started reading excerpts of Princess Petunia and donned a pair of Dragon Ear's much to the amusement of the kids. She even had a Princess Petunia costume for the kids to try on and it's needless to say that the little kids loved it. 
And all to soon the book launch came to an end, but not before Emma was swamped for autographs by her young fans. All in all, we both had a great time at our book launches. Thanks very much to everyone who turned up to support us.

Book Launch for A Day with the Duchess

A week after we returned, Emma and I had back to back book launches at Books Kinokuniya. We were both very thrilled to say the least.

Erin, Sheri and Ilangoh with the help of our Kino friends promoted A Day with the Duchess via facebook and other social media, hoping to drum up some level of interest. Erin was in constant contact with me whilst I was in London, emailing ideas for activities for the children for the one hour launch.




As for goodies that the kids could take home with them, we had paper dolls of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, a paper hamster on a stick and stickers, lots and lots of stickers!







I invited William, Vicky, Mikey and Alice Adeney whom I met when we were waiting for the Duke and Duchess at the Gardens by the Bay. Incidentally, the book is dedicated to Mikey and Alice and you can see their illustrated likenesses in the book.




At two a small group of children and parents had gathered and we started the reading session of the book kaunch. As Emma has a far nicer reading voice that I do, she graciously agreed to read the story for me.  And it's needless to say that she did a fantastic job!





After the reading we played a game with the kids. They had to guess the whereabouts of  Kate the Hamster and whoever found her would win a prize.

Quick thinking Alice, found her and for her efforts, she won a Kinokuniya voucher, a bespoke sketch of the Duchess of Cambridge signed by Soefara and the opportunity to be an illustrated character in the next Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di book.
Then Soefara did a drawing demonstration and she gave away two of her sketches before it was time for us to sign some books.




With that, our book launch was over and we had half and hour to get ready for Emma's book launch. Thanks to Emma, Soefara, Sheri, Ilangoh, Richelle and Erin for making this happen. Thanks to Mum, Auntie Susanna, Tilly, Kenneth, Simon, The Adeneys, Sarah, Linda, Tracy, Evelyn,  Dave, Jason, Jim, Edmund and everyone for coming out to support us.





Watch out for my next blog post on Emma's book launch. If you missed both our launches and you would like to attend  launches at the Asian Festival of Children's Content Just Click This Link to register.

Asian Festival of Children's Content Press Conference 2014

A few days after our return from London, the National Book Development Council of Singapore held a press conference for the upcoming Asian Festival of Children's Content. Originally conceived as the Asian Children's Writers and Illustrators Conference by NBDCS Director, Mr Ramachandran, the festival has grown exponentially and includes conferences for teachers and parents and is now popularly known as the AFCC. As Mr Rama has said over the years, he hopes the festival will bring Asian content to the world's children.


Mr Ramachandran, Ms Lim Li Kok, Ms. Claire Chiang, HE Vijay Thakur Singh, Mr Kenneth Quek
As Deputy Director of the Council and Festival Director of the festival, Kenneth kicked off the press con with a detailed overview of what participants can expect from the conference. And this year's conference looks set to be even bigger and better than the previous years', if that's even possible. Some of the literary glitterati who have attended the event in previous years include Susanne Gervay, Wendy Orr, Norman Jorgensen, James Foley, Chris Cheng, Alvina Ling, Rukhsana Khan, and  Sarah Odedina.


Ken and the book 'Water' which was launced at last year's AFCC.

Once again, there will be an impressive line-up of panels, workshops and masterclasses for parents, teachers, authors and illustrators. This year you'll  get the chance to get up close and personal with the likes of Sally Gardner, Atanu Roy, Leonard Marcus, Subir Shukla, Sampurna Chattarji, Sandhya Prabhat, Frane Lessac, Kathleen Ahrens, AJ Low, Mariko Nagai,  Andrew Weale, James Mayhew, AJ Low, and Ken Spillman to name a few. 
And if you are an aspiring author or illustrator, this may just be the year you'll find yourself on the road to publication. You'll have the opportunity to pitch their story ideas to agents and content developers.
Catherine Carvell "Darcy Moon and the Deep Fried Frogs", Sarah Mounsey "Purple Paw Prints" and Emma Nicholson "Princess Petunia's Dragon" are just some authors who attended the festival and were subsequently published! Not bad, right?
This year's country of focus is the Asia's literary heavyweight -India! 

HE Vijay Thakur Singh
After Kenneth's introduction to the this year's festival, the Indian High Commissioner , Ms Vijay Thakur Singh, took to the podium to talk about India's rich and vibrant history in story-telling.

Then it was time for Claire Chiang, Chairman of AFCC's Board of Advisors to announce the shortlist for the Scholastic Asian Book Award. 


Ms. Claire Chiang

The shortlisted authors are:

1. Aditi Krishnakumar for Ergo Sum (India)

2.  Catherine Torres for Sula's Voyage (Philippines)

3. Thia Shi Min for Dragonhearted: The Fine Spell of Words Alone (Singapore)

4. Sophia Lee for What Things Mean (Philippines)

5. Vivek Bhanot for Robin and the Case of the Summer Camp Kidnapping (India)


Congratulations to all of the shortlisted writers and if you would like to find more about the AFCC please click this link @AFCC Registration. I hope to see you there!

Last walk in the Park, Depature Day

London Day 14, Good Friday (Our last day in London)

A visit to the Natural History Museum, Lunch at Chinatown and an early night







Mika and her uncle

Good Night, London

London Day 13

A walk in Kensington Gardens, a visit to Kensington Palace and the Royal Dress Collection

London Day 12

Laundry, lunch with Autnie Susanna and Kenneth at Leceister Squareand a trip to Forbidden Planet for Action Figures and a chance meeting withBrian Cox





Mr Bilbo Baggins action figure from Forbidden Planet

Brian Cox

London Day 11

Windsor Castle

London Day 10

Fish and Chips lunch with Kate at Leicester Square
At Picadilly Square Horse Guards Parade


Blooms at St James' Park




Trafalgar Square