David Seow's Blog, page 48
March 29, 2013
Dinner and Tea with Susanna, Julie and Me
After we finished our workshop we headed out for dinner with Susanna's niece Julie, who met us at the hotel. We took a nice, slow walk to the restaurant, a popular noodle house, which was so packed that we had to share a table with a couple and a lone Caucasian bloke who must have been feeling like he didn't really belong so after downing his bowl of noodles he skedaddled out of there. We all ordered the beef noodles...as I had a scratchy throat and a bit of a cough, I decided to skip the spicy noodles in favour of the mild ones. I have to say it was really good though, so good that I was tempted to order another bowl, but I finished our vegetable side dish instead and washed it all down with a glass of coca cola.
With dinner done, we took a walk to Central before heading to Exchange Square where my brother and sister-in-law used to work. On the way we stopped at a 7-11 to pick up some drinks and snacks and of course some panadol cold and flu relief for me. Then we stopped off for some tea-at of all places- TWG!!
We stayed until closing time, when the staff had to tell us they were locking up. Pooped from the long day, Julie gave us a lift back to the hotel and we literally hit the sack...the panadol worked so well that I got four hours of sleep that night!!
Dinner and Tea with Auntie Susanna, Julie and Me
After we finished our workshop we headed out for dinner with Auntie Susanna's niece Julie, who met us at the hotel. We took a nice, slow walk to the restaurant, a popular noodle house, which was so packed that we had to share a table with a couple and a lone Caucasian bloke who must have been feeling like he didn't really belong so after downing his bowl of noodles he skedaddled out of there. We all ordered the beef noodles...as I had a scratchy throat and a bit of a cough, I decided to skip the spicy noodles in favour of the mild ones. I have to say it was really good though, so good that I was tempted to order another bowl, but I finished our vegetable side dish instead and washed it all down with a glass of coca cola.
With dinner done, we took a walk to Central before heading to Exchange Square where my brother and sister-in-law used to work. On the way we stopped at a 7-11 to pick up some drinks and snacks and of course some panadol cold and flu relief for me. Then we stopped off for some tea-at of all places- TWG!!
We stayed until closing time, when the staff had to tell us they were locking up. Pooped from the long day, Julie gave us a lift back to the hotel and we literally hit the sack...the panadol worked so well that I got four hours of sleep that night!!
March 25, 2013
First Workshop at the Hong Kong International Young Reader's Festival
So with my tummy full from that yummy lunch with Mio, Auntie Susanna and I returned to our hotel in time to be picked up for our first workshop. Author Wendy McTavish kindly met us in the lobby and escorted us to the workshop's venue: the Hong Kong Central Library.
Wendy and I
On the way to the library, we discussed the difficulties of being an authors. But then when a boy or girl come up to me and say that they like my book it makes all the difference in the world. And also sometimes when you are very lucky, you get invited to terrific events like the Hong Kong International Young Readers Festival.
Our workshop room was not quite ready when we got there so I tried to calm my nerves before the workshop started. I have to be totally honest here, I'm never comfortable speaking in front of people. It reminds me the times that my teachers called on me in class to answer questions I did not know the answers to.
Liana, the festival manager, and Louise, the festival co-ordinator, kindly met us before the workshop. Then the kids started coming in one by one, most of them with their parents. "You better not mess this up, David Seow," I told myself.
Thank goodness for Auntie Susanna, she's a tremendous help and calming influence. Dressed head to toe in Kermit Green, she readily hopped into her role for the workshop.
I started the workshop with a slide show about my favourite picture books and how I began writing children's picture books. Then I asked the kids if they could tell me when the first picture book was written. They all came up with very good answers before Auntie Susanna showed up to tell them about her first picture book...which was written on a cave wall. Yes, Auntie Susanna is that OLD :)!
The very very very old Auntie Susanna
The kids loved the very old Auntie Susanna, who then did a quick make over and magically transformed into a younger Auntie Susanna - The miracle of cosmetics!
Auntie Susanna transformed into her younger self
We then shared how one can get ideas for picture books. The kids quickly caught on and the workshop proper started. I'm amazed at how the kids were able to come up with complete stories in such a short time period - it's something I can't even do. Auntie Susanna moved around the room assisting them with the accompanying illustrations to each of their stories.
Some of them were so engrossed that they wouldn't stop writing, even as the workshop was drawing to a close.
At the end of the workshop I decided that there were three really creative pieces of work and that they deserved a book prize. And so I called them up one by one to claim their prizes. I have to say that I was impressed by all the writers there; they showed great promise and a high level of imagination. Tom, seen in the pic below, especially impressed me because his mother told me that he's been speaking English for only two years. Amazing!
Everyone left the workshops with stickers and bookmarks and I left very happy, very satisfied and with a very hoarse throat.
The winners and I
Wendy and IOn the way to the library, we discussed the difficulties of being an authors. But then when a boy or girl come up to me and say that they like my book it makes all the difference in the world. And also sometimes when you are very lucky, you get invited to terrific events like the Hong Kong International Young Readers Festival.
Our workshop room was not quite ready when we got there so I tried to calm my nerves before the workshop started. I have to be totally honest here, I'm never comfortable speaking in front of people. It reminds me the times that my teachers called on me in class to answer questions I did not know the answers to.
Liana, the festival manager, and Louise, the festival co-ordinator, kindly met us before the workshop. Then the kids started coming in one by one, most of them with their parents. "You better not mess this up, David Seow," I told myself.
Thank goodness for Auntie Susanna, she's a tremendous help and calming influence. Dressed head to toe in Kermit Green, she readily hopped into her role for the workshop.
I started the workshop with a slide show about my favourite picture books and how I began writing children's picture books. Then I asked the kids if they could tell me when the first picture book was written. They all came up with very good answers before Auntie Susanna showed up to tell them about her first picture book...which was written on a cave wall. Yes, Auntie Susanna is that OLD :)!
The very very very old Auntie SusannaThe kids loved the very old Auntie Susanna, who then did a quick make over and magically transformed into a younger Auntie Susanna - The miracle of cosmetics!
Auntie Susanna transformed into her younger selfWe then shared how one can get ideas for picture books. The kids quickly caught on and the workshop proper started. I'm amazed at how the kids were able to come up with complete stories in such a short time period - it's something I can't even do. Auntie Susanna moved around the room assisting them with the accompanying illustrations to each of their stories.
Some of them were so engrossed that they wouldn't stop writing, even as the workshop was drawing to a close.
At the end of the workshop I decided that there were three really creative pieces of work and that they deserved a book prize. And so I called them up one by one to claim their prizes. I have to say that I was impressed by all the writers there; they showed great promise and a high level of imagination. Tom, seen in the pic below, especially impressed me because his mother told me that he's been speaking English for only two years. Amazing!
Everyone left the workshops with stickers and bookmarks and I left very happy, very satisfied and with a very hoarse throat.
The winners and IMarch 22, 2013
Lunch with Mio in Central
After the dramatic events of our first morning in Hong Kong, Auntie Susanna and I looked forward to meeting Mio Debnam, the charming and gracious RA of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Hong Kong. We arranged to meet in front of Peddar Building, a building I was familiar with as my mother's two favourite shops St Regis and Safari used to be located there.
In front of Peddar Building. It's been 19 years since I've been there!
Mio and Me
Though the Central area of Hong Kong has changed quite a bit, there are a few landmarks that I could recognize, like Landmark, Prince's Building and the Mandarin Hotel.
Lunch!
We met Mio and took a short walk to a nice quiet restaurant (which for Hong Kong is a rarity) for a fantastic dim sum lunch. Mio, a children's book author, and former kids magazine editor has given numerous talks and workshops for schools in Hong Kong kindly reassured me that everything would go well. With my frayed nerves calmed we proceeded to dig in to the dim sum. OK, I made the big mess by spilling stuff on the table- you can't take me anywhere -and you would think that being Chinese I would have mastered the art of using chopsticks - well I haven't!
Auntie Susanna, Mio and me.
With lunch over far too soon, it was time to head back to the hotel to get ready for the first workshop. Thanks for the fantastic lunch, Mio and it was great meeting you at last. :)
Mio will be in town as a featured speaker at the Asian Festival of Children's Content this coming May, so if you haven't booked your tickets yet please do so now.
In front of Peddar Building. It's been 19 years since I've been there!
Mio and MeThough the Central area of Hong Kong has changed quite a bit, there are a few landmarks that I could recognize, like Landmark, Prince's Building and the Mandarin Hotel.
Lunch!We met Mio and took a short walk to a nice quiet restaurant (which for Hong Kong is a rarity) for a fantastic dim sum lunch. Mio, a children's book author, and former kids magazine editor has given numerous talks and workshops for schools in Hong Kong kindly reassured me that everything would go well. With my frayed nerves calmed we proceeded to dig in to the dim sum. OK, I made the big mess by spilling stuff on the table- you can't take me anywhere -and you would think that being Chinese I would have mastered the art of using chopsticks - well I haven't!
Auntie Susanna, Mio and me.With lunch over far too soon, it was time to head back to the hotel to get ready for the first workshop. Thanks for the fantastic lunch, Mio and it was great meeting you at last. :)
Mio will be in town as a featured speaker at the Asian Festival of Children's Content this coming May, so if you haven't booked your tickets yet please do so now.
March 18, 2013
A Heartstopping First Morning in Hong Kong
I woke up early the next morning to a view of the Hong Kong Harbour between which was shrouded in fog. How appropriate, I was kind of foggy-headed anyway since I was up the most of the night anyway with a horrid cough and by the time Auntie Susanna came round to go down stairs for breakfast I had already downed two cups of tea, two cups of coffee and several cups of hot water.
The breakfast buffet was excellent with a cold buffet bar, cereal, yogurt as well as congee and an omelette bar. With breakfast done, we decided to go back to my room to run through the workshop one last time. It was as I was leaving the table I noticed that I had forgotten to zip up my fanny pack and - to my horror- my wallet was missing!! My wallet with my ATM card, cash and credit card. Cold sweat began to trickle down my brow as my throat dried up and I yelled in terror:"My wallet, it's gone!" It was one of those moments where you can actually feel yourself starting to poop in your pants and there is nothing you can do about it.
Auntie Susanna stopped in her tracks. Wild-eyed, with my few wisps on hair standing on end, I frantically asked the restaurant staff if they had seen a wallet, gesticulating wildly, trying to mime the international sign for wallet. They all replied in the negative, careful to do so cautiously for fear that I might lose it completely and stab someone with a spatula in my desperation. I dropped my jacket and Auntie Susanna calmly picked it up and tried to get me to calm down - a futile task in that situation. I tried to retrace my steps and punched the elevator buttons for the lift. It was an excruciating wait, I have to say, and when the lift doors opened, I punched the number for our floor but it wasn't working. So we headed down to the lobby to ask if anyone had seen or turned in a wallet, only to be told that no one had. I felt faint, and whoozy, short of breath and ready to pass out. I couldn't imagine being alone in a country without any cash. I couldn't imagine Auntie Susanna dragging my unconscious form back to the hotel room.
"Oh God, Oh God, Oh God don't do this to me again," is all I could say. When I say 'again', you can pretty much guess that I've lost my wallet at various times in my life - once in a Hong Kong MTR station, once during a tennis tournament in Hong Kong, once at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and once at Bras Basah Complex in Singapore. I was fortunate that my wallet was returned with cash and credit cards intact on all of those occasions save one - in Singapore. Yes, in Singapore!!
Now back to my most recent wallet losing experience, which had me in a complete - for lack of a better word - tizzy. Finally a receptionist kindly told us that we had to slide our card key into slot before we could punch our hotel room floor in which I did. The lift brought us to our floor and I dashed to my room like an athlete on performance-enhancing drugs. All I could hear was a loud pounding in my head as I slid the card key into the slot and flung the door open. My wallet was no where to be seen. Although Auntie Susanna kindly offered to pay for the expenses I would incur, I didn't want her to do that! First I had to cancel my credit card, then I would have to call home to have some money wired over etc, etc, etc.
Then as my eyes scanned the room, I saw the sweet looking battered and worn leather wallet that's been with me for years - my wallet!!! A quick check revealed everything was there. Bless the honest Hong Kongers I thought. Auntie Susanna let out the familiar sigh that most people who have been with me in such situations do, and then she exclaimed: "Dave Seow, you almost gave me a heart attack!" She then tipped the housekeeper who had placed my wallet on the table. I gave her another tip later on, expressing my gratitude in Cantonese, which she genuinely seemed to understand. Auntie Susanna, thanks for being a ROCK through the whole ordeal, I hope you're there the next time I lose my wallet...To Be Continued
My sweet wallet. I could have kissed it, but it's fallen on
one too many toilet floors. :)
The breakfast buffet was excellent with a cold buffet bar, cereal, yogurt as well as congee and an omelette bar. With breakfast done, we decided to go back to my room to run through the workshop one last time. It was as I was leaving the table I noticed that I had forgotten to zip up my fanny pack and - to my horror- my wallet was missing!! My wallet with my ATM card, cash and credit card. Cold sweat began to trickle down my brow as my throat dried up and I yelled in terror:"My wallet, it's gone!" It was one of those moments where you can actually feel yourself starting to poop in your pants and there is nothing you can do about it.
Auntie Susanna stopped in her tracks. Wild-eyed, with my few wisps on hair standing on end, I frantically asked the restaurant staff if they had seen a wallet, gesticulating wildly, trying to mime the international sign for wallet. They all replied in the negative, careful to do so cautiously for fear that I might lose it completely and stab someone with a spatula in my desperation. I dropped my jacket and Auntie Susanna calmly picked it up and tried to get me to calm down - a futile task in that situation. I tried to retrace my steps and punched the elevator buttons for the lift. It was an excruciating wait, I have to say, and when the lift doors opened, I punched the number for our floor but it wasn't working. So we headed down to the lobby to ask if anyone had seen or turned in a wallet, only to be told that no one had. I felt faint, and whoozy, short of breath and ready to pass out. I couldn't imagine being alone in a country without any cash. I couldn't imagine Auntie Susanna dragging my unconscious form back to the hotel room.
"Oh God, Oh God, Oh God don't do this to me again," is all I could say. When I say 'again', you can pretty much guess that I've lost my wallet at various times in my life - once in a Hong Kong MTR station, once during a tennis tournament in Hong Kong, once at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and once at Bras Basah Complex in Singapore. I was fortunate that my wallet was returned with cash and credit cards intact on all of those occasions save one - in Singapore. Yes, in Singapore!!
Now back to my most recent wallet losing experience, which had me in a complete - for lack of a better word - tizzy. Finally a receptionist kindly told us that we had to slide our card key into slot before we could punch our hotel room floor in which I did. The lift brought us to our floor and I dashed to my room like an athlete on performance-enhancing drugs. All I could hear was a loud pounding in my head as I slid the card key into the slot and flung the door open. My wallet was no where to be seen. Although Auntie Susanna kindly offered to pay for the expenses I would incur, I didn't want her to do that! First I had to cancel my credit card, then I would have to call home to have some money wired over etc, etc, etc.
Then as my eyes scanned the room, I saw the sweet looking battered and worn leather wallet that's been with me for years - my wallet!!! A quick check revealed everything was there. Bless the honest Hong Kongers I thought. Auntie Susanna let out the familiar sigh that most people who have been with me in such situations do, and then she exclaimed: "Dave Seow, you almost gave me a heart attack!" She then tipped the housekeeper who had placed my wallet on the table. I gave her another tip later on, expressing my gratitude in Cantonese, which she genuinely seemed to understand. Auntie Susanna, thanks for being a ROCK through the whole ordeal, I hope you're there the next time I lose my wallet...To Be Continued
My sweet wallet. I could have kissed it, but it's fallen onone too many toilet floors. :)
March 17, 2013
Hong Kong Young Readers Festival Day # 1
After months of planning and incessant worrying and a final restless night at home, I woke up at about 4:45am to get ready for my trip to Hong Kong for the Hong Kong International Young Readers Festival, my first overseas book festival in like ever... so after checking my bags Mum and Dad drove me to the airport for my 9:30am flight. The drive seemed as long as the three hour flight with Mum reminding me to be careful not to lose my passport, credit cards or the ticket or anything else. I guess her nagging was supposed to calm my nerves as I'm extremely nervous about flying and I really, really hate turbulence. I really should stop watching those TV shows Air Crash Investigation and 30 Seconds to Disaster.
So I was glad that artist/illustratorAuntie Susana Goho-Quek was accompanying me on the trip as my workshop assistant/partner. I had checked in online so all we had to do was check our baggage in and head for immigration.
Fortunately, the line wasn't that long and Auntie Susanna, who I spotted at the other end of the terminal dressed in bright orange persimmon, she dashed over to join me in line. Son Kenneth and granddaughers Mika and Tilly followed in her wake. It was about 8:00ish and she was bright, chirpy and cheerful, looking forward to the trip. Auntie Susanna was completely oblivious to what spending 5 days in Hong Kong with me would be like -let's just say she knows now. With our bags checked in, we said goodbyes and there was no turning back and we walked toward the inevitable, the moment that we had to board the plane.
Auntie Susanna: We're going on a jet plane. Me: Can we take a train instead?
Me: I'm serious, isn't there another mode of transport to Hong Kong?
Kenneth, Mika and Tilly waved us off as we headed towards our gate. It wasn't a full flight and we found our seats, belted up and waited for takeoff. A baby on the next aisle was screaming her head of, echoing what I was feeling. I texted family members and friends to pray for a safe, non - turbulent flight and remembered to turn my phone to airplane mode and switched it off. People, if you're on a plane remember to turn off your electronic devices!!
Well, the prayers worked, it was a smooth non turbulent flight and we arrived in Hong Kong three hours later. There were no problems at immigration but when we hit the baggage carousel, there was a major hitch. Both of us could not recognise our bags! So we stood there until everyone had claimed their luggage. Then we headed out to catch a cab to our hotel.
Now since I speak a rather sophisticated level of Cantonese the cab driver could not understand my instructions- it's so sophisticated that no one in the Cantonese speaking world can understand it-Auntie Susanna had to translate and we were off and on our way to the Festival's official hotel The Ibis Sheung Wan and Central.
Half an hour later we were arrived and I picked up my welcome package from Liana, the festival director and then we faced a hitch - they didn't have Auntie Susanna's hotel reservation. I started to get frantic. Several checks showed no reservation was made under her name and then I realised that I made the booking under another name. Once that was settled, we wheeled our bags to our rooms and settled in for a bit before deciding to explore the neighbourhood.
So I was glad that artist/illustratorAuntie Susana Goho-Quek was accompanying me on the trip as my workshop assistant/partner. I had checked in online so all we had to do was check our baggage in and head for immigration.
Fortunately, the line wasn't that long and Auntie Susanna, who I spotted at the other end of the terminal dressed in bright orange persimmon, she dashed over to join me in line. Son Kenneth and granddaughers Mika and Tilly followed in her wake. It was about 8:00ish and she was bright, chirpy and cheerful, looking forward to the trip. Auntie Susanna was completely oblivious to what spending 5 days in Hong Kong with me would be like -let's just say she knows now. With our bags checked in, we said goodbyes and there was no turning back and we walked toward the inevitable, the moment that we had to board the plane.
Auntie Susanna: We're going on a jet plane. Me: Can we take a train instead?
Me: I'm serious, isn't there another mode of transport to Hong Kong?Kenneth, Mika and Tilly waved us off as we headed towards our gate. It wasn't a full flight and we found our seats, belted up and waited for takeoff. A baby on the next aisle was screaming her head of, echoing what I was feeling. I texted family members and friends to pray for a safe, non - turbulent flight and remembered to turn my phone to airplane mode and switched it off. People, if you're on a plane remember to turn off your electronic devices!!
Well, the prayers worked, it was a smooth non turbulent flight and we arrived in Hong Kong three hours later. There were no problems at immigration but when we hit the baggage carousel, there was a major hitch. Both of us could not recognise our bags! So we stood there until everyone had claimed their luggage. Then we headed out to catch a cab to our hotel.
Now since I speak a rather sophisticated level of Cantonese the cab driver could not understand my instructions- it's so sophisticated that no one in the Cantonese speaking world can understand it-Auntie Susanna had to translate and we were off and on our way to the Festival's official hotel The Ibis Sheung Wan and Central.
Half an hour later we were arrived and I picked up my welcome package from Liana, the festival director and then we faced a hitch - they didn't have Auntie Susanna's hotel reservation. I started to get frantic. Several checks showed no reservation was made under her name and then I realised that I made the booking under another name. Once that was settled, we wheeled our bags to our rooms and settled in for a bit before deciding to explore the neighbourhood.
March 10, 2013
Off to the Hong Kong International Young Readers Festival
Hello from Hong Kong where I'll be conducting workshops and a talk about my experience in Children's Book publishing for the Hong Kong International Young Readers Festival with Susanna Goho Quek.
March 8, 2013
March 5, 2013
Rolla Rhino by Claire Thamboo
Here are some concept sketches from Rolla Rhino, a new picture book by Claire Thamboo, illustrated by Enrico Sallustio and scheduled for release in 2014 by Bonnie Books.
