David Seow's Blog, page 54

Asian Festival of Children's Content 2012 -Book Launch

What a difference a year makes,  last year Sarah Mounsey was an attendee at the Asian Festival of Children's Content and this year she's attending again, but as a published author!! Yes, Sarah is launching her charming book Purple Pawprints at this year's AFCC.


So if you've got aspirations to be a children's book author or an illustrator, the AFCC is the event of the year, and one you cannot afford to miss. For workshops, keynote speaks and a chance to get discovered...head down to the Asian Festival of Children's Content. To register click on this link...AFCC REGISTRATION tickets are going fast!

Asian Festival of Children's Content 2012 Singapore Press Conference

The AFCC Team L to R: Mr Rama, Ms Lim Li Kok, Mrs Kiang Koh Lai Lin. Ms Claire Chiang, Mr Nelson Wee,  Mr Colin Goh, Ms Evelyn Wong, Mr Kenneth Quek, Mr Johnson Paul

So the Asian Festival of Children's Content (AFCC) press conference was held yesterday at the Arts House and there was a great turn out. The conference was packed, a testament to all the hard work that the AFCC team has put in. In attendance was AFCC chairperson, Claire Chiang, Mr Rama Executive Director of The National Book Development Council of Singapore and, of course, AFCC Manager Kenneth Quek, Evelyn Wong and Myra Garces Bascal among others.


I arrived early just to claim my spot--ok, ok truth be told to get first dibs at the buffet, which unfortunately was not set-up yet. Mr Rama showed me the festival programme and told me he would have preferred it if I had used another picture.... My first thought was, Mr Rama, you don't like my face? But the fact is the photo that I chose distorts my head more than all the other photos I've ever had taken, so I guess he had a valid point. Hopefully there is time to change that.


Claire Chiang, AFCC Chairperson

Festival Manager. Kenneth was busy ensuring that everything would run smoothly and to his credit it did. Claire Chiang, AFCC Chairperson gave the opening speech, in which she mentioned that the proceeds of her autobiography 'My Journey and After' would go to the festival. To date she has raised a total of over $250, 000. So, people, go out and buy lots of copies of her book so she can raise more  $$$, ok?


In addition to the two exisiting book awards associated with the festival: the Hedwig Anuar Children's Book Award and the Scholatic Asian Book Award, a new picture book award will be launched at this year's festival- The Singtel Asian Picture Book Award, which will be awarded next year...I have to say that's the award I want. Ok, who am I kidding- I want them all.
Mr Rama, Exec Diretcor of the National Book Development Council of Singapore
and AFCC DirectorAfter Claire spoke, Mr Rama explained a brief history of the AFCC and shared the highlights of the this year's conference. The country of focus for this year is the Philippines, which boasts some incredibly talented writers and illustrators. 


The very talented Ovidia YuSpeaking of talented writers, acclaimed playwright, author and last year's 2nd-runner up of the Scholastic Asian Book Award, Ovidia Yu then read excerpts from her book 'The Mudskipper'. She is so incredibly nice, talented and funny. I'm in awe of her literary gifts. After the reading, she presented a copy of her newly-launched book to Claire Chiang. I'm definitely getting a copy, Ovidia...autographed preferably.


With that the conference came to a close and it was time to hit the buffet table; however, at that very moment I received a rather exciting email...but more on that later. So if you're in Singapore, or even if you're not. do try to come to the AFCC this year, it's going to be amazing! Literary heavyweights Sarah Odedina, Ruth Starke, Alvina Ling,  Suzy Lee and Leonard Marcus are all featured speakers. For details and to register click here:Asian Festival of Children's Content

Asian Festival of Children's Content 2012

The AFCC Team

So the Asian Festival of Children's Content press conference was held yesterday and there was a great turn out. The conference was packed, a testament to all the hard work that the AFCC team has put in. In attendance was AFCC chairperson, Claire Chiang, Mr Rama of the Book Council and of course AFCC Manager Kenneth Quek, Evelyn Wong and Myra Garces Bascal among others.


I arrived early just to claim my spot--ok, ok truth be told to get first dibs at the buffet, which unfortunately was not set-up yet. Mr Rama showed my the festival programme and told me he would have preferred it if I had used another picture.... My first thought was, Mr Rama you don't like my face? But the fact is the photo that I chose distorts my head more all the other photos I've had taken, so I guess he had a valid point. Hopefully there is time to change that.


Claire Chiang, AFCC Chairperson



Kenneth was busy ensuring that everything ran smoothly and it did. Claire Chiang, AFCC Chairperson gave a speech and donated the proceeds of her biography to the Festival. To date she has raised a total of over $250, 000. So people go out and buy copies so she can raise more, ok?


In addition to the two exisiting book awards: the Hedwig Anuar Children's Book Award, and the Scholatic Asian Book Award, there's also a new picture book award - The Singtel Asian Picture Book Award which will be awarded next year...I have to say that's the award I want. Ok, who am I kidding- I want them all.
Mr Rama, Exec Diretcor of the National Book Development Council of Singapore
and AFCC Director

After Claire spoke, Mr Rama explained a brief history of the AFCC and shared the highlights of the this year's conference. The Country of focus for this year is the Philippines which boasts some very talented writers and illustrators. 


The very talented Ovidia Yu



Ovidia Yu then read excerpts from her book The Mudskipper. She is so incredibly nice, talented and funny. I'm in awe of her literary gifts. After the reading, she launched her book the Mudskipper and presented a copy to Claire Chiang.


With that the conference came to a close and it was time to hit the buffet table; however, at that very moment I received a rather exciting email...but more on that another time. So if you're in Singapore or even if you're not do try to come to the AFCC this year, it's going to be amazing! Literary heavyweights Sarah Odedina, Ruth Starke, Alvina Ling,  Suzy Lee and Leonard Marcus are all featured speakers. For details and to register click here:Asian Festival of Children's Content

Blow A Kiss

Ok.  Been feeling a bit blah about things..so I decided to post the text of my book Blow A Kiss here for those who may be feeling the same way. So here it is. Hope it makes you feel better. If you would like to order a copy of the book please head to the 'Buy' tab on this page.






Blow A Kiss
By David Seow
© David Seow, 2010


Can you blow a kiss?
Get ready, get set, blow
Now let's see where 
your little kiss will go


It will ride on the wings
 of sweet gentle dreams
skip by babbling brooks 
and splash in crystal streams


Weave through gold-quilted valleys
and rainbow painted plains
sweep by cities and towns,
cars, ships and trains...


Cross the biggest, bluest oceans;
brave the stormiest of seven seas...
Soar over soft, snow-capped mountains
drift through forests of a thousand trees


Pass swirling hills 
of blazing desert sands; 
fly to faraway places,
fly to farway lands.


From lands of peace
to lands at war,
to children who have barely seen a smile
or heard a laugh before,


Where people fight when they are different,
where people fight when they're the same,
but the all have families who love them
and know them by name,


Your kiss 
will brush each tear-stained cheek,
bring joy to the sad and the lonely
the hungry and the weak.


Soon your one kiss will turn into two,
two into three and three into four;
then it will grow and grow
from now till forevermore,


You see,
this is what your little kiss can do:
spread a love so goo,
so pure, so true.


For a kiss can turn any foe 
into a loving friend.
A kiss can bring any woe
to a happy end.


Now go tell everyone
just what you know
Then with a prayer and a kiss
get, ready, get set, blow.

AFCC PRESS CONFERENCE

Bye London

26 March 2012

Well the day of our departure came around all too soon. Kenneth headed off to some last minute meetings and I attempted to cram all my stuff into one suitcase. With that done, I headed out for one last walk around London.


Claridges Tim TaylorI went to the famous Claridges which happened to be just around the corner from our hotel. Then I spotted a member of the Royal Family -no not Kate Middleton but Tim Taylor, husband of the Duke of Kent's daughter Lady Helen Taylor.  


After Kenneth's meeting we headed down for champagne high-tea at the Orangerie at Kensington Palace. Kenneth's sister Karen, kindly bought us a tea voucher.  It's a first class venue, but sadly the service was third rate.
The Orangerie

Tea done, we headed to the gift shop for a quick look-see, then  navigated the complicated exit route -it entailed climbing over a fence- before we hopped in a cab and high-tailed it to our hotel to check out.
Kenneth at champage tea at the Orangerie

I was kind of sad that the trip was over. I hadn't been out of Singapore in six long years and that is enough to dry anyone stir crazy. Hope to get out of the country again soon. Thanks to my family, Kenneth and the NAC for making this trip possible. Hopefully I didn't drive Ken or anyone else completely bonkers...that's it for now. :?

London day # 4

At the Ritz Buckingham Palace Hyde Park Hyde Park

Not sure which park this is. Mounted Guards A celebrity event I came across on the way back to the hotel.
Does anyone know who the guy in the suit is?
I saw Michael Fassbender as well!a

London day # 3

24 March 2012


I was looking forward to lunch with noted children's book historian and author Leonard Marcus at Rules restaurant and the fact that I was famished didn't have anything to do with it.  I was just worried that I wouldn't be able to say anything intelligent- not that that has stopped me from saying anything before.


Kenneth Quek and Leonard Marcus at Rules RestaurantWell, it turns out that I didn't have much to worry about because Kenneth did a good job keeping the conversation going and I peppered Mr Marcus with a series of questions and quips. I guess I must have over did it because he added Kenneth to his Facebook page but hasn't added me. Hmmm...I wonder what could it be...something about me? Possibly. 


Anyway Kenneth and Mr Marcus had the roast beef, while I once again had the fish and chips. I really should have had the venison instead but I didn't want to think of a bambi-like fawn as I took a bite out of his mom.


Zach BraffAfter lunch, we darted down to the Duke of York Theatre where we almost fell asleep, ok I did fall asleep, for a portion of Zach Braff's All New People. It wasn't because it wasn't entertaining, it was more of a post lunch siesta scenario. I managed to shake of a case of the sleeps to watch most of the play. It was very entertaing, I have to say.


We walked back to the hotel and after freshening up a bit, we headed by tube to Vauxhall where Gee had arranged for us to have dinner with his very entertaining friend Julian. We finally crashed back at our hotel after midnight. It was already our last full day in London!

London Day # 2

23 March

There is nothing quite like a full English breakfast to kick start your day. Thankfully we managed to get free breakfast with our room-Thanks Sheila. The breakfast was terrific, could eat it every day which we did when we were there.


Breakfast

After breakfast, while Ken did some work- the guy was working every spare moment for his festival The Asian Festival of Children's Content-I headed for a  walk along Oxford Street, picked up an Oyster Card for travel by tube before we headed out for a trip to Leicester Square


Post breakfast morning walk

After breakfast, while Ken did some work- the guy was working every spare moment for his festival The Asian Festival of Children's Content, I headed for a  walk along Oxford Street, picked up an Oyster Card for travel by tube before we headed out for a trip to Leicester Square.
My head was too big for the Foyles sign so I had to retake the photoOf course we had to stop by the famous Foyles...
Me in front of Foyles

We picked up some tickets for Zach Braff's new play 'All New People" which we intended to see after lunch at London's Rules restaurant, the oldest restaurant in London the following day.


While Ken headed off for a lunch appointment, I wandered around, picked up lunch at Selfridges- a delicious roast beef sandwich and some cupcakes before heading back to the hotel. 


In the evening, I dashed off for dinner with Gee at a nice little Italian restaurant around the corner from the hotel with not so little prices. We started with a seafood salad, shared a dover sole and I finished with strawberries and cream.  


Gee and the Dover Sole



Wanting to show us some of the nightlife of London, Gee Yung took us for a walk around some of the hotspots he frequents. I'm not much for going to night spots, so I just sipped on my coca cola- actually I think they gave me pepsi instead before we called it a night...

London

22  March 2011

So with our trip to Bologna behind us, Kenneth and I jetted back to London on British Airways and there was another familiar face on board - Arthur Levine who had flown on the same plane as us to Bologna six days earlier. It was  thankfully a smooth flight and we got into London shortly after 1pm.


Our hotel: The Millenium Mayfair with a view of Grosvenor SquareAfter a few harrowing moments, wondering if our transport would actually show up, we headed to the carpark for our two hour ride from Gatwick into London and to our hotel, The Millenium Mayfair. I have to confess after a while, we both fell asleep.


 We finally got to our hotel at about 3:30pm and checked into our room, but the wifi was not working and neither was the hotel safe. At least we managed to get the safe working after a call to the front desk and then we ordered room service- we were famished as we hadn't had lunch yet. Ken ordered Lamb Rogan Josh and since there was no roast beef with yorkshire pudding, I ordered the next best thing--fish and chips.


Room service at the Millenium Mayfair



Our hunger pangs satiated, we headed out with map in hand, Kenneth leading the way to Oxford Street for some window shopping and, perhaps, a spot of the real thing. One of our fist stops was to Boots to stock up on some supplies and then after a trip to the Nike Store and the Mac Store for Ken and the Disney Store for me...we headed back to the hotel to rest up before dinner with my friends Gee and Chris.


We were both K'oed when I got a message saying "i'm 3 minutes away." After a literal quick change for both of us we were out the door and in the cold London air waiting for Gee to pick us up for dinner.


I can't remember the name of the restaurant we went to but it was good. I had crab on toast as a starter, followed by pork belly and I was too stuffed to partake of any dessert. After dinner Ken and I headed back to the hotel by cab and knocked out for the night. The events of the week really left us exhausted.
Ken, Gee and Chris at dinner