Workshop at National Geographic Store, Kuala Lumpur 3/3/2012

Story Week at the Overseas Family School

Geronimo Stilton was racing down the corridor with Harry Potter, while Cinderella and Tintin darted down the stairs to the school canteen at the Overseas Family School.  It was like the characters from every story ever written had leapt off their pages and descended upon the halls of the international school. But in reality, it was Story Week at the OFS and that's why Melissa McGoldrick invited both Susanna Goho-Quek for a school visit to talk to the kids about writing and illustrating children's picture books.

I have to say that I felt rather under dressed for the occassion, if I had known there was a fancy dress dress code I would have come as Charlie from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or Voldermort from Harry Potter instead of my plain old boring self.

"Are you David Seow? The author of There's Soup on my Fly?  a couple of students asked. "How old are you? asked a few others, probably figuring this follically challenged dude must be way too old to write kids books. 

Q & A Session

Settling down, Auntie Susanna and I began talking about what inspires us. As always I had to mention the antics of my niece and nephews which are always a source of endless inspiration.  Then there was a Q & A session and I have to say that the kids asked really good questions. Auntie Susanna and I then told an impromptu story about a small boy who does the silliest of things. The kids loved it!! I guess it's because they could totally relate to it. I mean I can as I still do silly things all the time, just ask my friends and family  members.

We only had half an hour at each of the four classes we visited and time went by a lot faster than we thought. At the end of each class visit, we handed out book marks which the kids wanted autographed and of course we obliged...I mean if anyone wants our messy signatures we're more than happy to oblige.  

Auntie Susanna signing for her fans

Ok, Auntie Susanna's autograph is really very nice, unlike mine. One kid couldn't even read my john hancock. "What's this?" he asked. "When I explained it was my signature, he looked at me as if I needed handwriting classes. Yes, people, my handwriting is atrocious! Some kids even brought some of my books to be autographed. Thanks guys!

Signing my book for Tintin. 

We had a blast and we'd love to visit again. Maybe next time we'll come in costume too. Thanks to the kids and teachers of OFS! We had a really fun time. 

A Visit to International School Singapore

Me, Auntie Susanna, Mick Smith

This past week the talented Author/Artist/Illustrator Susanna Goho-Quek and I were thrilled to be invited to the International School Singapore and the Overseas family School for  school visits.  The International School Singapore was our first stop where we were met by the affable Mick Smith whom I met  last year during my first visit to the School. Mick will be moving to Africa after the end of the school year, It was nice working with him and we wish him the very best as he embarks on his African adventure.

 We were accompanied to our school visit by Karen Quek, thanks for all your help Karen. We couldn't have done it without you!!

We had a blast telling the seven classes who attended our talk about writing books and what it's like to put  a book together. Our session concluded with a creative exercise where the kids had to come up with a story about a circle...I think they got a kick out of that!! So thank you to Mick Smith and the teachers and kids of International School Singapore for a great morning. We can't wait to do it again... that's if you'll have us again.

Thank You Kenneth, Auntie Susanna and Sue

As you  know, sometimes we need to go away to get away from it all. I want to say a huge thank you to my friends Kenneth, Auntie Susanna and Sue, three of the kindest,  gracious and most generous people that you could ever hope to meet. Yes, there are still people like this in the world today.

Kenneth, Auntie Susanna and Sue allowed me to get away from it all and my time spent with them in Kuala Lumpur was one of the happiest times I've had in a long time. So here is my wish for all of you...that you all be blessed with friends as great as these.

Hedwig Anuar Book Award Shortlist Announced

There's Soup on My Fly Red Carpet Debut -haha

Tom Hanks and There's Soup on My Fly! on the Red Carpet @ The Larry Crowne
Premiere in Singapore. (photo: ACK)

I gave a copy of my book to Tom Hanks for his granddaughter at last night's premiere of Larry Crowne.  Who knew that it would be shot on the red carpet?

A Meeting with Kyle Chandler, a Book Festival and an Award Nomination

Kyle Chandler and Me

Hey, everyone, I met Kyle Chandler today, but first let me tell you about the Asian Festival of Children's Content where my books There's Soup on My Fly! and Blow A Kiss were vying for the Hedwig Anuar Award, which carried a $10,000 cash prize that was to be shared between the author and illustrator.

The Hong Kong & Singapore  members of SCBWI
  Top L to R: Janet, Kathleen, Sue. Bottom L to R:  Resham, Pooja, Me, Kenneth
Not pictured: Catherine

Well,  they didn't announce the shortlist until the awards night and I was pleasantly surprised that There's Soup on My Fly was one of the eight books shortlisted for the award. Well, you know I didn't win, of course,  because if I had, this post would have started very differently.  I did, however, meet the night's guest of honor, President Jose Ramos Horta of Timor Leste, but as you can tell from the photo, he looks like he'd rather be doing something else than posing with me. 

This is what the Prez must be thinking: Why am I posing with this goober?

As you know, I was also a finalist for the Crystal Kite Award so this is shaping up to be a pretty great year. Would have been better if I won the award though, hahaha. No, seriously, it would have.

Cheif Judge of the Hedwig Anuar  Award Ken Spillman announces the short list

Kimi 's seated in black jacket in the front row and Kate's right behind her.
Trevor's the only dude in the photo.

Nominee Sue, SCBWI Singapore leader Kenneth and lovely Lynda
who was so supportive

I also met some wonderful people at the festival, who also happen to be great writers, some of whom were shortlisted for the Scholastic Asian Book Award. 


Kimi Takazawa who hails from Hawaii was nominated for her book about some very unusual chickens - watch out for it!  Kate Whitehead from Hong Kong is another name to look out for. I've got a gut feeling, and my gut is rather sizeable, that both ladies will make it big in the children's lit soon.  You heard it here first!


It was fantastic meeting Janet and Lynda, who were so wonderfully supportive and encouraging! And BTW, Trevor Kew, you're a teacher and author and that's kewl! Auntie Susanna Goho Quek, you're such an amazing artist. Thanks for working with me for FREE!! ha ha. 

Clockwise from the middle: Sarah, Catherine and Kate

Before I forget, I have to add that I'm so proud of my friend and long-suffering editor Sue Flotow who was among the elite list of Scholastic Asian Book Award finalists for her story Kam's School Fish Rolls. After reading it I knew she would be shortlisted, and guess what, she was!!


Special thanks goes out to everyone who were great during the week, especially my fellow SCBWI Singapore members Resham, Pooja, Catherine, Sue, Qian, and of course, our fearless leader and all-round good guy Ken, who puts up with a lot of ***** mostly, ok, no, all of it, from me.

Kyle  Chandler and Me( David Seow)

So you might be wondering how I met Kyle Chandler. Well, I found out that J.J. Abrams and the cast of the movie Super 8 flew in town  to promote their movie and I was lucky enough to meet Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights, Early Edition, Homefront) who stars in the movie along with Elle Fanning (Dakota's kid sis) and Joel Courtney, who plays his son.

I've been a fan since Early Edition and Kyle was really great.  He's such a nice down-to-earth guy and listened to me babbling about Friday Night Lights and he waited patiently as the contents of my laptop bag fell out as I tried to fish out my books to give him as a souvenir. Of course I had to do the fanboy thing and ask for an autograph and he graciously obliged.  Let me just say he's not one of those celebrities who has the handwriting skills of a doctor, his signature is legible!  I apologized for being a bother, and he kindly assured me that I wasn't. 

Kyle Chandler and my friend Ray

I told him that 'Fly' was recently nominated for a book award and he offered his congratulations. He then asked me to pose for a pic  with him using his camera, not mine, but his! What a thrill! At first my friend Ray couldn't work his camera and told him that he'd take the pic with my camera and then we would email it to him. Ray's attempt to get the personal contact details of a Hollywood star was an epic fail! 


The pic was eventually taken and with a firm handshake, and a smile thanks were exchanged and he was off to his next appointment. I said it before he's a very friendly guy. Thank you, Mr Chandler!  Go see Super 8, people! 


And before I forget, head on down to the bookstore to get Adeline Foo's latest book Whoopie Lee, Almost Famous and Shermay Loh's Archibald and the Blue-Blood Conspiracy. They're fantastic authors. Oh and you might like to get my books too if you haven't already. Ta for now.