Asian Festival of Children's Content: Local Authors, International Audience

For weeks, Ken had been asking me if I had finished my PowerPoint for the Local Authors, International Audience panel discussion with authors Emily Lim and Shamini Flint. My standard reply was "more or less". And when I say more or less, that usually means more on the less side; however, I wasn't going to tell him that! Thankfully I finally finished my PowerPoint presentation on the morning of our panel discussion.  How on earth was I going to measure up to the two powerhouses of local children's literature. Talk about PRESSURE!!! So I figured that I would basically use attention grabbing tactics. Sad and pathetic? Yes. Shameless? Most definitely!!

Leonard Marcus delivers his address

So the day kicked off with Leonard Marcus's engaging keynote address  Children's Books for Education and Entertainment. I really wish I had an opportunity to listen to him when I first started writing; it would have saved me a lot of grief when I was first starting out in this industry.  Getting Your Books on  Bookshelves Across South East Asia was a session I would have loved to have attended but I had to put my finishing touches on my presentation.


Catherine and Sarah were already at the Bookaburra perusing the books on sale. Dragging Sarah to my makeshift workspace, I ran through my PowerPoint and she gave me the thumbs up. That was a relief until I realised that Internet access was practically out of the question. I'm kind of a dunce when it comes to these things, but I finally managed to figure it out in time to head over to the next session:


Crossing Borders: Taking Our Books Out of Our Home Country with Vatsala Kaul-Banerjee of Hachette-India and Adeline Foo.  Inspiring as always, Adeline, inspiring as always.

Local Authors, International Audience

At 1:45pm I headed down to the Earshot Cafe to meet with Phan Ming Yen, the moderator Local Authors, International Audience, and my fellow panelists, Shamini Flint and Emily Lim. I literally bumped into Shamini--Sorry, Shamini, I'm a klutz, while she was talking to Ken Spillman  before Ming Yen and Emily arrived to run through the sequence of our talk. Shamini was all set and she didn't even need a PowerPoint presentation!  Emily was all ready to go and as for me, well I could only rely on my cheap attention-grabbing tactics. We agreed that the ladies should start off the panel discussion: Emily,  Shamini, then me.


The Gallery, the venue of our panel discussion was packed! A. Susanna was there to take pictures and to offer support...I mean.  Emily borrowed my computer for her PowerPoint presentation. Dang she was well prepared! It was brilliant! I suddenly had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Next, it was Shamini's turn. She's brilliant and she makes it seem effortless.  Shamini  left everyone in stitches with her sense of humor on how she went from high flying lawyer with a sports car to a mum and a writer. And she didn't even need a PowerPoint presentation and I was next. Beads of sweat began to dot my brow and I felt an acne outbreak coming on. There was no way my presentation could compare to these two ladies.  Oh boy. Thankfully I didn't mess up my presentation! And before I knew it, the presentation was over and I was exhausted.

Shamini Flint, Emily Lim and me!

I headed straight over to the launch of  Neill Laurenson's aka Sabian Lau's  book The Prince and the Merlion which was moderated by AFCC Board of Advisors Chairperson Claire Chiang. 

Neill Laurenson aka Sabian Lau and Claire Chiang at the book launch
of the Prince and the Merlion

Stacey Zolt Hara

This was quickly followed by Stacey Zolt Hara's app launch of her book Bella's Chinese New Year. 


I had a few sessions to attend before the SCBWI dinner at the Pod at the library which I was really looking forward to and I managed a quick chat with Sarah Odedina. It turns out she's not a fan of scatalogical books so I'm glad I didn't talk to her about my latest book-"The Farting Forest".

exchanging autographs with Naomi Kojima

On my way out, I exchanged autographs with  Naomi Kojima. She signed   her charming book Singing Shijimi Clams for me and I signed my book  Monkey: The Classic Chinese Aventure Tale for her. After a quick stop to the library, I headed to the POD where SCBWI members from around the world were already gathered for a buffet dinner. I was beginning to feel my gut expand.

Asian Festival of Children's Content Day # 2

Leonard Marcus

The second day of the AFCC got started with the Asian Parents Forum with a welcome address by Claire Chiang and a keynote address by Leonard Marcus  'Read Me a Story, Sing Me to Sleep' which brought back memories of my days babysitting my-now teenage- niece and nephews. It was a fascinating talk that was interrupted by the person next to me who kept talking to herself while she perused her programme, so  I had to 'shush' her which worked rather effectively but not before she shot me the filthiest of glances.  


It is interesting to note that even Eric Carle's book The Hungry Caterpillar was rejected by librarians for being too much like a toy rather than a book,  and that Margaret Wise Brown's book Goodnight Moon still reaches across generations today, though it, too, was not widely accepted at first. So I guess the lesson of the story is that librarians and teachers have and will continue to reject good books which will eventually be appreciated in time. So if you've faced rejection and continue to do so, then you must be a genius!! But then if that's the case I must be Einstein!! haha...kidding.

Claire Chiang

After Leonard's great introduction, Claire Chiang conducted an engaging, interactive session Telling Stories, Building Bonds which focused on  writing memoirs for yourself and your family.  She had us all riveted. Her dedication to her work, her philantrophy and her love for family is, for lack of a better word,  inspiring. So if you have a chance to hear her in person, please do so!!

Mr Rama and Victoria Siaw's mother, Victoria Siaw's seated in the corner.

As for the rest of the day, I walked around in a kind of daze as I didn't get much sleep the night before,  but I did manage to go for the book launch of Victoria Siaw, a teen author from Malaysia who started writing and publishing her stories when she was just nine years old! 


The day ended with local actor Edmund Chen's book launch. I can never understand why people in the entertainment industry insist on writing children's books. Do those of us in the children's book industry embark on acting, singing or dancing careers? No, but perhaps we should!

Edmund Chen and fan

Anway, as I left for the day, Festival Manager Kenneth was running around making everything was in order for the next day, Festival Direcor Mr Rama was overseeing things and the AFCC Angels  Celine,Mra,Vasantha, Faith and Filzah were prepping for an influx of new festival attendees. 

Festival Angels: Mra, Vasantha, Faith and Filzah (Celine not pictured)

Glad that my long day was over, I headed home and put the finishing touches on my powerpoint presentation for my panel discussion with Shamini Flint and Emily Lim. How on earth was I going to measure up to these two accomplished authors... the answer was that I didn't know.

Carolyn Goodwin and Adeline Foo at AFCC Day # 1

Asian Festival of Children's Content 2012 is Here!!

The Scholastic goodie bag attendees will receive!

Well after months of planning and lots and lots of hard work on the part of the NBDCS team: Mr Rama, Kenneth, Faith, Vasantha, Celine, Filzah AFCC 2012 kicks off today. I think it's going to be the best festival yet!

I headed down to the airport yesterday to pick up keynote speaker Leonard Marcus from the airport, and I checked the timing of the flight before I left for the airport  and it was on schedule for 5:15pm but  when I arrived, I was more than half an hour late because the flight arrived early! I feel so badly about that and I am so sorry, Mr Marcus. Anyway we got to the hotel with out any further incident, thank goodness.

Books at Bookaburra

Festival Manager Kenneth Quek and Author/Illustrator Susanna Goho

Norman Jorgensen, Dianne Wolfer, Festival Director Mr Rama and Susanna Goho 

Celine and Vasantha and Faith getting everythig ready for the big day

The Registration Booth

After that I headed down to the Arts House, the venue for AFCC where everything seemed to be progressing nicely. Here are some of the snaps I took today. So I hope to see everyone there tomorrow...Good night.

Singapore Children's Literature Lecture, Asian Festival of Children's Content

Leonard Marcus Singapore Children's Literature Lecture at the Asian Festival of Children's Content

Noted Children's Book historian, author and critic Leonard Marcus will be presenting the Singapore Children's Literature Lecture at the Asian Festival of Children's Content and guess whose book has been selected to be dramatised there...mine!! I am truly humbled, honored and grateful that something that came out of my teeny mind has been selected to be part of such a prestigious event. To say that I am very, very, very, very grateful would be an understatement of monumental proportions.

My Agent Linda

My lovely agent Linda and me.

Yusof Gajah Lingard Literary Agency

Last year I attended the Asian Festival of Children's Content and I walked away with an agent. Well, ok that's technically not entirely true. I met Linda several months later in KL at the House of Suzie Wong, but she is my agent now so that's all that counts.  Anyway Linda will be in town for AFCC in two weeks and if you're a talented writer or illustrator, you may like to show her your portfolio while you are there she may even consider representing you. So if you're keen sign up for the AFCC LINK: Register Here

ASIAN FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN'S CONTENT

Link: AFCC Facebook page

That's my bio on the AFCC facebook page. That photo seriously looks like a mugshot!!

Win Tickets for The Asian Festival of Children's Content 2012

LINK: CLICK  HERE  TO WIN 

SCBWI Book Shop Crawl

Book Shop Crawl / For Book Lovers

The Singapore chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI www.scbwi.org) have organised a bookshop crawl (pub crawl with bookstores instead of pubs) on Sunday 27 May from 3pm to 6pm.

Catherine, Emma, Sarah and Dave have chartered a bus and they will take you on a visit to 2 independent bookstores in Singapore's Chinatown. Littered with Books stocks a wide range from children's books to adult non-fiction, with a special section of rare first editions, and autographed copies of popular titles. Woods in the Books is a children's book store tucked among the bars and cafes of Club Street.

Light snacks will be served on this outing. Please contact Dave by Sunday 20 May at dyw.seow@gmail.com to book a seat for $30, spaces are limited!

Two Weeks Till AFCC

ARRGGHHH!!! It's two weeks until the publising event of the year and I have just started work on my powerpoint presentation--well, ok more or less, more on the less than the more side.

As mentioned in my previous posts which you may or may not have read, depending on how often anyone besides myself frequents this blog, this is one event you cannot miss! If you're a teacher, there's the Asian Primary and Preschool Teacher's Conference on Saturday and a Parents Forum on Sunday. Aspiring authors and illustrators will get a chance to meet publishing heavy weights like Alvina Ling, Sarah Odedina, Suzy Lee and Leonard Marcus. You can register for the event here:Asian Festival of Children's Content.

RIP Maurice Sendak (1928-2012)

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Grim Colberty Tales with Maurice Sendak Pt. 1
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The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Grim Colberty Tales with Maurice Sendak Pt. 2
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So nice to be recognized by my alma mater OES...(The Oregon Episcopal School)

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.

Asian Festival of Children's Content

Register here: Asian Festival of Children's Content