SCBWI SUMMER READING LIST 2016

A Day with the Duchess makes it on to SCBWI's Summer Reading List

Royal Inspiration Part Deux

In 2011,  I followed the news of The Royal Wedding with great interest. Then when it was announced the Cambridges were coming and to say I was beside myself with excitement would be an understatement of monumental proportions.

So I  set off to Gardens by the Bay in the hopes of meeting the royal couple with my mum and niece at the unearthly hour of 6:45am. We found a spot right against the barricades next to the Adeney family. As we had an extra bouquet of flowers, Mum handed one to Alice to give to the pretty princess.

After waiting for hours in the blazing sun, the royal tram came by and stopped right in front of us. The Duke walked in one direction, while the Duchess came over towards us. First she engaged Alice in conversation before making her was over to my My niece who was trembling with excitement as she handed the Duchess a hand-drawn pencil sketch.  Of the three of us, Mum did the most talking. 

Mum gave her a photo that I had taken of Princess Diana as well a copy of my children’s book Blow A Kiss. I raised my hand like a naughty schoolboy saying, "I took that photo. I wrote that book,'' and then I asked if I could shake her hand, which of course she said I could. With that, she smiled, waved, and moved off to meet the rest of the sweaty, screaming masses of royalists who were melting under the Singapore sun.

The Duchess accepts a copy of Blow A Kiss

A reporter later interviewed my mum about what she discussed and she was quoted in Hello and though she says that she was embarrassed by it, I think she was rather chuffed.

The Duchess holding her copy of my book Blow a Kiss +Raymond Liw

As there were no souvenirs commemorating the royal visit, I decided to write a children's book about it. I tried to self-publish the book before my publisher suggested making it part of my Sam, Sebbie, and Di-Di-Di series of books, and that's what I did. A year and a half after the royal couple's visit, the book was finally published! I dedicated it to Alice and Mikey Adeney and to a little guy named George Alexander Louis.

A few months after it was published, it was announced that the Duchess was expecting her second baby. So I started thinking about a  sequel that would be set in London and would include Prince George, his new sibling, and Lupo.

Thank you, everyone, for your support, and I can't wait for the new book to be out. I will be giving away a copy of the book once it is hot off the press. Check back for details.

What will the Duchess Wear?

In our book A Day with the Duchess, illustrator Soefara Jafney faithfully recreated the outfits that the Duchess wore on the actual tour. 

So on the cover of the book she featured the Duchess in her Jenny Packham dress with the Orchid motif that HRH wore upon arrival in Singapore, the visit to the Orchid Garden and the arrival at Raffles Hotel.

For the tour of Gardens by the Bay, Soefara faithfully illustrated the Duchess in her broderie anglaise Alexander McQueen dress.

At Queenstown, the Duchess is accurately depicted in her Raoul dress.

And for the Duke and Duchess's last day in Singapore, she dressed Kate in same duck-egg blue Jenny Packham ensemble with 
matching jewelry.

It's needless to say that Soefara has an eye for detail. And the Duke and Duchess appeared on the steps of St Mary's with the little Princess Charlotte, Soefara sketched a quick commemorative illustration in which the Duchess is wearing her Jenny Packham shift dress.

So what outfits will be featured in A Royal Adventure? Stay tuned to find out.

Welcome HRH Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana

Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George and welcome to Princess Cambridge. Here's just a teaser of the upcoming A Day with the Duchess #2: A Royal Adventure.

HRH Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana

A Day with the Duchess

Concept sketch of the Cover.

Hi as you all know by now I've just returned from London from the London Book Fair where I was plugging my books. Here's the latest book I'm working on which my long-time illustrator Enrico Sallustio, "A Day with the Duchess" .

After this book's publication, I have four Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di books scheduled to be republished with Epigram. 

Cover design for A Day with the Duchess