AFCC 2014 CLOSING NIGHT PARTY: MAKAN & MINGLE

"Every children's book brings a light in to a world full of darkness."  And if that's the case, NBDCS just lit up the entire region with yet another amazing AFCC!

In recent years, the festival has grown exponentially and it's due to the hard work and the long hours that Mr Rama, Kenneth and the whole team at NBDCS put in to make sure that it's an enjoyable and informative festival for everyone.

I'd like to think that my panel session with Emily Lim and Shamini Flint two years ago had something to do with the festival's continued success, or perhaps the performance of There's Soup on My Fly by ACT3 a year later had a small part in it too, but who am I kidding? It's all down to their indefatigible efforts to make it bigger and better every year. And my word, they have succeeded!

After a year of planning and a lot of hard work on their part, the 5th Annual AFCC was coming to a close with one big party.

Kathleen Ahrens kicked off the evening by sharing a few words before Festival Director, Kenneth, took to the podium to thank everyone and the invaluable NBDCS team, including the most energetic member Mr Rama. 

Then Mr Rama had a few words of thanks to say before everyone hit the buffet table and bottles of wine.

For the first time in months, everyone at the NBDCS let their hair down and truly began to relax for an evening with old and new friends.

I always feel this party is bitter-sweet because though we all had a wonderful time it signals time to part ways for another year or perhaps even longer. OK, so I am a sad, sorry, sappy, SAP but that's me. I admit it.

I'm really very proud of the team including" Adan, Carlo, Celine, Alicia, Jade, Judy,Vasantha, Preema, and Mr Rama for pulling off another amazing AFCC. And congratualations to the Board of Advisors led by Ms Claire Chiang. Long may AFCC continue. Anyway I'll stop rambling and let you have a look at some of the photos from the night.

AFCC Day 5

So the last day of AFCC was here. It's kind of sad how fast these festivals pass but then again that's a sign of a great festival.  First up my friend Emily Lim invited me for breakfast with Frané Lessac and Cristy Burne along with Emma and Sarah. 

I told them that whomever I give my books to tend to fall pregnant. Cristy definitely did not want any of my books. LOL

 

After breakfast, we headed to the library where Emma was taking part in the pitch incubator, a session where Eric Huang and Mark Checkley walked participants through the elements of a pitch. It was perfect timing as Emma, Sarah and I all had speed pitching appointments with both Eric and Mark right after that.

Emma had the honour of pitching during the session and she did a great job I think. Though, Eric and Mark did offer her some pointers to make it even better.

Let's just say that I was a bundle of nerves at the speed pitching session, but Eric couldn't have been nicer and that relaxed me for my pitching sessions with Mark and Galen.

With the sessions over and done with, Emma, Simon, and I darted off to Seah Street for lunch with our agents Andrea and Helen.

With our tummies full of chicken rice, we made it back in time for Andrew Weale and Ho Lee Ling's  amazing session about school visits. I learned a lot and I'm definitely using some of their ideas!

As Andrew was flying back to the UK early the next morning, he wanted to visit the Raffles Hotel one last time, so along with Auntie Susanna we visited the Long Bar for peanuts and ginger beer!

And then it was time to head back to the library for the last official event of the AFCC, the closing dinner: Makan & Mingle.

AFCC 2014

The 5th Annual Asian Festival of Children's Content or AFCC officially starts today but the fun started yesterday with the set-up for all the action. Kenneth, Adan, Carlo and the AFCC Angels got to the National Library early to make sure that everything was going according to their well-laid plans.

Adan, Faith and Preema

Kenneth and Mr Rama  discuss the day's events.

The previous couple of years, the official bookstore was managed by Cheryle and Denise of Bookaburra but this year it's being run by Woods in the Books and let's just say that they have mighty big, HUGE, shoes to fill.

After browsing around the mediamart, the area where various vendors like Samsung and this year's festival country of focus: India have pavilions set up, I joined author James Mayhew for a drink at the nearby Hanis cafe. 

James has been in town for almost a week and we had a bit of a chat before illustrator Dave Liew joined us.

Once again, like last year, The Learning Connection was staging a  local children's story, Shekinah Linn's Spice Kids: Star Anise. A group of children sat enthralled as the performers brought Shekinah's story to life. Shekinah, no doubt, was really, really happy.

Dave and James were rescued from having to listen to me ramble on about publishing, when Stephanie and Faith from the Book Council came to tell them that it was almost time for their duelling illustrators session, a session in which they challenge each other to illustrate a story on the spot. And while the minutes ticked down to their challenge. And then it was time!

Award-winning author, Andrew Weale, Emma, Sarah and Linda made it to the library just in time for the event which thrilled everyone who watched these two ultra-talented illustrators duking it out with paper and paintbrushes. The kids loved that and James and Dave were besieged for autographs.

Auntie Susanna arrived after that and we discussed our upcoming book launches this weekend  and ran a couple or errands at the neighbouring Bras Basah Complex before it was time to get ready for the official launch.

Emma, Andrew, Sarah and Linda.

As we headed back downstairs we spotted Kelvin and Denise from Closetful of Books at the drop-off point.  Denise is a huge admirer of AFCC Board of Advisors Chairman Claire Chiang, so Auntie Susanna and I took the opportunity to introduce her to Claire.  There's no need to describe Denise's reaction as you can see it for yourself from the photo below.

Denise and Claire

Auntie Susanna and Claire

James Mayhew and Sally Gardner

I ran into  Ken Spillman, Linda Lingard, Sally Gardner, James Mayhew, Corinne Robson and Marjorie Coughlan before there was a flurry of flash bulbs and the crowd surged forward, signalling the arrival  HE Ms Vijay Thakur Singh, High Comissioner of India

At the India's Pavilion,  HE and the official delegation from India presented the library with a set of favourite children's books from their country. I, for one, can't wait to read them.

We were then ushered to our seats at the library's plaza to await the arrival of the guest of honour, Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister of Culture, Community and Youth and second Minister of  Communications and Information.

Mr Rama and Mr Wong

Claire, Her Excellency and the Minister all addressed the guests 

before it was time to announce the winners of the Scholastic Asian Book Award.

Ms Lim Li Kok, HE Ms Vijay Thakur Singh, Mr Lawrence Wong, Ms Claire Chiang,
Ms. Seline Lee and the winners of the Scholastic Asian Book Award.

With the official part of the launch over, the Minister toured the Mediamart, stopping at various booths to test out their products. It was dinner time for the rest of us.

All in all in was a great  start to what will be another amazing AFCC. If you haven't registered, don't worry, you still have time to do so. Just head on down to the National Library and you can register on the spot.  See y'all later!

London, Day Four 2014

Day four was the first day without a hint of rain. Ken, Celine and I made and early start, stopping by Gregg's for a quick breakfast and braving the wind chill factor on our wat to the fair. 

The lovely ladies of Jacaranda were already there and ready to pitch my books to potential publishers, thanks, ladies! 

As Ken and Celine were busy taking care of business, I walked around the two halls of booths. It was massive. It makes one realise just how many publishers, authors and illustrators there are out there. The competition is stiff and I now feel that I should have gone into accounting.

Emma arrived shortly after 10am and we went to a panel discussion by the Book Trust. Interesting and informative we were compelled to introduce ourselves to Book Trust Chief Executive, Viv Bird. I broached the topic of her possibly coming to the Asian Festival of Children's Content and she was interested to hear more. Let's hope the Book council can follow up on this.

Auntie Susanna and Mika were at the Singapore Pavilion when I returned and we decided to lunch at one of  the cafeterias. Mika had a vegetarian selection and Auntie Susanna had the braised beef and mash. A famished Annabelle from NAC joined us at our table and all too soon it was time for Kenneth's panel discussion about children's literature in Singapore. My publisher, Edmund Wee and Mei Lin Lee of Marshall Cavendish were also was also a featured on the panel which was moderated by Paul Tan.

But before the panel started, I . had a pleasant surprise when I bumped into the brilliant author, John Dougherty, my fellow panellist from SWF two years ago. It was great catching up again.

And....the panellists did a great job, deftly fielding  the tough questions about publishing in Singapore. 

And my favourite part of the session is the photo below!

With that done, Auntie Susanna and Mika tubed int to Civent Garden for a spot of shopping and Emma and I caught up with the lovely Anita Loughrey for some tea. It's always lovely seeing her.

But she had to dart off for a writer's event, so Emma and I attended the Singapore networking night. Annabelle  busy running around before cocktail hour but I managed to stop her for a quick photo with Emma. Please note Emma is holding the kopitiam cup Mum donated to the booth

Emma's good friend and Award winning author Andrew Weale joined us there. Andrew  is brilliant and hilarious! It was great meeting him and he'll be in Singapore for the AFCC next month.

The social went on till we were told the power would be shut off and so we headed back to the hotel for a quick change and then onto a not so quick dinner at the Troubabor.  

I'm doing laundry tomorrow. I bet you never thought you would hear me say that. Well, neither did I!