Picture Book Review Master Class with Leonard Marcus and Marjorie Coughlan and Dinner with Andrea and Helen

So the festival was officially over but I had registered to attend the picture book review masterclass by Leonard Marcus and Marjorie Coughlan. I was so sleepy, extremely sleepy but I managed to drag myself out of bed in order to join Kenneth, Andrea and Naomi for breakfast as their hotel before the day-long workshop began.

I chose the picture book review masterclass because:

1.) It was being conducted by Leonard and Marjorie
2.) I'm a picture book author
3.) It would give me tips of what reviewers are looking for in a good picture book.

The class started at 10am promptly and I was late because there was a long line at the registration desk and I wanted to pay for the course before I actually attended it.

By the time I got to the room, everyone was introducing themselves. It's one part of any course that I feel least comfortable with and I just said, "Hi I'm David. I write books. I blog. That's it." 

I feel uncomfortable and awkward in a roomful of adults, especially when the attention is on me. I'm a writer. A loner. I feel most comfortable in front audiences who still require afternoon naps or diaper changes. In other words, the very young or the very old.

Anyway, shortly after my short, concise introduction, I got a text message and I wondered who could possibly be texting me so early in the morning. Could it be an editor or publisher who I had deluded into thinking I was the next big author with multi-million dollar sales potential? Could it be a transmedia exec offering me worldwide distribution for my stories? Perhaps it was MENSA calling to apologise for not recognizing my literary genius, or my plain genius, and asking if I would like to sign up as a member?  No to all of the above. So who was it from? Well, it was from Kenneth, giving me his critique of my introduction! And let's just say  I've had better reviews.

With that done, the class got underway a reading of Sendak's 'Where the Wild Things Are'. I was surprised that some people had never even read it. Though some did watch the highly questionable movie adaptation of it.

We discussed wordless picture books and translated picture books and all sorts of picture books. At the end of the day, Emma and I paired up to write a review of Susie Lee's wordless book 'Wave'.

Then it was time to pack up. Marjorie had one last drink and a curry puff with us before Kenneth and I had to head on over to Helen Mangham's house for a get-together with Andrea and Helen. They always host a wonderful party with fantastic food and drink during the AFCC and it's a wonderful way to bring the week to a close.

Emma, Simon, Emily, Pauline Loh were already there when we got there. Kenneth and I hit the buffet table and piled our plates high before settling down on her really comfy sofas and chatting with the other guests there.

Helen, Emma and I discussed a big huge upcoming meeting that we'll be having. Hopefully, I don't mess things up. Emily, Ken and Pauline discussed the high points of AFCC and then when it was time to go we thanked Helen and Andrea for a wonderful evening. Andrea was heading back to Manila the next morning and I'm supposed to get her my manuscript soon. Note to self: Start writing!

Catching Up with Marjorie

Marjorie and Tsai @ The House of Suzie Wong (photo: Corinne Robson)

With AFCC over,  the Paper Tiger ladies, Marjorie Coughlan and Corinne Robson headed up to KL for a few days' R & R. While there, they visited the Batu Caves, which they said could be skipped unless you have a penchant for the odour of monkey piss; the Petronas Twin Towers which can't be missed, and the place which definitely is the MUST STOP in KL, The House of Suzie Wong on the fourth floor of Lot 10.

Corinne flew back to Vancouver via Hong Kong from KL, but Marjorie bussed it down on Aeroline and I

met her at the Habourfront Terminal for coffee before we went back to my place so she could take a bit of a rest after her five-hour bus journey.

Ken and Marjorie at Taste Paradise

We spent some time talking about her trip to KL and  illustrations in picture books before Mum joined us for a bit of the conversation. As Marjorie  had to be at the airport by 9pm, we decided on a 7pm dinner at Taste Paradise at the Ion. I suggested a pit stop at books Kinokuniya on our way there and by the time we got to the restaurant, a long line of hungry diners had formed. Thankfully the wait wasn't that bad, and Kenneth arrived just as our table was ready.

Mr Quek did the ordering, then we discussed AFCC and how much fun it had all been. After we polished off  dinner, we called for a cab, headed back to my place to pick up Marjorie's luggage and floored it  to the airport.

I have to say that I was very jealous that Marjorie was going back to the UK. If I had a choice I would stay there for an extended period of time, but life so often gets in the way of our plans. However, I'm already looking at my options. (Thanks for the accommodations, Marjorie...hint, hint). As Marjorie had already checked in online, her time with us was up all too soon. So with goodbye hugs and a few "we'll see you soons" she headed off to the departure gate and was off to London on British Airways.

After a last wave goodbye, we grabbed a cup of coffee and a hot chocolate at one of the cafes before sharing a cab back to town. With Marjorie's departure, it hit me that AFCC 2013 was truly over. I was about to ask Kenneth when he was going to start planning next year's festival, but fatigue and the adrenaline crash from the previous week's event was beginning to take its toll and he was already nodding off. I decided to save that question for another time. Kenneth had just pulled off one of the biggest festivals of the year with great success and he needed a rest, a good rest, and without a doubt, he deserved it.