Princes, Princesses and the Youth Olympics

Well, the Youth Olympics have come and gone. Quite an interesting experience really. Rather well done if I say so myself, not that I had anything to do with it.  Perhaps the highlight of the games for me was meeting HRH Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark at the Danish Seamen's Mission in Singapore.

photo Ace Kindred Cheong

Did you know Denmark has the oldest monarchy in Europe? It's even older than the British monarchy. The Crown Prince is really a very friendly down-to-earth chap. I managed to give him copies of 'Blow A Kiss' and 'There's Soup on My Fly!'  for his toddlers Prince Christian and Princess Isabella.  He thanked me and posed for a pic. Now the picture would have been great if my regular camera hadn't broken down the previous day (more about that further on in the post) and I had to use a lumix which really didn't work too well. Should have just used my iphone, but oh well. Thanks to Ace Kindred Cheong for his help.

HRH Prince Frederik of Denmark posed for this photo 

after I gave him two of my books for his children.

I have to admit that as a kids' book author, I am intrigued by royalty. So was Danish author Hans Christian Andersen who wrote some of the world's best-loved fairy tales. Perhaps that's why I was so tongued-tied when I met the prince. So much so that I forgot to tell him that the best pastries come from his country. Just a sec, are 'danish' pastries called 'danish' pastries in Denmark or are they just called pastries? Just wondering.  Anyway, I digress. Ok, let's face it, in reality  royal life  may not be picture-book perfect, but fairy tales about princes and princesses will always have an enduring appeal. Wendy Orr, one of my fave children's authors, just released her book 'The Princess and Her Panther". The word princess conjures up a magical world. That's why I've changed the main character in my book "the forest" from a village boy into a prince. There's something about royalty that seems almost mystical, magical I suppose. And I also guess it's cos the princes always end up marrying the beautiful princesses. Prince Frederik's wife Crown Princess Mary is stunning. But unfortunately she wasn't in town with him. Congratulations to the couple who is expecting twins in the new year.

HSH Prince Albert of Monaco at the finals of the ladies 3m springboard at the Youth Olympics.

Speaking of princesses, my big brother gave me tickets to the diving finals where Princess Stephanie's daughter, Pauline, was a finalist.

Pauline Ducret about to take one of her final plunges at the Youth Olympics.

She ended up in 12th place, not too shoddy. Prince Albert  of Monaco was there to support his niece, although his future Princess Charlene Wittstock was no where to be seen. I remember Princess Stephanie was quite the looker, but at the diving finals she looked rather unprincess-like: no make-up,  glasses. pony-tail etc. She looked like any other supportive mum, not a princess.

I took a couple of shots of her and then my camera stopped working. Actually it said "lens error." Maybe she was using her royal powers to stop unwanted photographs!

HSH Princess Stephanie of Monaco

 When I took the camera in, they said it would be $250 to repair! So I've decided to trade it in.  I'm not saying a princess broke my camera, but... well, she was the last person I took a picture of before it died. Ha Ha, kidding!

Free Content & Two Unforgettable Encounters

The thing I like about marketing or promoting your product with Social Media is that you can do it from the safe confines of your office or home. I also like the concept of free content which you can provide on the web. But how much free content should one give? If you're selling products like vitamins, lotions etc, you can always give out small samples so that your customers can test out your products, but you can't really do that with books. Do you give half the story and tell potential customers to buy the other half? Let me know what free content you give out. I would really like to hear about it.

 Over the years, I've had access to various events and round-table interviews with notables, and so I would bring some of my books to give away as souvenirs. Technically it wasn't a marketing exercise, but rather a method to get an all-exclusive quote from the dignitaries.

Well, back in 2005 Hillary Rodham Clinton attended the 117th IOC session in Singapore as part of the New York 2012 Olympic Campaign. As Clinton was departing her lunch venue, Ace, my photographer friend, stopped her for a photo which she graciously obliged. Taking the opportunity, I whipped out a copy of my book 'Monkey: The Classic Chinese Adventure Tale' and presented it to her. She looked at the book and asked, "Do you want me to sign it?" What? she didn't write it, I did! When I told her it was a souvenir, she smiled and thanked me. Her assistant then asked for my name card. 'Oh,  #$@##, I thought. Now I've done it. I'm going to be banned for the rest of the session. Thankfully I wasn't. BTW I forgot to get a quote.

The very next day, Albert of Monaco was departing the same restaurant. Ace  again stopped him for a photo and before I could stop him, Ace said, "Your Highness, my friend has a souvenir for you."

The Prince looked at me expectantly. I was thrown into a complete state of discombobulation. All I had I in my computer bag was a copy of 'The Littlest Emperor' which I intended to give someone else. I was in a bind. Bodyguards sized me up as I unzipped my computer bag, pulled out the book and handed it to the Prince. He looked at the book, then at me, then at the book again. 'What's this?"he asked. I scrambled to come up with a reply. You see, it was the day he confirmed his paternity of a child with a Togolese flight attendant. The book I presented him with was 'The Littlest Emperor'. What on earth could I be  implying? Ace grinned, pleased with himself, snapping pictures. I envisioned myself decking him or strangling him with his camera strap. 'Oh, nothing. It's just a souvenir! I wrote it,"  I found myself saying. Accepting that as an appropriate answer. The Prince nodded, smiled and thanked me. The bodyguard gave me death-stare before ushering the prince to his next appointment.

And so, those right now I would rather give free content over the web, far less awkward and a lot better for my nerves.