Artwork for The Lion Dance

My wonderful illustrator, Soefara keeps out-doing herself. These are her latest pieces from our upcoming book, The Lion Dance.

Xandy makes his official debut in the next Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di book: The Lion Dance

L to R: Bonnie the Dog, Sebbie, Sam, a cat, Di-Di-Di and Xandy 

Epigram Sales Conference

On Friday June 6, 2014 Epigram Books held its Annual Sales Conference at the Arts House. At the sales conference, Epigram pitches their forthcoming books to bookstore buyers and the press.

Mr Epigram himself, Edmund Wee, started things kicked things off before he had to dart off for a meeting.

First book off the starting blocks was Girl Overboard by my brilliant long-suffering editor Sheri Tan and illustrated by her husband Fernando Hierro. Now Sheri is not only my editor but the competition as well! :)

Red Dot Award winners AJ Low aka Adan Jimenez and Felicia Low Jimenez discussed their eighth book in the Sherlock Sam series Sherlock Sam and the Cloaked Classmate in MacRitchie.

Jason Eric Lundberg and Patrick Yee discussed their fourth Bo Bo and Cha Cha book: Bo Bo and Cha Cha  Cook Up a Storm.

Multiple-award winner Emily Lim talked about her second book in the Tibby the Tiger Bunny series, Tibby and Duckie.  After which, talked about the Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di books and the latest story, The Lion Dance.

Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di was originally written back in the '90s and after the series was well underway my youngest nephew was born. The publishers at the time did not want to incorporate him into the story, but Epigram has done a great job of introducing him to the stories by including him in the illustrations in Sebbie's First Day of School and A Day with the Duchess. And Xandy will be the central character in the Lion Dance.

We ended the day with muffins, cucumber sandwiches and champagne!

Rough sketches for the Lion Dance

Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di go to Bologna

At the Epigram Booth

Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di made their first trip to Bologna with Edmund and Ilangoh and now they're safely back home again, but not for long. They'll be headed to the London Book Fair next week. If you're there, please check them out at the Singapore Pavilion!

Also Soefara has done a brilliant job of the paper dolls we'll be using at our book launches and school visits. Thanks, Soefara!

A Singapore Christmas

The Christmas lights are up on Orchard Road, so it's that time of year again.  A Singapore Christmas was one of the first children's books . So I thought I might share it here with anyone who would like to read it.  Don't ask me why I first started writing in verse; there is no rhyme or reason. As most of you know, I now primarily write in prose. Regardless, I hope you like the story. And if you want to track Santa's Christmas progress, please click this link here. http://www.noradsanta.org

A Singapore Christmas 
By David Seow

Late one Singapore Christmas Eve,
there was a knock on the front door.
It was a secret someone, would you believe.

Without a moment’s pause,
Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di
just knew it had to be Santa Claus.

They crept quietly through the hall.
Sebbie whispered, “It’s Santa.
And I hope he’s brought presents for us all.”

Then they heard Santa say:
“Thank goodness there are no chimneys in Singapore.
All that sliding makes my bottom sore.
I much prefer to use the window, the balcony, 
or the front door.”

Now to their delight,
Santa looked just like what they thought he might.
And though he was wet, wet, wet,
he wasn’t in the slightest bit upset.

The boys asked, “Did Santa swim in a moat?

Just look, he’s completely soaked
from top of his hat to the tip of his coat."

“Santa, did you just have a bath?”
Sam asked.
This made Santa laugh and laugh.

“I have to confess,
look at me,
I’m a soggy, sorry mess.”

"Don't worry, I’ll get you some hot coca,”
said Sam,“in my favourite cup."
“And I’ll get you a towel,”
said Sebbie,“to dry you right up.”

“What can I do?” asked Di-Di-Di.
“Why you sit right here,” said Santa
and he sat Di-Di-Di on his knee.

When Santa was warm and cozy,
and his cheeks were rosy,
he told them his story.
And oh boy, it was a real dohzy!

“As I was flying all over Singapore-
Little India, Chinatown and Geylang Serai-
big storm clouds filled the starry night sky.
Lightning struck as I was right over town
and then my sleigh suddenly broke down.
I had to take a trishaw, a bus, a taxi and an MRT train
and then it began to rain and rain.”

Just then Santa looked out the window
and, there in the distance,
he saw a speeding bright red glow.

“That’s Rudolph and he’s on his way
with my replacement sleigh.
Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!"

Quickly Santa hopped to his feet,
went to his sleigh, and brought back
Sam’s, Sebbie’s and Di-Di-Di’s Christmas
presents, treats and sweets.

“Thank you,” said Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di
as Santa placed their presents
in their stockings and under the tree.

“And now I have to go, go, go,” said Santa.
Then he was off and away
with ho-ho ho
in his very fast sleigh.

It was faster than a bus, a taxi, and an MRT train.
It was faster than a race car.
It was even faster than an aeroplane.

“I’m sleepy,” Sam yawned quite suddenly.
“So are we,” agreed Sebbie and Di-Di-Di.
They were so sleepy,
they fell asleep right by the Christmas tree.

As Christmas Day was dawning,
Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di awoke a-yawning.
“Was Santa really here?” Sam wondered
“It didn’t seem like a dream,” said Sebbie.
“Let’s see what’s under the tree,” insisted Di-Di-Di.

And under the tree, were all
the presents, treats and sweets
Santa had left for them
along with a note that said:

"Thank you for looking after me.
Merry Christmas. See you next year.
Lots of love,
Santa C."

Guess what came out today?

Sneak Peak: At the S.E.A. Aquarium

If I haven't mentioned it already, I'm really thrilled with my revamped series of books with Epigram and I really love my illustrations. Here is a sneak peak of two of the Soefara Jafney's illustrations from At the S.E.A. Aquarium. I love them!!

Sam, Sebbie & Di-Di-Di

Back in 1998, I started writing a series of children's picture books, which featured my niece and nephews as the main characters: The Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di series, the first of which was Sebbie's First Day of School.   I started writing because I used to babysit them almost every Friday night and at bedtime they would pile me with stacks of their favourite picture books, insisting that I read each one.

At my first book signing at the American Club with the stars of the books

You can well imagine that more often than not, I ended up with a very hoarse throat. So instead of reading from their regular selection, I started making up stories about them. After I had written the first three stories, I approached a local publisher and they signed me up to do another three.  I ended up writing 12 books altogether. 

Both Singaporean and expat parents have told me that their kids love the books, which have been out of print for years. So it often surprises me when I'm told that even a new generation of kids like the books.. One young reader approached my nephew who is the inspiration for Di-Di-Di and said: "Are you Di-Di-Di?" and when my nephew affirmed the fact, the reader was gobsmacked and replied: "Then Sebbie must be a man by now!"

Recently, I signed a contract with Epigram to release revamped versions of  the Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di stories. And while I'm thrilled that the books are being republished, I'm also kind of anxious about it. The stories were written so long ago when I was a newbie; my style has changed considerably since then and I'm wondering if people will like the new editions. 

The first book scheduled to be released is At the Night Safari. The image below is the first incarnation of the book, which was published in 1999. 

And the image below is the working cover for the new book. Again this may not be the final cover. It's very different from the original but I like the fresh new look a lot. I love it!

At the Epigram Sales Conference

The books are scheduled to be released sometime later this year. I guess they could have been out earlier if I had finished the edits on time!

Thanks to my incredible editor Sheri Tan for her patience, support and encouragement,  my publisher Edmund Wee of Epigram for republishing them and the readers who actually read the books when they first came out all those years ago.

Jeremy's Gems

Do you remember the Bill Cosby Show 'Kids Say the Darndest Things' ? Well, I would also say they do the darndest things and more. When my niece and nephews were younger they would always do and say things that would capture my imagination. Kids nowadays are a lot smarter than I used to be, that's for sure. (My 2 year old niece Ashley Flora [right] is a real fire cracker).

Read on and you'll see just what I mean.

When I was on a family holiday at a beach resort in Thailand  I spotted some bikini-clad babes basking in the sun (Well, obviously, it was a beach resort, right?). I observed from a distance. When Jeremy asked me what I was looking at, I pointed toward the beach beauties. With a shrug and a disapproving sigh, Jeremy said, "Yeah, they're pretty but when I'm a man, they'll be grandmas!"  He was only three years old at the time, believe it or not.

Aware of my family's perpetual quest to find a nice gal for me, he took it upon himself to play matchmaker on the flight home. With a glint in his eye and a cheeky grin, he attracted the attention of a flight attendant and asked,  "Do you have a boyfriend?"  My siblings chuckled uncontrollably knowing perfectly well where the direction of the conversation was headed. I slinked down in my seat and buried my face  in the in-flight sales magazine, hoping that this would blow over.

The aforementioned flight attendant was spoken for, but she invited him to the galley, and when he emerged beaming, his arms were overflowing with stuffed toys, coloring books and crayons. As he took his seat, he proudly declared: "She loves me!" Believe me, Jeremy's done a lot more classic things but I'm saving those stories for now.

So do your kids say or do the darndest things?