Monday, January 29, 2007

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Borders, The Curve

My first book talk on Sunday, 28 January 2007 at Borders, The Curve.

Got my kids, nephews and niece to circulate around the mall, honking the roti horn to attract attention of shoppers. Alas, realized too late that the sign they carried (with details of the event) was too small. Have to make a bigger sign for the next talk. The kids were queried by a security guard for honking. Luckily, Aaron from Borders had the foresight to give me a copy of the email where The Curve management has granted permission for the honking. Maybe next time, we'll have a bigger turnout :)


The Honkers at the concourse of The Curve which is all decked up for the arrival of Spring.


Strategic location with the Borders logo in the background. Note the roti-horn on the left.


My friend, Sui Lin, who was at The Curve (she didn't know I was there for the book talk), spotted my son and nephew honking away and came for the talk.


Nor Azian : we were members of the YWCA novice writers club aeons ago. (This pix is taken by my 6-year old).


With kuE, a blogger who hails from Kuala Kangsar. She blogged about the event too.


Strong supporters : (L-R) Lynette Kwan, my daughter Su Yen, Yvonne Lee and her daughter, Eva. Yvonne's husband and son were there too. They bought two books on top of the copy I've given Yvonne as an endorser. Awesome support!


Part of the audience.

Note : Thanks to Yvonne for sharing some of the pictures above.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

The Breakfast Show at ntv7

I was at ntv7 this morning for the Readers Corner segment on The Breakfast Show, the show worth waking up for. I was the last guest to be interviewed for the morning. The hosts Nazrudin Habibur Rahman (Naz) and Ben Ibrahim were jovial and breezy. I was hoping to see Daphne Iking, another TBS host but she's in Bali right now preparing for her wedding this Saturday. Congratulations, Daphne!


Ben and Naz (extreme right) having a good chuckle



Wish I could post more pix but the studio assistant taking the pictures for me had shaky hands. Out of 11 shots, only these two didn't have the shakes.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Nona

Nona, TV3 interviewed me for its personality segment which aired today.

The interview was done more than 2 weeks ago at my house. I had to rush the kids home from school as Nona wanted them in the background scenes. No. 3 wrote in his school diary about "TV3 coming to our house because mummy's new book is out." His teacher's comment : So you must follow in your mother's example and be brave to di-la-da and la-di-da (have yet to look up Chinese dictionary on the meaning of these words. No. 1 and no. 2 couln't comprehend the meaning of those words too and to think they spent 6 years in Chinese school!)


TV crew setting up the equipment


Broadcast journalist, Hazrena interviewing me

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Blogging for Writers



Photo opportunity before the event :
Standing (L-R) Tunku Halim, me and David Byck
Sitting : Nizam and Sharon



The session was held at MPH, One-Utama today. David Byck moderated the forum. Nizam Zakaria, Sharon Bakar and I were there as forum panelists. Unfortunately, not many attendees were there. Three of us shared our blogging experience.

Sharon has been blogging for close to three years. She started her blog because there wasn't any discussion on the writing scene back then. She wants people to know about books and writing. As a result of her blog, she secured a monthly column and many of her published articles began as blog entries.

Nizam found out early on that his works wouldn't be published by traditional publishers because of the unconventional themes he explores such as homosexuality. So he started his blog in 2002 to publish his novel online. Then "magic happened." People actually read his work and requested further chapters. His blog helped him to establish a fan-base and get noticed by publishers and directors. He was offered a scriptwriting gig and his current day job was a direct spin-off from his blog too. He is slated to write a 26-episode drama and his director has given him free rein to cast the actors of his choice.

Unlike Sharon and Nizam, I'm still waiting to be 'discovered." My blog is a tool for me to keep in touch with readers and writer-friends. But it has helped me in my writing endeavours too. One example I like to quote is the suggest-a-title contest which snared me the wonderful title of Honk! If You're Malaysian.

David did a great job moderating the forum, asking all the right questions and getting the small audience to participate. His whole family was there to support him. It was great to meet up with Tunku Halim too though he had to rush off for another appointment. After the event, Eric Forbes, Lynette & hubby and I had a sumptious lunch before checking out my clone. It turned out that shortly after we left, Marsha happened to come along. Not only did she buy Honk! but she also took a pix of the standee and posted it on her blog. Thank you, Marsha.

Xeus blogged about the event too.


Lydia x 2, Eric and Lynette

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Interview on TraXX Fm

I was interviewed by TraXX Fm's DJ, Jezza for the 101 segment from 11.15 a.m. to 12 noon. I had a great time on air.

"Just be yourself," Jezza said and so I was myself with Manglish and all that jazz-lah.

Though I had emailed them 20 questions for Jezza to ask me, we didn't stick to the list. There were lots of questions which I had to answer off-the-cuff. But I think it went all right.

Halfway though the show, Jezza decided to read out the chapter on Manglish. We had a blast. He read the good English part, I did the Manglish while Najee at the console was snickering away. There was a long pause during this segment because I was trying to stifle my laughter and carry on reading.

We also had listeners calling in. We awarded a book each to Chen (I think that's the name) from Melaka who has read Life's Like That (great!) and Sally who called all the way from Sibu.

There are 3 more copies to be given away, one per day for the next three days. Tune in TraXX Fm 100.1 (in the Klang Valley) from 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. for a chance to win an autographed copy of Honk! If You're Malaysian.

Later I may post up transcripts of this and other interviews after I've had a chance to transcribe the recording.


That's Najee at the console and Jezza in the lower left hand corner.


Najee, me and Jezza


With the producer, Mareaty

Monday, January 01, 2007

Honk! If You're Malaysian


Title: Honk! If You're Malaysian
ISBN: 9789833698127
Publisher: MPH Group Publishing Sdn Bhd
Publish Date: 1 January 2007
Price: RM29.00

"Lydia Teh, the observer of the absurdities of Malaysian life, returns with more absurdities of life and oddities of human behaviour. Everything in life is grist for her mill; there's always something in the nothingness of everyday life that does not escape her pin-sharp eye. In this collection of anecdotes, she brings on more trenchant observations that capture the variegated textures and nuances of Malaysian life as it is lived." Eric Forbes

These light-hearted vignettes and acute observations about daily life in Malaysia will bring a smile to the face of every one of Lydia's compatriots - and also to all readers who can enjoy self-directed humour!