Showing posts with label book talks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book talks. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Read Malaysia 2009
I was one of the speakers at the inaugural Read Malaysia fair held at MIECC, Mines Resort City. Though the journey was smooth sailing from Klang, once we hit Seri Kembangan, traffic was horrendous. It took us almost an hour to get through the final two kilometres leading to MIECC. The road leading into Mines was jammed up and since I was running late, I got out and walked the final lap of 300 metres. Luckily, a friend had kindly consented to drive me there or I would've been stuck for another fifteen minutes.
My topic was 50 Ways with Words - How to improve your English and have fun, too.
It was nice to have Theresa Lam (in white) in the audience. She was one of those whom I keep looking at during the talk. When speaking in public, it's helpful to establish eye contact with a couple of friendly faces in the audience and she couldn't have been more encouraging with her smiling countenance. She hosts the Reading Corner at Chan Fong's internet radio. (Chan Fong is a popular Chinese DJ. I've heard him on radio and seen some of his dramas. He's a natural.) Hop over to have a listen, Theresa's voice is beautiful and melodic.
Jenna Chan and her two boys came specially for my talk. Her eldest son, Jian Sheng (brown shirt), had a question on how to get a book published. He's only 11 and he's already writing a story book with four other friends. Way to go, boy! Who knows he might just be Malaysia's Christopher Paolini (of Eragon fame).
The crowd wasn't fantastic. Azizi Ali who came after me had all the chairs filled up. It must be the times. People are more interested in how to stay rich than improving their English. I listened to him for more than thirty minutes, then before my body could explode into a gooey green mess, I removed myself from the audience and stalked off to find my two kids who were roaming the hall for a good buy and some free reads (comic books).
My topic was 50 Ways with Words - How to improve your English and have fun, too.
It was nice to have Theresa Lam (in white) in the audience. She was one of those whom I keep looking at during the talk. When speaking in public, it's helpful to establish eye contact with a couple of friendly faces in the audience and she couldn't have been more encouraging with her smiling countenance. She hosts the Reading Corner at Chan Fong's internet radio. (Chan Fong is a popular Chinese DJ. I've heard him on radio and seen some of his dramas. He's a natural.) Hop over to have a listen, Theresa's voice is beautiful and melodic.
Jenna Chan and her two boys came specially for my talk. Her eldest son, Jian Sheng (brown shirt), had a question on how to get a book published. He's only 11 and he's already writing a story book with four other friends. Way to go, boy! Who knows he might just be Malaysia's Christopher Paolini (of Eragon fame).
The crowd wasn't fantastic. Azizi Ali who came after me had all the chairs filled up. It must be the times. People are more interested in how to stay rich than improving their English. I listened to him for more than thirty minutes, then before my body could explode into a gooey green mess, I removed myself from the audience and stalked off to find my two kids who were roaming the hall for a good buy and some free reads (comic books).
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Book Talk at Read Malaysia 2009
Date : Sunday, 31 May 2009
Time : 4.00 to 5.00 pm
Venue: MIECC, Mines Resort City (Stage 1)
Topic: 50 ways with words - how to improve your English and have fun, too
Time : 4.00 to 5.00 pm
Venue: MIECC, Mines Resort City (Stage 1)
Topic: 50 ways with words - how to improve your English and have fun, too
Thursday, March 20, 2008
International Women's Week at UCSI
5 March 2008
The School of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts Association (SSLA) of University College Sedaya International invited me to give a talk during this year's International Women's Week.
I had wanted to go earlier to catch Lee Su Kim, author of Malaysian Flavours and A Nyonya in Texas who was slotted to speak just before me. However, I got terribly lost as it was the first time I had ventured into that part of the city. Fortunately I arrived in time for my own session on "10 Things I Learned in a Decade of Writing." The concourse area where we had the talk was bustling like a pasar malam as various stalls had been set up to commemorate this special week. The activities included a photograph exhibition on STD, food fair, a magic show, a self defense workshop and talks on women's health.
The program booklet
Part of the audience
The gaily decorated stage
Note to self : next time print notes in a smaller, handy size. The flapping of the A4-pages was a big distraction, according to no. 1 who had tagged along with me. He also suggested that I stay behind the podium as I was wont to shake my legs, as can be seen from this picture.
Thanks to Mr. Ken Choong, the advisor of SSLA for inviting me. I'm glad to find out that he has read Life's Like That and is currently reading Honk! If You're Malaysian.
The School of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts Association (SSLA) of University College Sedaya International invited me to give a talk during this year's International Women's Week.
I had wanted to go earlier to catch Lee Su Kim, author of Malaysian Flavours and A Nyonya in Texas who was slotted to speak just before me. However, I got terribly lost as it was the first time I had ventured into that part of the city. Fortunately I arrived in time for my own session on "10 Things I Learned in a Decade of Writing." The concourse area where we had the talk was bustling like a pasar malam as various stalls had been set up to commemorate this special week. The activities included a photograph exhibition on STD, food fair, a magic show, a self defense workshop and talks on women's health.
The program booklet
Part of the audience
The gaily decorated stage
Note to self : next time print notes in a smaller, handy size. The flapping of the A4-pages was a big distraction, according to no. 1 who had tagged along with me. He also suggested that I stay behind the podium as I was wont to shake my legs, as can be seen from this picture.
Thanks to Mr. Ken Choong, the advisor of SSLA for inviting me. I'm glad to find out that he has read Life's Like That and is currently reading Honk! If You're Malaysian.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Talk at UMW Toyota
Wednesday, 20 June 2007
This week, UMW Toyota conducted an Outreach Program with the theme of Challenging Knowledge for their employees. They asked MPH to hold a book fair at their spacious premises in Section 15, Shah Alam and as part of the program, MPH roped me in to give a talk.
My topic was Honk! If you want to read - Getting your kids (and yourself) to read. As usual I was worried about the crowd, or rather lack of it. But I needn't have. I had a captive audience. Approximately 50 employees turned up for the talk and 15 books were sold at the event. Best haul so far. After the talk, we adjourned to their cafeteria for some snacks. The cream puffs were excellent! And so were the gifts they presented to me : a tea and coffee making set as well as a pair of ballpoint pens.
This event turned out better than any book talk I had conducted at bookstores. As a bonus, I got to meet an old classmate whom I haven't seen since primary school days! Authors, this may be the way to go to promote your books.
UMW video-taped the talk. Alamak, all my flaws at public speaking are immortalized on tape.
Another segment of the crowd. SK was the moderator.
En. Rohiman Haroon, Asst GM of External Affairs. He's a voracious reader and prolific writer too (he wrote the script of Embun).
The proud owners of Honk! who stayed behind for a photo session. Intan Salmee is on the far right. She helped Rohiman to organize this talk.
Busy signing books.
More books to be signed. My handwriting became cakar ayam - fowl scratches.
This week, UMW Toyota conducted an Outreach Program with the theme of Challenging Knowledge for their employees. They asked MPH to hold a book fair at their spacious premises in Section 15, Shah Alam and as part of the program, MPH roped me in to give a talk.
My topic was Honk! If you want to read - Getting your kids (and yourself) to read. As usual I was worried about the crowd, or rather lack of it. But I needn't have. I had a captive audience. Approximately 50 employees turned up for the talk and 15 books were sold at the event. Best haul so far. After the talk, we adjourned to their cafeteria for some snacks. The cream puffs were excellent! And so were the gifts they presented to me : a tea and coffee making set as well as a pair of ballpoint pens.
This event turned out better than any book talk I had conducted at bookstores. As a bonus, I got to meet an old classmate whom I haven't seen since primary school days! Authors, this may be the way to go to promote your books.
UMW video-taped the talk. Alamak, all my flaws at public speaking are immortalized on tape.
Another segment of the crowd. SK was the moderator.
En. Rohiman Haroon, Asst GM of External Affairs. He's a voracious reader and prolific writer too (he wrote the script of Embun).
The proud owners of Honk! who stayed behind for a photo session. Intan Salmee is on the far right. She helped Rohiman to organize this talk.
Busy signing books.
More books to be signed. My handwriting became cakar ayam - fowl scratches.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Talk at Bookfest
Wednesday, 30 May 2007
Popular invited me to speak at their Bookfest. My topic was Roti Canai for me – On reading, writing and being Malaysian.
Though I had been informed that the talk would be held at the stage in Hall 2, KLCC, it was still a minor shock to see that they had arranged a table up on the big stage for me. My audience was seated way over yonder, separated by a big space and VIP chairs for the next event.
I began by taking my place at the table. I felt so lonely up there, speaking to the few people on the floor. My heart sank. Only two rows of chairs were occupied. Grace and her little brother as well as two of my kids were there to lend support.
After five minutes, I decided to make my way to the floor. Good thing I had told the organizers that I wanted to get close to the audience as I had prepared a quiz for them. With the cordless mike perched on my head like a superstar singer, I got nearer to the audience and got them involved in the quiz. Passers-by came in to listen and to nab the small token I’d gotten for them. Just before the event, I purchased 30 pieces of 30 sen stamps and gave away two to each correct answer. Towards the end, I only doled out one stamp per answer to make them last. After the Q&A, two elderly ladies promptly walked away with their stash of stamps. Ah, life’s like that lah.
Though it was a weekday, this talk was the best I’ve had in terms of audience number and number of books signed. I signed 8 + 1 books (a foreign worker at the Bookfest grabbed a children’s book and asked me to sign it for him). Either he thinks I’m a celebrity or he was that impressed with my talk.
I'm so glad Khim (third pix) came to see me. She has read Honk! and written a nice encouraging email to me. She has finished her first book, California satay, and is looking for an editor.
Popular invited me to speak at their Bookfest. My topic was Roti Canai for me – On reading, writing and being Malaysian.
Though I had been informed that the talk would be held at the stage in Hall 2, KLCC, it was still a minor shock to see that they had arranged a table up on the big stage for me. My audience was seated way over yonder, separated by a big space and VIP chairs for the next event.
I began by taking my place at the table. I felt so lonely up there, speaking to the few people on the floor. My heart sank. Only two rows of chairs were occupied. Grace and her little brother as well as two of my kids were there to lend support.
After five minutes, I decided to make my way to the floor. Good thing I had told the organizers that I wanted to get close to the audience as I had prepared a quiz for them. With the cordless mike perched on my head like a superstar singer, I got nearer to the audience and got them involved in the quiz. Passers-by came in to listen and to nab the small token I’d gotten for them. Just before the event, I purchased 30 pieces of 30 sen stamps and gave away two to each correct answer. Towards the end, I only doled out one stamp per answer to make them last. After the Q&A, two elderly ladies promptly walked away with their stash of stamps. Ah, life’s like that lah.
Though it was a weekday, this talk was the best I’ve had in terms of audience number and number of books signed. I signed 8 + 1 books (a foreign worker at the Bookfest grabbed a children’s book and asked me to sign it for him). Either he thinks I’m a celebrity or he was that impressed with my talk.
I'm so glad Khim (third pix) came to see me. She has read Honk! and written a nice encouraging email to me. She has finished her first book, California satay, and is looking for an editor.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
February Litbloggers Breakfast Club
Xeus and I spoke at today's meeting. It was a small crowd of familiar faces. We had a special guest all the way from London, Kak Teh, who frequently moaned about not being able to join us in our writerly events in KL. Well, this time, she made it and on a special day too - her birthday!
Another special visitor was ND Gong, a reader who contacted me after reading Life's Like That. Though we had been corresponding via email for a few years, it was the first time we've met. He went through my Honk! manuscript to check for grammar errors. And when he turned up today, he gave me two books : Tracing It Home by Lynn Pan and a xeroxed copy of an out-of-print Chiese Jetsam on a Tropic Shore by N.I.Low. This is one of the perks of being an author. You get to meet such nice readers.
Xeus talked about the common mistakes she sees in the stories submitted for the Dark City 2 anthology. And if you're a regular at this blog, you would have known what I talked about, honk, honk!
Honk! If You're Malaysian is my third book and the most successful to-date. It's my only book that has gone into reprint. The other two are still in their first print (FP). So what made the difference? One word : Publicity. No matter how good your book is, if nobody knows about it, it's gonna be stuck in FP land.
These were the PR tools I used :
1. Blogging
I started the PR machinery for Honk! six months before it's release by running a suggest-a-title contest on my blog. It generated some buzz in the blogosphere. The week after my book was launched, it hit no. 1 in the local best-sellers chart in MPH Midvalley. It has made the best-sellers lists in Borders and Popular too. Later I ran a provide-a-link/post a mini review contest to help spread the word.
2. Media appearances
I contacted tv and radio stations to feature me in their programs. As Yvonne Lee says, you've got to be thick-skinned. I already know Sayed of RTM1, so getting the interview at Resensi was a breeze. The others I cold-called. Even though these aren't prime-time shows, they have an audience. People have come to my blog and book-signing, saying they saw me on tv.
3. Reviews in the print media
I've sent out a whole bunch of emails to magazines and newspapers entreating them to please, please review my book. It's gradually bearing fruit as it has been written up in Cleo, Midi, Going Places and best of all, it's got a fantastic review in The Star recently.
4. Book Talks
Though attendance is sparse at these events (I'm no celebrity and neither am I a foreigner), I conducted some talks at the bookstores. These talks help raise the profile of the book. The stores would put up posters and order more copies so my book gets more visibility.
5. Support from my publisher
MPH made 5 standees to display in the outlets. These help to attract more attention to Honk!
It was an interactive session, with the audience participating heatedly in the Bloggers are Liars discussion. Thank you, MPH for organising the talk and for the lovely spread of food.
Facing the camera is Esther Teoh (in white shirt) with tape recorder in hand. She was there for a college assignment on blogging.
Kenny (in tie) was there as my introducer. Beside him is Sharon Bakar and behind her is Grace who came all the way from Seremban.
(L-R) Chet, Xeus, me, Kak Teh, Eric Forbes and Janet Tay.
The woman in the tree is Sharon. (She is fully and nicely attired, so don't ask me why she's hiding behind the leaves. Chet, thanks for the lovely Janis Ian CD. Now I know who she is. I loved her song, At Seventeen. Had been listening to it without knowing who the singer was.)
Another special visitor was ND Gong, a reader who contacted me after reading Life's Like That. Though we had been corresponding via email for a few years, it was the first time we've met. He went through my Honk! manuscript to check for grammar errors. And when he turned up today, he gave me two books : Tracing It Home by Lynn Pan and a xeroxed copy of an out-of-print Chiese Jetsam on a Tropic Shore by N.I.Low. This is one of the perks of being an author. You get to meet such nice readers.
Xeus talked about the common mistakes she sees in the stories submitted for the Dark City 2 anthology. And if you're a regular at this blog, you would have known what I talked about, honk, honk!
Honk! If You're Malaysian is my third book and the most successful to-date. It's my only book that has gone into reprint. The other two are still in their first print (FP). So what made the difference? One word : Publicity. No matter how good your book is, if nobody knows about it, it's gonna be stuck in FP land.
These were the PR tools I used :
1. Blogging
I started the PR machinery for Honk! six months before it's release by running a suggest-a-title contest on my blog. It generated some buzz in the blogosphere. The week after my book was launched, it hit no. 1 in the local best-sellers chart in MPH Midvalley. It has made the best-sellers lists in Borders and Popular too. Later I ran a provide-a-link/post a mini review contest to help spread the word.
2. Media appearances
I contacted tv and radio stations to feature me in their programs. As Yvonne Lee says, you've got to be thick-skinned. I already know Sayed of RTM1, so getting the interview at Resensi was a breeze. The others I cold-called. Even though these aren't prime-time shows, they have an audience. People have come to my blog and book-signing, saying they saw me on tv.
3. Reviews in the print media
I've sent out a whole bunch of emails to magazines and newspapers entreating them to please, please review my book. It's gradually bearing fruit as it has been written up in Cleo, Midi, Going Places and best of all, it's got a fantastic review in The Star recently.
4. Book Talks
Though attendance is sparse at these events (I'm no celebrity and neither am I a foreigner), I conducted some talks at the bookstores. These talks help raise the profile of the book. The stores would put up posters and order more copies so my book gets more visibility.
5. Support from my publisher
MPH made 5 standees to display in the outlets. These help to attract more attention to Honk!
It was an interactive session, with the audience participating heatedly in the Bloggers are Liars discussion. Thank you, MPH for organising the talk and for the lovely spread of food.
Facing the camera is Esther Teoh (in white shirt) with tape recorder in hand. She was there for a college assignment on blogging.
Kenny (in tie) was there as my introducer. Beside him is Sharon Bakar and behind her is Grace who came all the way from Seremban.
(L-R) Chet, Xeus, me, Kak Teh, Eric Forbes and Janet Tay.
The woman in the tree is Sharon. (She is fully and nicely attired, so don't ask me why she's hiding behind the leaves. Chet, thanks for the lovely Janis Ian CD. Now I know who she is. I loved her song, At Seventeen. Had been listening to it without knowing who the singer was.)
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Book Talk, Borders Berjaya Times Square
The book talk today is the last in the series to kick off Honk! This time I did something different. I got Kenny Mah, a blogger I met at the last book talk, to interview me. He asked two interesting questions :
1. What are my favourite pieces in the book? Fortunately, he also provided me the answer, i.e. they’re like children, no favourites, please. But if I have to choose, they’d be We’re Malaysianslah, We don’t Kiss, None of Your Business, oh and 55 other essays.
2. Would I be apprehensive of being pigeon-holed as a humour writer? Nope! Let me be a humour writer like my favourite American humourist, Erma Bombeck or Dave Barry or Kevin Cowherd. That’s not to say I wouldn’t try my hand at other genres. Already inching into fiction with the acceptance of my story in Dark City 2.
Kenny did a great job as an emcee. He now has another option to add to his increasingly crowded plate which includes book cover and poster designing.
Only a small crowd but they paid rapt attention. I'd rather have this than a big crowd that is inattentive. The girl in black on the second row was such a dear. Halfway through the interview, she excused herself with "Sorry I have to go to work now." I wish she could've stayed, she was hanging on to every word that was said.
Kicked off the session by throwing mandarins to members of the audience who contributed a Malaysian trait. Even those who were standing in the vicinity got caught up in the fray.
Truly appreciate this group of staunch supporters. Thank you, guys!
(Standing L-R) zewt who postponed his movie to come here, Tunku Halim, Eric Forbes, Spiffy who came in after the interview was over, Lynette Kwan and Joel.
(Sitting L-R) Kenny, me and Daryl. Daryl and Joel are brothers. I roped them in as honkers as my children were not available.
This boy got Honk! for his lecturer, Dr. Gopala. What a lovely gesture.
Norman fits the ideal audience profile. He participated, listened and laughed at all the right places.
Life's Like That as a thank you present to Kenny for interviewing me.
"Thank you, Kenny and Lydia for putting me to sleee... zzzzz..." The bookcover draped over him provides a touch of irony.
Note : Thanks to Tunku Halim for taking the pix, especially the last one there.
1. What are my favourite pieces in the book? Fortunately, he also provided me the answer, i.e. they’re like children, no favourites, please. But if I have to choose, they’d be We’re Malaysianslah, We don’t Kiss, None of Your Business, oh and 55 other essays.
2. Would I be apprehensive of being pigeon-holed as a humour writer? Nope! Let me be a humour writer like my favourite American humourist, Erma Bombeck or Dave Barry or Kevin Cowherd. That’s not to say I wouldn’t try my hand at other genres. Already inching into fiction with the acceptance of my story in Dark City 2.
Kenny did a great job as an emcee. He now has another option to add to his increasingly crowded plate which includes book cover and poster designing.
Only a small crowd but they paid rapt attention. I'd rather have this than a big crowd that is inattentive. The girl in black on the second row was such a dear. Halfway through the interview, she excused herself with "Sorry I have to go to work now." I wish she could've stayed, she was hanging on to every word that was said.
Kicked off the session by throwing mandarins to members of the audience who contributed a Malaysian trait. Even those who were standing in the vicinity got caught up in the fray.
Truly appreciate this group of staunch supporters. Thank you, guys!
(Standing L-R) zewt who postponed his movie to come here, Tunku Halim, Eric Forbes, Spiffy who came in after the interview was over, Lynette Kwan and Joel.
(Sitting L-R) Kenny, me and Daryl. Daryl and Joel are brothers. I roped them in as honkers as my children were not available.
This boy got Honk! for his lecturer, Dr. Gopala. What a lovely gesture.
Norman fits the ideal audience profile. He participated, listened and laughed at all the right places.
Life's Like That as a thank you present to Kenny for interviewing me.
"Thank you, Kenny and Lydia for putting me to sleee... zzzzz..." The bookcover draped over him provides a touch of irony.
Note : Thanks to Tunku Halim for taking the pix, especially the last one there.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Book Talk, Mph MidValley
Having a book talk at MPH MidValley is a safe bet for authors. We need not worry we'd be speaking to air alone. The courtyard where the event is held is a favourite haunt for readers to browse and do a spot of free reading (ok, guilty as charged). It doesn't matter they're doing their own thing, wishing 'the speaker will shut up and leave me to read in peace'. They help make up the crowd.
Having said that, I'm happy that some turned up specifically for the book talk. Eric Forbes was there as were Kenny Mah and Spiffy who came all the way from Seremban. Then there was Fam who saw me on Resensi Sabtu on RTM and Len who had bought the book earlier and came so I could autograph her nicely wrapped book. Patricia who was shopping for book gifts bought two copies of Honk! and one copy of Life's Like That for some overseas friends. She said I should promote it as gifts for foreigners. Couldn't agree more.
There were others too who lent me their ears but a few couldn't be bothered and continued to pore through the books on their laps.
Since Chinese New Year was a week away, I bought a box of oranges and gave them to members of the audience who spoke up when I asked for some Malaysian traits.
A good session in all. Hop over to Kenny's for a more detailed write-up of the event, complete with Gong Xi missiles and Fa Cai lumps.
No. 3 (in red) helping me to throw oranges to participating members of the audience. The lady in red on the far right ended up with four oranges!
Eric, Kenny and Spiffy were very supportive - Kenny especially who guffawed throughout my reading of excerpts. Thanks, guys.
Spiffy, sorry I forgot to mention to the audience that you came all the way from Seremban. Thanks for going the distance.
Articulate and personable Kenny is young and available!
(L-R) Kenny, Spiffy, Eric and MPH bookstore staff, Poh Choo and Kok Seng. (No. 3 who took this pix has shaky hands.)
Having said that, I'm happy that some turned up specifically for the book talk. Eric Forbes was there as were Kenny Mah and Spiffy who came all the way from Seremban. Then there was Fam who saw me on Resensi Sabtu on RTM and Len who had bought the book earlier and came so I could autograph her nicely wrapped book. Patricia who was shopping for book gifts bought two copies of Honk! and one copy of Life's Like That for some overseas friends. She said I should promote it as gifts for foreigners. Couldn't agree more.
There were others too who lent me their ears but a few couldn't be bothered and continued to pore through the books on their laps.
Since Chinese New Year was a week away, I bought a box of oranges and gave them to members of the audience who spoke up when I asked for some Malaysian traits.
A good session in all. Hop over to Kenny's for a more detailed write-up of the event, complete with Gong Xi missiles and Fa Cai lumps.
No. 3 (in red) helping me to throw oranges to participating members of the audience. The lady in red on the far right ended up with four oranges!
Eric, Kenny and Spiffy were very supportive - Kenny especially who guffawed throughout my reading of excerpts. Thanks, guys.
Spiffy, sorry I forgot to mention to the audience that you came all the way from Seremban. Thanks for going the distance.
Articulate and personable Kenny is young and available!
(L-R) Kenny, Spiffy, Eric and MPH bookstore staff, Poh Choo and Kok Seng. (No. 3 who took this pix has shaky hands.)
Monday, February 05, 2007
MPH, One-Utama
My book talk on Saturday, 3 February 2007. Turnout was not good but those who turned up were very supportive and asked a whole lot of questions. Roped in Philipp Gan aka The Eternal Wanderer to help honk in the store to attract attention. Of course my own kids were there too as honkers. One-U management didn't allow us to honk outside, so we had to be contented with kicking up a ruckus inside the store.
During the course of the talk, the question of why local books aren't doing as well as foreign books popped up. Feedback from the audience, especially Anand, a magazine editor, indicates that readers look at the whole package : cover design, graphics layout, quality of paper etc. and not just the book content. So publishers, take note.
With my daughter and Philipp
With Anand - he bought two books for his sisters who live overseas
With Kher Cheng Guan, actor and cartoonist (you might have seen his cartoons in The Star). He walked in after my talk and we started chatting after I said, "Hey, I know you."
During the course of the talk, the question of why local books aren't doing as well as foreign books popped up. Feedback from the audience, especially Anand, a magazine editor, indicates that readers look at the whole package : cover design, graphics layout, quality of paper etc. and not just the book content. So publishers, take note.
With my daughter and Philipp
With Anand - he bought two books for his sisters who live overseas
With Kher Cheng Guan, actor and cartoonist (you might have seen his cartoons in The Star). He walked in after my talk and we started chatting after I said, "Hey, I know you."
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
