Don’t forget! Come join our Nanowrimo Thank Goodness It’s Over Party/Steampunk book launch!

Yes! Spread the word on our Nanowrimo Thank Goodness It’s Over party and our steampunk book launch! Come along if you’re interested in Nanowrimo (even though it’s ended by then) or if you’ve tried to do it an either succeeded/failed/gone meh and will try another time. You can bring your friends too in case you feel alone but from the previous parties, pretty much everyone become pals with each other very quickly.

On our steampunk anthology book launch, it is titled The Steampowered Globe and available for just $15 at the event!

It’s usually $18++ at Kino and other stores cause they’ll add in GST. Anyway, the first anthology of steampunk short stories by Two Trees and I could probably guess, the first in Singapore too since I have never seen another one like this before.

Bring even more friends and support this book by buying it cause the bulk of the writers are Nanowrimo-ers too!

The stories:

Ascension by Leow Hui Min Annabeth

No, They Dream Of Mechanical Hearts by Claire Cheong

Morrow’s Knight by Viki Chua

Colours by Yuen Xiang Hao

The Morning Glory Incident by Mint Kang

Help! Same Angler Fish’s Been Gawking for Eight Minutes! by Ng Kum Hoon

Captain Bells and the Sovereign State of Discordia by JY Yang

So yes, anyone is free to come. If you know people who like writing or reading, double plus if they like steampunk, they should come. ALSO, the dresscode will be steampunk. Or at least, that is encouraged.

You can wear whatever you want, usually when visiting a library if you don’t have any steampunk attire but really, when else besides conventions can you wear it?

Here, for you own blogs, to retweet or anything like that, the files for the poster in JPG version, PNG version or even GIF version for you to download and post (right click and save file). Plus the text below for you to copy paste!

Nanowrimo TGIO Party & The Steampowered Globe book launch

Location: National Library, Multipurpose room (basement 1)

Date & Time:  3 December 2011, Saturday at 6.30pm

Entry: Free (as always)

Dresscode: Steampunk (if you have any)

PS. If you want the other books available by Two Trees, hit us up an email/comment here and we’ll bring it there for you if you don’t want to buy it from Kinokuniya etc.

Hello everyone.

YES! Feel free to use the above e-poster and also tell your friends about this.

The kick off party for Nanowrimo in Singapore is on 29 October, 6.30pm at the multipurpose room (basement 1) in the National Library! Writery types, people who like cake and puns and whatnot! Come over to the party (especially if you’re going to the SWF on that day since this event is on 6.30pm which is after a lot of talks there!)

Talk/Discussion on Writing Real Life Speculative Fiction

Admission: Free

Location: Central library, multipurpose room (basement)

When: 24 September, Saturday, 6pm

Come on down if you’re interested in learning how to write fiction and yes, finally we have this once more since it was postponed by the elections. Gee.

MEANWHILE…

The same weekend has a WaterFire® art installation by Barnaby Evans at Bedok Reservoir. Main programme starts at 6pm but the fires light up at 7.40pm for 24th and 25th September. I know I’ll be going to the one on Sunday. Would be lovely to check it out and get inspiration and whatnot.

Click the picture above to see the full programme!

Also, what’s this…?

Oooh a Comics Xchange?

Yes! They’ve got workshops for artists and writers. I’m going for the seminar though.

Location: Goodman Arts Centre (You might remember this is the GAC when the crew made a mug)

Time: 10am – 8pm

Date: 1 – 2 October

The seminar is $40 for one day or $60 for both while the workshop is $50 for both days since it’s a course. You choose either:

Character Design for Comics
For anyone age 12 or above (including mature adults!) who would like to know how to create original, convincing and varied characters, then the Actions Workshop is just the place to be. There are basic fundamentals for creating characters – whether or not your passion is Shojo, Fantasy, Superhero or Sci-Fi, and this two day workshop will both strongly enlighten plus entertain!

Plot & Script Writing for Comics
There are many forms of writing, and few are as unique as comics. The Captions Workshop will teach and demonstrate essential fundamentals of plot building, story structuring and development of narrative with character dialogue. How to format a professional script is vital knowledge for any writer, as editors and artists require them to relay clear and concise instructions. Suitable for age 12 and above (including mature adults!).

The programme for the seminar is a whole lot more so you’ll have to check on their website to see which day you’d like to attend… OR GO TO BOTH!

Meanwhile, there’s a FREE entry to the bazaar where you can go there and buy doujinshi, artwork and cosplay.

The grounds of GAC is pretty good for cosplay. Lots of different scenarios you can capture. Plus, I know 24 hour comics is going to be there too, the comics equivalent of Nanowrimo. Sorta.

Anyway, go look see what do you want to do.

They’ve a website and Facebook for you to ask questions if you have any!

I went to Lauren Kate’s first at the Serangoon Public Library. The other appearances would be at the books stores and the Jurong library for that day. Anyway,  I was early. Like, super early so I lurked around near the shelves standing around and reading children books where the Granny had alzheimer’s and couldn’t make her golden soup right (?!?) and that the children had to understand and stuff.  (I continued to read about lonely hippos having a party and some cat who wanted to be other animals but yeah, ok.)

Eventually near 12.30pm MPH and the library staff started to set up the place and I lurked more near the doors cause all the seats in the other side of the library were taken up by readers at the newspaper section and the other reading corners. So heck it, I could just lurk if I couldn’t sit somewhere.

These are her books! There was a discount going on and I hadn’t bought Passion yet so hah! I did it there since author appearances always meant some discount compared to a usual sale price anyway. If you wanna know more about these books, you can definitely find reviews online at Amazon or other sites. I haven’t read The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove so I can’t summarize it but here’s some points for those who HAVE read the Fallen series on what my take is since I won’t “review” it but tell you what I think:

Fallen – Daniel, you so romantic. I like you. Also Arianne and everyone else. Luce, you’re being creeped out but that’s ok. Also Penn, SADFACE. This is the first book, things are slow but I am sure the next one will be better.

Torment – Luce, you’re getting cooler now. Daniel, you’re being an idiot. Bye.

Passion – Oh my travelling boots! Daniel, you aren’t stupid after all! You’re just so bad at communicating verbally! Luce, you’re totally on to something here. WHAT IS WITH THE LIGHTS? I don’t know what to think! FWOOSH. FWOOSH!! WHEN IS RAPTURE COMING OUT? AHHHHH.

Yes. That is what I think of it.

Let’s get back to the appearance by Lauren Kate shall we?

It was a cool session! She had been told us Singaporeans would be reaaally quiet and subdued. THIS IS TRUE. For any session by any writer who comes here. It’s not that we don’t like the authors but everyone is always too freaking shy to ask questions or they don’t want to freak the author out cause they came all the way from wherever to Singapore! We just don’t want to freak them out with fangirliness (or fanboyism) and chill.

Sorta.

In her session, she told us that Cam was based on her husband! Oh my! Also that Luce was based on her close friend and that Daniel was based on some OTHER friend in school that has no idea that he was written in. Well, it was his description but not him, himself since apparently Lauren hadn’t talked to him that much. The next book, Rapture is being written but ungh if you checked the last pages of Passion, you’ll see it’ll be out in 2012.

So faaaaar.

No matter, she also explained how she got the idea for her books and that she had research done in university where she could ask her Prof about the angels thing. I forgot what the module is called but it’s one of those bible analyzing class where you learn more for literature! The story of Luce and Daniel first started out as just a normal love story but then she figured that she could turn it different and tadaaaaa, here we have the Fallen series!

Besides info on her books, she gave us advice to writers which I will paraphrase:

It’s easy to start but finishing is much harder. Don’t give up.

Lauren had written stories before but with the advice of her friend, she finished her first book (that’s not Fallen). She thought it was crap and shoved it somewhere but she DID finish it! It meant that she could finish one whole book which thus, leads us eventually to Fallen! There was a point where she thought it was crap too but then she remembered her friend’s advice and now here we have 3 books and counting (four if you include BoNH)!

So people, finish your stories. No matter if you think it is crap, just finish it.

Lauren Kate Signings in Singapore

Lauren Kate, writer of the Fallen series will be here in Singapore on 9 July 2011!

Serangoon Public Library 12:00-1:00pm  Edit: A comment from library staff below informs that it is now  12:30-1:30pm

Borders Wheelock Place 2:30-3:30pm

Kinokuniya Singapore Main Store 4:30-5:30pm

Jurong Regional Library 6:30-7:30pm *just added

Considering I have a party to host in the evening with things to prepare, I’m probably going to the session at the Serangoon library. Now, to figure how to get there…

Next up, we have:

Meet the Author Sessions: Dave Chua

Date: Saturday, 9 July
Time: 3pm
Venue: Visitor’s Briefing Room, level 1, National Library
Admission: Free

Missed out on the previous chances to meet Dave Chua, the author of Gone Case? Have an intimate session with him at the visitor’s briefing room at level 1 of the National Library. Find out more on his writing process and how he collaborated with Koh Hong Teng to produce a graphic novel adaptation of his book!

Moving Words Poetry Competition

The Literary Centre has initiated a new project in collaboration with SMRT- Moving Words 2011 – to feature poetry written by Singaporeans and PRs in SMRT trains and stations.The winning entries will stand a chance to get displayed in the SMRT network and published in the Moving Words Anthology to be launched at the Singapore Writers’ Festival.

Deadline: Friday, 15 July 2011
For more information, please visit www.movingwords.sg.

Many Ships, One Boat: Singapore Expat Tales & Tips

Date: Friday, 15 July
Time: 7.00pm to 8.30pm
Venue: Earshot Cafe, The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane
Admission: Free

This July join Dr. Madanmohan Rao, Editor of MANY SHIPS, ONE BOAT: Singapore Expat Tales & Tips as he shares his experiences in publishing the book and working with 21 other contributing authors. Don’t miss the chance to talk to some of the contributing authors at the session!

To register, email to info@bookcouncil.sg with your name and contact number.

Meet the Author Sessions: Felix Cheong

Felix Cheong is a poet and a recipient of the National Arts Council Young Artist Award for Literature in 2000. He has published works including Temptation and Other Poems (1998), I Watch the Stars Go Out (1999), Broken by the Rain (2003) and Sudden in Youth: New and Selected Poems (2009).

In-conjunction with READ! Singapore 2011, the National Library is presenting two sessions where you can meet him in person. He will be speaking about his poem, Father and Son II (from the book, Sudden in Youth: New and Selected Poems), which has been selected for READ! Singapore 2011.

Date: Saturday, July 16
Time: 10am
Venue: Multi-Purpose Room, Level 2, Toa Payoh Public Library
Admission: Free, but registration is required.

Please email readsingapore@nlb.gov.sg or lailin@nlb.gov.sg by Thursday, July 14.

World Voices: Randall $tephens

Hailing from down under, the dynamic Melbourne poet Randall $tephens will shake up your senses and all preconceptions you may have about poetry. Described as “the Michael Caine of spoken word” for his distinctive style, he will deliver impactful poems from his diverse repertoire, and share his experiences of how he became a performance poet that he is today and where he has spread the magic of his words to so far.

Date: Thursday, July 28
Time: 7.30pm – 9pm
Venue: Living Room (Level 2), The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane
Admission: Free

Scholastic Asian Book Award

The National Book Development Council of Singapore and Scholastic Asia are jointly launching the 2012 Scholastic Asian Book Award (SABA). The award will recognise Asians and writers in Asia who are taking the experiences of life, spirit and thinking in different parts of Asia to the world at large. SABA is awarded to an unpublished manuscript (original or translation) targeted at children of ages 6 to 12 years.

Deadline: 17 October 2011, 5pm (Singapore time)

For more information, please visit www.scholasticbookaward.asia.

Yes, that’s it for now. Also you guys should figure that I tend to just publicize the free ones since I know my audience of this blog. See you guys this Saturday if you’re at the library… Well, for either event. Huh, I guess that day I will be visiting two libraries!

The Asian Festival of Children’s Content was on the 26-28 May 2011. I got registered for it and since it did cost quite a bit, here are some highlights and notes from the conferences! It is a literary adventure for this episode. The conferences and workshops were held at the Arts House.

The welcome speech was done by R.Ramachandran, the conference director and it was held at the chamber of the Arts House.

It was a lovely speech and then he introduced Stephen Mooser who presented with the first keynote of the day, What is the Future of Children’s Publishing? It was interesting since he also did talk about ebooks and applications too. Soon, it was time for the concurrent workshops and sessions.

I’ll be writing things down in point form cause there was a lot to learn anyway. Here are some of the sessions I went to.

Author/Illustrator School Visits: Develoing Your Best Programmes by Holly Thompson

• Be prepared.
• Small groups as opposed to doing readings for large halls are more fun and engaging.
• Make sure you have all your tech, as in adapters and powerplugs just in case the place you’re presenting doesn’t have the sort that you have.
• For children, it would be good to have physical items incorporated related to your story to present and show how it works.
• Be fluid and yet try not to freak out!

The Role of an Agent and De-mystifying the Publishing Process, Cradle to Grave by Kelly Sonnack

• Usually 15% commission if you get an Agent. Also, Agent only takes money when you make money. If Agent takes money from you before anything, it is most likely very dodgy.
• Editors from publishing houses send responses to the agent from four weeks, to months or years.
• Agent negotiates a lot with editor and also finalizes a contract. This is much different than the standard contract since they’d know the wording better and want better stuff for the writer too.
• Lots of work Agent does and it’s all for the good of the writer too. All deals are consulted to writer first and then if writer also has any problems with editor etc, Agent helps negotiate.

What was interesting about this session is that it was what some of us were saying about the publishing here, we need agents to even break into the international scene but some people think that it’s unneeded or just an extra when no… It’s not. ANYWHO, this was a very good session and she was a straight to the point and very well spoken presenter!

On Fairies (Diwata), Mousedeers (Sang Kancil), Merpeople, and Magic Spells – Threads that Bind Children’s Tales from Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia by Rhoda Myra Garces-Bascal

• Is not an academic research but more out of passion an interest but the facts were interesting.
• Used Nvivo 9 analysing software
• Singapore’s folktales had a lot of rules, obedience and liked power over love compared to other South East Asian folktales.
• At the end of the talk, feedback from audience, there’s another organization who did this academically and so more info can be found (in pdf form) at http://seameo.org/ !

This session was more of a fun observational sort to know of folktales in SEA. It was pretty fun to know about more stories too and heh, the analyzing was somewhat pretty true too to real life.

Of Power and Emotions: Writing Fiction for Young Adults by Holly Thompson

• Middle grade school is 20,000- 40,000 words
• Young adult is 40,000 – 80,000 words generally (or more!)
• Is usually often an emotional read, fast paced and usually first person narrative.
• YA tends to be concerned with adolescent negotiating his or her place within a social system, learning their place in a power structure.
• “Crossover books” are YA books but it crosses into Adult where audiences from both like the books for example, The Hunger Games.

And then we got to the second day. Didn’t get there so early since the ones that I wanted to attend were later in the day.

Turning Life Experiences Into Fiction by Dianne Wolfer

• Flimsy, cheap notebooks are ok and getting a file to stuff in any ideas you have are good to keep in.
• Stake out a place where you would have your main writing place is. Creating a space gives your credibility that yes, you ARE a writer!
• Think of moments in the past and write about said moments for 3 minutes a day for ideas!
• Adding other senses besides sight, like sound, smell would let the reader feel as if they’re in the story.
• Embarrassing moments are always popular and good to write about in children’s fiction.
• Always take notes.

Ok, there’s so much more but mainly, the latest trend also from all the sessions is that YA is on the rise and that sci-fi and dystopian fantasy are in. Publishers, agents and writers are currently plagued by vampires and that everyone is still confused over the ebook and applications pricing and rights for now.

Eventually, it will be figured out but for now, it’s shaky to know what works and what doesn’t. Mostly, it has to do with the writer’s rights and contracts since if ebooks and apps are out now, what of the future, perhaps there will be other formats and what then?

So hmm, everyone’s going “Woaaaah” on it.

We’ll see how it is, in the future indeed.

Books that I’m waiting for! I decided to do a list since it’s all being out in this or the next few months:

7 June – Insatiable by Meg Cabot

28 June – Heartless by Gail Carriger

5 July – The Snow Queen’s Shadow by Jim C. Hines

30 August - Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead

25 October – Mastiff by Tamora Pierce

Ahhhhhhhh, the closest one is in the next week or so. Interestingly this list consists of sequels and last books for each of the series! In a way, you can find a theme with my list of books too.

Ahhh, lots of events on Saturday, 28 May!

Firstly, there is an Intro to Creative Writing talk/ workshop at the National Library, Multipurpose Room, basement 1, 2pm. It is FREE so come on by if you want to talk or learn more on creative writing and ask questions on it.

Secondly, we have a discussion talk that is FREE too at Spore-Con! That will be from 11am-12pm. It is about Writing Genre Fiction in Singapore! Click the link to know more plus you might be interested in going for some of the tournaments or games at the convention itself.

Yes, we’ll be going to Spore-Con and then to the library! Do come for either though the one at the library will be more on writing while the one at Spore-Con will be more on a discussion of the state of writing genre fiction here.

On the side that is not organized by us, there will also be The Asian Festival of Children’s Content! That is not free though and you have to pay for the conference fees. That will be at the Arts House, just in case you’re heading that direction and wondering what is up with all the people since the Cats of the World exhibition is there too.

Lastly, there is a Superheroes as a social commentary talk at the Esplanade library at 4.30pm by a screenwriting lecturer from the Puttnam School of Film, LASALLE College of the Arts.

What is up with Saturday indeed. Well, I hope to see at least some of you guys at either the library or Spore-Con!

Two books, two different genres and two different places! You get the idea.

The first one is Wolf at the Door by one of our writer friends, Joyce. It’s an ebook so you can buy it only online here. She’s having a book launch/reading party this week too!

Location: The Garden Slug

Date and Time: 14 April, 7.30pm

You can check more details and the map on how to get there on her blog here and to RSVP to her too. It’s an URBAN FANTASY story of werewolves in Singapore, check the book out! TAKE THAT PEOPLE, we have genre writers here.

The next book event is BUBBLE G.U.M.!

That’s the poster that you are not going to see at the event at Ion. Hahahaha. ANYWAY, yes come to our reading/signing.

Location: Orchard Ion’s Prologue bookstore

Date and time: 19 April, 7pm

Ours is young adult science fiction. You can buy the book at the store itself or online here with shipping. It is also stocked at Books Actually! So yes, do come to either of the events and say hello… and buy.