Lydia Teh

Fun at Roundatbout KL

2011-03-18T11:08:00.000+08:00

Fun for Kids in Malaysia

Written by Lydia Teh this is a book bursting with information about what to do / see with children in Malaysia. The author basically came up with the idea because her four kids used to complain that there was nothing to do during the school holidays … sound familiar?

The need to keep children constantly entertained / happy / healthy is tiring and time-consuming. Having a guide with pages of ideas and contact information is a massive help. When I had my first child, I had to discover things on my own and there really weren’t many child-friendly venues around. KL is evolving and has more to offer kids now.

The book covers the entire country from Penang to Labuan and every state in between. Each geographical section begins with a concise intro, information on how to get there and around; and delves into everything that would appeal to a kid within the state from natural wonders and sports to museums and festivals.

Every house should have one of these … it definitely helps to think of something to do when that whiney voice says, ‘I’m bored … what can we do?’.

Retailing for RM29.90 at all leading bookstores.

Note from Lydia: Actually this book was commissioned by Marshall Cavendish.

Of Books and Cooks

2011-03-11T00:39:00.000+08:00

There were two parts to this programme. Mine was held on 7 March at MPH One Utama.

Inspiring Women to Share Their Talents (NST 22 March 2011)

PETALING JAYA: In conjunction with the recent International Women's Day, WEVents, a women-only social gathering, kick-started its Inspire series this month with two back-to-back events, themed "Of Books and Cooks".

Part One of the event on books and writing was held at MPH's Reader's Lounge at 1 Utama Shopping Centre, while the second on cooking was held at The Food Recipe's Cooking Club.

"We have just completed four instalments of our Desire Series events which focused on things that women desire such as shoes, hair and lingerie.

"We are now embarking on our Inspire Series which touch on themes that inspire women, to encourage them to use their natural talents such as cooking or writing to do great things," said Jeanisha Wan, founder of WEVents.

Speaking at the book event held recently was award-winning Malaysian author, Lydia Teh, who wrote Honk! If You're Malaysian.

Teh shared with the lady audience and aspiring authors, useful tips on writing and her personal journey in becoming a best-selling author. The event, supported by MPH Bookstores, ended with a book-signing session.....

Read more: Inspiring women to use their talents http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles
/10icw/Article/#ixzz1HRTdSUWQ

More at the WeVents website.

Talk at UCSI

2011-03-07T00:12:00.007+08:00

Invited by Ken Choong of UCSI to give a talk in conjunction with International Women's Day 2011. The attendance was very good - the best so far in any of my talks. There is a reason for this but I'm not telling. If you're a student in a local college or university, you probably know what I'm talking about.

The students paid rapt attention (other than the odd two or three who were fiddling with their handphone). I suppose my Power Point presentation did its part to captivate them. I gave away some book vouchers as prizes to the quiz I conducted after the talk. When the event was over, several students asked me to pose for photos with them. Made me feel like a celebrity.

WEVents

2011-02-23T16:29:00.000+08:00

Fun at Kunang2

2010-11-11T12:55:00.005+08:00

Nov 2010 Kunang-Kunang

For those of you who don't know, Kunang2 is the inflight magazine of Firefly. Kunang-kunang is the lesser known word for fireflies in Malay, the more common being kelip-kelip.

Fun at Times, Pavilion KL

2010-11-08T11:27:00.002+08:00

In conjunction with Times Pavilion's 3rd anniversary celebration, had a fun kids' event on 7 November 2010 to promote Fun for Kids in Malaysia. Games for the kids include word games, jigsaw puzzles and 5 stones (Batu Seremban). Most of the kids were quite clueless on how to play 5 stones except for a 10-year old girl who had learnt it at school. It was the adults who had fun with the stones.

Times sponsored three sets of prizes for the winners and gave out cake pops (sugar-coated cake on a stick) to all children. I chipped in with pens for everyone, a jigsaw puzzle and a small note book for the consolation winners. The youngest participant was 4-year old Hyunu, a Korean boy who was there with his two siblings. The kids were so adorable.

Fun at TBS, Ntv7

2010-11-04T12:41:00.000+08:00

Appeared on The Breakfast Show on 3 November 2010 to promote Fun for Kids. I think this is the third time I'm meeting Aishah Sinclair on the set but it's the first time I'm meeting Hansen Lee. In person, he looks more muscular.

The green screen at the studio.

On TV, this is what the backdrop looks like.

At the waiting room, met singer Joe Flizzow, Philippa Yoong, national coach of Malaysian Waterski and Wakeboard Federation and her young charges (the girls have read Honk! If you're Malaysian). It was the girls' mum (far right) who kicked off the conversation by saying that she's read my book. I'm glad she did. Surprised to learn that Philippa is a mother of two young kids.

In Conversation @ Bfm

2010-11-04T09:39:00.005+08:00

Radio interview with Caroline Oh at Bfm on 3 November 2010. I don't think I did that well on the interview but someone emailed me the next day to say it's one of the most interesting and inspiring interviews she's heard!

Caroline is camera shy. I used to listen to her back in the days when she was with Lite Fm. In the background is Sonia Zubeir who was formerly with MixFM.

Thanks to Jee Wan and Hilyati for arranging the interview.

Fun at Times, Pavilion KL

2010-11-03T14:11:00.004+08:00

I will be at Times Bookstore this Saturday for a fun event held in conjunction with Times Pavilion's 3rd anniversary celebration and the promotion of my latest book, Fun for Kids in Malaysia. Details:

Date: Sun 7 November 2010

Time: 3.00 to 4.00 pm

Venue: Members' lounge, Times Bookstore, Pavilion KL

Activities: Fun games for kids such as puzzles, word games and Batu Seremban (5 stones)

Prizes: Times is sponsoring three sets of prizes for the winning kids and there will be door gifts for everyone.

Be there or be square.

Fun at Mychild

2010-11-01T17:19:00.002+08:00

Title: Fun for Kids in Malaysia
Author: Lydia Teh
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Editions

"What are we going to do during the coming holidays, Mum?" comes the dreaded question from the restless children of a highly frazzled mother with a small budget and no more ideas left in her weary mind.

Fret no more....Lydia Teh offers you salvation in a book called Fun for Kids in Malaysia. At RM29.90 per copy, salvation is pretty reasonably priced, considering that much of our domestic incapacitation stems from a lack of finances in the first place.

Here's a summary of Teh's book:

* A comprehensive guide to child-friendly attractions in the whole of Malaysia conveniently categorised into five regions - Northern; Eastern; Central; Southern; Sabah, Sarawak & Labuan

* Complete with contact details, opening hours, price guide, features and courses

* Listings include places to go for dance classes, cooking classes, art classes and outdoor activities

* Helps parents plan and utilise fully their children’s free time and school holidays (You might find this immediately handy for the upcoming Nov/Dec 2010 holidays!)

About the Book

Quite possibly the first of its kind in Malaysia, Fun for Kids in Malaysia is an organised listing of what to do, where to do it and how you can get it done - all in a slim A5-sized volume. (There is another book titled, Kids in KL by an expatriate couple, which highlights only activities in KL.)

Dedicated to kids, these suggested activities make up a checklist of to-do things when you are planning to go to, or are already at, a specific town/state.

This book is not only helpful to tourists and expatriates but is also relevant to Malaysians who have not yet discovered several under-publicised spots in their own country.

Schools, learning centres, family-based associations, libraries, travel agencies and the Tourism Ministry should consider taking up copies of this book.

About the Author

Lydia Teh has four children who constantly moaned about how boring the school holidays were. She wished this book was written ten years earlier when all her kids were below ten so that she could earn the title of Most Fun-tastic Mom. It is better late than never though. Armed with this book, she would be dragging her brood around Malaysia to have some fun before they reach the age when they would rather hang out with their friends than their parents.

For more information, please contact the following person(s):

Distribution sales
Michelle Low
Tel: (03) 5628 6928
Email: Michelle@my.marshallcavendish.com

Marketing
Mei Li
Tel: (03) 5628 6806
Email: meili@my.marshallcavendish.com

Fun at Berita Harian

2010-10-19T20:32:00.003+08:00

Parenthood Oct 2010

2010-10-18T16:06:00.000+08:00

Fun at Virtual Malaysia

2010-10-04T15:07:00.000+08:00

Book Review - Fun for Kids in Malaysia

For someone who's single and obviously not intending to have children any time soon, I found "Fun For Kids in Malaysia: An essential guide to fun-tastic activities for children" by Lydia Teh rather amusing, as it really brought out the (hidden) kid in me.

Separated by states in Malaysia, the book offers attractions which bring interests to children, but as I read on, it would also be great for adults (those who are young at heart) to tag along.

15% discount at Borders

From camping, swimming, to performing extreme sports and such, the book caters to the needs and interests of the whole family - and you know what they say - the family that plays together, stays together.
"I grew up with six brothers. That's how I learned to dance- waiting for the bathroom" (Bob Hope) - a favourite quote of mine, which Lydia puts in the book as well.

How I wish I could have learned capoeira (Afro-Brazilian martial art that incorporates music, dance and acobatics) when I was a kid; I was really into it after watching the movie "Only The Strong" - and only managed to practise the moves on my brothers. Now, there are even packages that cater to the art, and cool parents know better than not to enrol their children in it.

All the quotes that Lydia included in Fun for Kids in Malaysia are tied up to the subject of the book - entertaining children so that they don't end up whining, "I'm bored, there's nothing to do".

However, one thing that is lacking from the "guide" book are pictures - there are only some cartoons showing the attractions and drawings of children. That, to me, took the "fun" out of the book, making it rather monotonous and detracts from conveying the fun-factor of the activities.

Parents who get hold of a copy of this book will have plenty of pointers to make their family holidays fun and enjoyable for the children. In fact, it may just earn them not only the label The Greatest Parents on Earth, but also the coolest!

Fun for Kids in Malaysia: An essential guide to fun-tastic activities for children by Lydia Teh retails at RM29.90. Get 15% off this month at Borders.

By : Nazreen Tajul Arif

Fun at komunitikini.com

2010-10-04T14:22:00.001+08:00

Fun at Her World

2010-10-01T12:02:00.001+08:00

Her World October 2010 issue

ParenThots Review of Fun for Kids in Malaysia

2010-09-28T13:07:00.005+08:00

Must-have book on activities for kids
27 September 2010
Review by BRIGITTE ROZARIO

FUN FOR KIDS IN MALAYSIA
An essential guide to fun-tastic activities for children
By Lydia Teh
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish

Author Lydia Teh has really put in a lot of research for this book. It is the guide book for all families.

Often parents are left at a loss as to what to do during the school holidays and how to entertain their kids on the weekend.

The number of places we visit seem to be few and the number of activities we are familiar with are even fewer. You could probably count all of them on one hand. And, often, the kids end up going nowhere and doing nothing or we just keep taking them back to the shopping malls.

Take heart, you need not bring up a mall rat.

That's where this book comes in. It offers stuff to do in all states and that includes Sabah and Sarawak. There's even what to do in Labuan!

The list covers information like how to get there and getting around each state. Included in the list of activities are museums, libraries, nature attractions, adventure activities, sports, performing arts, arts & crafts, festivals and shopping.

You will be pleasantly surprised to find out the kinds of stuff you could do in your state. For example, I didn't know that you could roll down a hill in a giant plastic ball at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa or fly a plane at Subang Skypark.

The author has included info like what the activity/event is, where it can be found, what time the place is open, contact details and how to get there.

Apparently, there are a lot of activities in Malaysia that we may not even be aware of.

I liked that the author included things like where to adopt animals and societies/associations for children with special needs.

In addition to the state by state breakdown and the special needs information, there are also details on festivals that might be celebrated by all states – Chinese New Year, Christmas, Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa, Chap Goh Meh, Hungry Ghost, Mooncake, Wesak and Thaipusam.

Then there are the school holiday programmes offered by Club Med, Cambridge English for Life, Children's Technology Workshop, Polgar Chess and Xtreem Adventure.

If your child is into uniformed activities, you might be interested in the contact details for Girl Guides, Cadet Corps, Polis Kadet, Red Crescent Society, Scouts and St John Ambulance.

To top all of that, the author has included right at the back of the book, hiking guidelines and safety at waterfalls tips.

In all, this is a great guide and every family should have one. You will be amazed at what you can do in Malaysia and you probably don't know about any of the libraries near you.

Highly recommended.

* Want to win a FREE copy of the book? Go to the contest page to find out how you can win one.

Fun at Bookfest

2010-09-06T12:23:00.000+08:00

Conducted a talk on Getting Kids to Read and Play at the annual Bookfest in KLCC. The talk was on Sunday, 5 September 2010. Turnout could've been better. I think the timing wasn't good but that was the only spot available for me on that day. Six o'clock is the time people are getting ready to makan.

1childrenbooks.com Review of Fun for Kids in Malaysia

2010-09-02T14:44:00.002+08:00

Description

This handbook is for parents who have to plan their children’s activities. It is divided into the states of Malaysia, with Kuala Lumpur and Selangor combined as one. In each state, the fun activities and places to visit are further categorised generally into the following, with some categories being omitted in smaller states:

* Fast facts – state’s tourism office.
* Getting there – how to go there by plane, car, bus and train.
* Getting around – information on buses and taxis in the main towns.
* Back to nature – forest reserves, parks, islands, beaches, waterfalls, animal farms.
* Adventure (name of state)! – caving, fishing, flying fox, paragliding, paint ball, rock climbing, white water rafting, etc
* Sports – archery, badminton, bowling, cycling, fencing, football, etc
* The performing arts – dance, drama, music
* Arts, craft and cooking – includes art galleries as well
* Where to go – places of interest that do not fall into the ‘Back to nature’ section, such as mosques, temples, museums, tourist spot like Chinatown, etc
* Festivals – major festivals unique to each state
* Shopping – shopping malls
* Reading – list of bookstores and public libraries

Detailed information are provided, which usually includes address, telephone number, email address, website address, opening and closing times, entrance fee, and price guide for activities. For major tourists’ attraction, road directions are given.

Our review

If you are always cracking your head as to how to keep your children occupied during the weekends or more crucially, during the school holidays, then this is a must-have.

Not only does it give you a rather comprehensive list of activities for kids, but should you decide to go on a holiday, it also includes the places of interest in each state.

The list for Kuala Lumpur/Selangor is the most complete. In here, you would be exposed to activities you might not have think of. Hence, you could use the key words here to find out more in the Internet.

They are all ‘under one roof’, unlike what you will see in the Internet. Searching for information in the Internet is not as easy as you would like it to be. Say, if you search for ‘archery’, you may get one or two archery centres on the first page of the result, another one on the 5th page and a few more buried in later pages that you would have no desire to venture to.

The author has injected several personal observations in the description of places. This gives you useful insights. For example, on page 29 she wrote, “...the roads in Penang can be quite narrow and the one-way streets can lead you round in circles.” Then, on page 257, “Your children will beg you to come to this mall for its proliferation PC games, CDs, DVDs, PlayStation and software programmes which are mostly pirated.”

However, it would be nice if it has an ‘Index’ section – say if you are interested in white water rafting, you would probably like to know where it is available. So, an ‘Index’ would help a lot, compared to having to browse through each state to look for it.

The ‘Where to go’ section could be placed together with ‘Back to nature’. After all, they are all ‘places to go’. Splitting them gives you a sense of ‘why-are-we-back-to-tourists-spots-again’. Apart from that, a few states like Negeri Sembilan and Pahang, lack information on weekend activities (sports, arts, crafts and cooking).

Although this is not an exhaustive list of fun f or kids, nevertheless it has something for everyone.

The author’s website is www.lydiateh.com. To order this title, please visit MPH Bookstore (online or otherwise).

Source : 1childrenbooks.com

Hooked on Bookz review of Fun for Kids

2010-08-27T18:19:00.000+08:00

Here's a review of Fun for Kids by Hooked on Bookz.

In a nutshell

So. You have a bunch of hyperactive kids who become even more hyperactive during weekends and school holidays. What do you do? No no no. Turn off Astro. Whip out Fun for Kids in Malaysia and get the entire family outta the house, and explore Malaysia.

This guidebook lists a wide range of activities for your children to indulge in and new places for them to explore in this country. Travel from the northern region right to the southern region of Malaysia and have a great holiday.

What I liked

My first thought was, 'Are there that many places for kids to go to in Malaysia?' Go through the 'Contents' section and you'll find out that there are indeed many places to go to and fun activities to do around Malaysia. At the start of each section, there are 'fast facts' about the state. Then it tells you how to get there and how to get around the area (e.g. what buses to take, or if you could take taxis/rented cars/trains and so on).

Then there's a list of fun activities that they could do while they're there. Let them be Robin Hood for a day and sign them up for archery and horse-riding, or send them off to the golf course with Dad; or if they love art, encourage them to explore their creativity in arts and crafts classes, cooking, or maybe even pottery courses. If you want undistracted shopping, there are professional babysitters who offer 'drop and shop' services in some of the shopping centres.

The 'most happening' or rather the hype of activities featured in this book is KL/Selangor. So if you happened to be living in this area, you might want to check it out and make full use of it for the coming holidays :)

You'd also find beautiful illustrations and pretty amusing quotes throughout the pages. Some of my favourites were 'In primitive society, when native tribes beat the ground with clubs and yell, it was called witchcraft; today, in civilised society, it is called golf. ~Anonymous' and 'Avoid fruits and nuts. You are what you eat. ~Jim Davis (I had a good laugh at this one haha)

This is a helpful and informative guide book that comes complete with contact numbers, websites and email addresses. It'd come in handy for parents who are always at wits end when it comes to planning for the holidays :)

It'd be better if...

An index would probably make it more user and reader-friendly.

Thank you Marshall Cavendish for the book. Fun for Kids in Malaysia is now available in all major bookstores. For more information, kindly email meili@my.marshallcavendish.com.

Perdana Leadership Foundation Talk

2010-08-26T21:32:00.014+08:00

22 August 2010

PLF invited me to give a talk on personalizing your essays in conjunction with their essay writing contest with the theme of Nurturing The Minds of Future Leaders. The grand prize includes RM7,000 cash, a netbook, an e-book reader and RM500 MPH vouchers. If I were in the 18-25 age group, I will definitely enter the contest. Since I'm not, I will bug two of my kids to take a shot at it. The closing date is 30 September 2010.

My co-speaker is Professor Murad Merican, Universiti Petronas Professor and author of Media History: Worldviews and Communication Futures. He is a learned man and spoke very well indeed. I sound absolutely shallow compared with him.

Zarina of PLF has done a good job in recording the proceedings. Since it is posted at the PLF's essay website, I shall just point you there to read all about it. The earlier talk with Dina Zaman and Dr. Ong Kian Ming is up too.

Dr. Murad and his wife are on the left. Zarina (wearing headscarf) and the rest of the PLF gang.

The nice display of my books as the backdrop for the talk.

Post Script: A highlight for me was when a participant, Vidia, produced Honk! If You're Malaysian for me to autograph. It belongs to her friend, Kala who is a fan of my book but unfortunately couldn't attend the talk to get my prized signature. Nice. (Told you I was shallow.)

The Asian Parent Review of Fun for Kids in Malaysia

2010-08-16T14:20:00.004+08:00

Fun For Kids in Malaysia - Book Review
An essential guide to fun-tastic activities for children.
by Aishah Begum

Author: Lydia Teh
Pages: 360
Price: S$13.60 before GST
Availability: Select Books and all major book stores.
Published by: Marshall Cavendish Editions.
ISBN: 978-983-3845-48-4
Recommended for: Children and parents of all ages.

Summary

If you have kids between the ages of 3 to 18, and you’ve run out of places in Singapore to keep them entertained, then you should definitely grab a copy of “Fun For Kids in Malaysia.” The comprehensive guide book is chock full of ideas on where to go and what to do in Malaysia for lots of family fun.

The fun-filled guide is not just meant for foreigners – but it’ll definitely be a handy keep for local Malaysians as well. Be the greatest parents on earth by bringing your children on a rock climbing adventure in Jerejak Rainforest Resort, Penang, or kick it old-school by bringing them to the state museum in Negri Sembilan to view ‘Rumah Minang’, which depicts a typical Minangkabau house with its pointed roofs which looks like the horns of water buffaloes.

What we love

• The Fast Facts section, which gives insight on websites and addresses.
• Short yet detailed and to the point. Reading this was a breeze!
• The quirky illustrations and anecdotes will grab yours and the kids’ attention.
• It caters to the parents too, for when you need a break away from the kids.

What we dislike

• It would have been better if there were tabs for readers to flip to specific pages for easier find.
• We would have preffered a lighter more compact book, to keep in our handbags/pocketbooks.
• Pictures of the venues and attractions would have added a nice touch.
Our verdict:
We love the layout and easy-to-read factor, so we give this book a 4 out of 5!

Fun for Kids in Malaysia

2010-08-15T14:03:00.000+08:00

ISBN : 978 983 384 5484

Retail Price : RM 29.90 / S $13.60 before GST

Pages : 360pp

Imprint Marshall Cavendish Editions

About the Book

If you have ever wondered how you were going to keep the kids occupied during weekends and school holidays, worry no more. This guidebook lists a wide range of activities for children to indulge in and new places for them to explore.

Whether or not you are Malaysian parents who want your children to enjoy their childhood to the fullest or foreign tourists who just want your kids to have some fun in Malaysia, this book will give you plenty of pointers on where to go and what to do, and help you earn the label as The Greatest Parents on Earth.

Star-Popular Readers' Choice Awards

2010-08-11T13:15:00.002+08:00

Female July 2010

2010-07-12T23:46:00.001+08:00

A framed quote in Female, July 2010 issue.

The Malaysian Insider

2010-07-10T22:05:00.007+08:00

Nothing beats a good book
By Eric Forbes

KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — Lydia Teh was born and bred in Klang, Malaysia. She still resides in this royal town famous for its glittering streetlights, seafood, bah-kut-teh (herbal pork stew) and the ubiquitous crows.

A homemaker, she enjoys writing while raising her brood of four. In between cooking for her children, chauffeuring them around and coaching them in their studies, she loves observing the quirks and idiosyncrasies of Malaysians. All these she captures in her three best-selling books, Life’s Like That: Scenes from Malaysian Life, Honk! If You’re Malaysian and Do You Wear Suspenders?: The Wordy Tales of Eh Poh Nim.

After being a desperate housewife for some 17 years, Teh hung up her apron in 2009 to join the office brigade. She now administers an English-language centre in Klang. Her sixth book, Fun for Kids in Malaysia: An Essential Guide to Fun-tastic Activities for Children, has gone to print and should hit bookstores in August 2010. Next is a parental guide with lots of humour.

How do you find the time to read with your busy schedule?

Clean and cook less, sleep later. If there’s a will, there’s always a way.

Do you think reading matters?

Reading is a pastime that makes time fly like a speeding bullet. Reading is my ticket to escape into other worlds for a bout of wandering and poking around. Reading helped me score distinctions in my English-language examinations and without having to memorise dates, events, places, body parts, plant cells, formulae and what-not. Does reading matters? You bet.

What kind of books did you read when you were growing up? Were there any books that had a significant impact on you at that early age?

Enid Blyton was my first love. I read a wide range of her books, including boarding school stories at St. Clare’s and Mallory Towers, adventure tales of the Adventurous Four, Famous Five and Secret Seven, The Naughtiest Girl series as well as her bedtime stories.

In secondary school I graduated to Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries. Then there was the “M&B” series. No, not maths and biology, but Mills & Boon! Barbara Cartland with her stammering helpless heroines followed close on the heels of Agatha Christie’s mysteries.

Books played a big part in my young life. Reading allowed me to escape into exciting worlds quite different from my own quiet existence. One of my favourite memories of my late father was of him taking me to the KK Dawood bookstore in Taiping Street to borrow M&B books.

Sixth Form exposed me to the works of William Shakespeare, the Brontë sisters and poets like Alfred Tennyson and Robert Browning. I digested these works in the course of duty rather than the pleasure they could afford but I learnt to respect their skilful penmanship in critical appreciation class. These literature classes stood me in good stead later in life when I would voluntarily pick up copies of Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Emma and read them with much enjoyment.

What are some of your favourite contemporary books? Why do you enjoy reading them?

I enjoy reading novels on Asian culture such as Amy Tan’s books (I’ve read all her titles except Saving Fish from Drowning which I bought but somehow couldn’t get past the first chapter), Arundhati Roy’s Booker Prize-winning The God of Small Things and Pearl S. Buck’s The Good Earth.

I also enjoy reading memoirs, particularly those of writers such as Amy Tan’s The Opposite of Fate: Memories of a Writing Life, Stephen King’s On Writing, Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes, Mary Higgins Clark’s Kitchen Privileges and Michael J. Fox’s Lucky Man: A Memoir.

I read Lucky Man to gain an insight into how the "Family Ties" and "Back to the Future" star coped with Parkinson’s disease because my late father was also afflicted with the same condition. I also like Roald Dahl; it’s a pity I didn’t discover him until I became an adult. I bought almost all of his books for my children — and myself! Reading his books is akin to going on a journey without knowing what to expect. You don’t know what is coming up and you can’t wait to take the next step to find out what lies ahead!

Do you have an all-time favourite book? Why do you enjoy reading it? Do you reread books you enjoyed the first time round?

No, I don’t have an all-time favourite book. I usually don’t re-read books. I think this is a luxury I can ill afford. I’d rather spend time reading new books or discovering new authors. Having said that, I did re-read Jung Chang’s Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China recently. I borrowed the book from a friend several years back. My daughter didn’t know about this and bought it as a gift for me on Mother’s Day. So I read it again, and it was just as riveting the second time round.

Assuming you enjoy reading fiction, what are the elements in fiction that take your breath away? In other words, what do you think are the essentials of good fiction? What distinguishes the great novels from the merely good? (If you prefer reading nonfiction, tell me why. Perhaps you enjoy reading both fiction and nonfiction?)

I enjoy reading both fiction and non-fiction. Where fiction is concerned, I prefer page-turners to literary tomes. The writing may be beautiful and the sentences may leave me awe-struck by their sheer genius, but if nothing much is happening on the page, I would rather go scrub the kitchen sink. I read non-fiction to be enlightened and sometimes, to be entertained. If the book covers a subject I want to learn about, that is good enough for me, with one proviso: It must not be written like an academic text as I am allergic to such prose. My immediate reaction is to fall into a deep, deep sleep.

What are you reading at the moment?

Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales. As a young girl, I read scores, maybe hundreds, of fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen and the Grimm brothers. I am rereading the collection as research for my next book.

What are your thoughts on the future of books, particularly on e-books and e-book readers? Do you think they will replace physical books one day?

Get out of here! Books will not go extinct. If they ever do, it will be sometime in the distant future when there is no more production of paper. Think about the day when all the books in the world can only be found as e-books.

Imagine no longer being able to pose for photographs in front of your imposing bookshelves. Instead you would be holding up a little Kindle or an iPad in one hand. What a ludicrous and pedestrian picture that would make. Nothing but paper books can make you appear more erudite than you actually are!

Yummy Mummies @ Malaysian Women's Weekly

2010-05-10T15:50:00.000+08:00

Malaysian Women's Weekly ran a special Yummy Mummies feature in the May 2010 issue to celebrate Mother's Day. Three mummies were chosen to undergo a transformation to reflect what their kids wished them to be. Genevieve Sambhi, a model and ambassador for cervical cancer, looked glorious as a mermaid; Amy Mastura was bright as a butterfly and I turned into a rock star. Su Yen loves to watch Hannah Montana, so that's me in my rock star garb. I have never ever worn an off-shoulder outfit and it'll probably be the one and only time ever. If you look at the small print on the extreme right of the page, you will notice the credits: 'Lydia's dress (worn as a top)...' That's because the dress was too small for me. It got stuck at my hips and since it looked fine as a top, we let it be.

Stretching your Dollar$ and $ense - Review by Tell

2010-05-03T13:23:00.000+08:00

Tell Magazine, Special 2010

The Breakfast Show

2009-12-16T23:51:00.002+08:00

The Breakfast Show @ Ntv7, 16 December 2009

My publisher, Marshall Cavendish, arranged for this tv interview to promote Stretching Your Dollar$ and $ense. The live show was held at Sri Pentas in Bandar Utama. Yow Mei Li from MC turned up for moral support.

First time I'm in a studio with a green screen. Look at the tv set. It looks like I'm balancing a giant mug on my head.

I've met Daphne Iking (left) at the Ntv7's old studio at Glenmarie and Aishah Sinclair (centre) has interviewed me for Venus, so I was quite at ease with them.

When you get two breezy hosts, the session is fun. Daphne, being a new mother, singled out the tip on recycling disposable diapers. But I can't see her putting this into practice. You'll know what I mean if you read the book.

Stretching your Dollar$ and $ense - Star Advert

2009-11-20T13:20:00.000+08:00

The Star, 20 Nov 2009

Pop Club - November 2009

2009-11-15T13:17:00.001+08:00

Stretching your Dollar$ and $ense Review in The Star

2009-09-11T12:20:00.003+08:00

The Star
11 September 2009

Stretching Your Dollars And Sense
Author: Lydia Teh
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish, 144 pages

EVERYONE wants to know how to save money during the financial crisis and this book offers just that with a Malaysian twist. The author of best-seller Honk! If You’re Malaysian lists over 300 practical pointers for prudent spending and more savings. From lowering food costs to saving water, budget entertainment and mending shoes, there is something here for everyone.

Stretching your Dollar$ and $ense at Bfm

2009-09-01T12:10:00.002+08:00

This is the radio interview at Bfm Radio conducted on 13 July 2009.

Part 1

Part 2

Eh Poh Nim on Singapore's 938LIVE

2009-08-22T00:17:00.005+08:00

Like most, if not all, other authors, I like to google my books to find out what readers are saying about them. That's how I stumbled upon this little review on Singapore's 938LIVE radio.

What is 938LIVE? It "gets you talking as Singapore's only all news and talk radio station. We'll give you all you need to know about What's In, What's On and What's Up in Singapore round the clock." The Write Stuff appears under its English @ Work project in support of the Speak Good English Movement.

THE WRITE STUFF
Do you wear suspenders?: The wordy tales of Eh Poh Nim
By Lydia Teh

Eh Poh Nim is a woman on a mission. Poh Nim, a character created by author, Lydia Teh, loves the English language so much that she has taken it upon herself to introduce new words and phrases to the world. She wants to spread the joy of learning English through her daily interactions.

Written in a conversational tone, we listen in as Poh Nim introduces new words to anyone within earshot. She uses words and phrases cleverly, providing witty explanations for their usage. For example, she refers to a plus-sized American colleague who had just arrived at the airport as "Big Bertha". Big Berthas refer to the huge German guns that were used to shell Paris in World War I.

Contributed by Kweh Soon Huat, National Library Board

Short and sweet.

Honk! in Faces June 2009

2009-06-27T18:40:00.003+08:00

Temporary : Click to Save

2009-06-11T11:27:00.002+08:00

As mentioned in my other blog, this blog is the only one I will update and that too, with news on my writing. But occasionally, a need may arise for me to blog about other things. I think the best way for me to do that is to create a temporary post to be removed at a suitable time so that this blog continues to stay focused.

A friend, Joshua Chong, has asked that I blog about Digi's Love to Save campaign. It's a worthy cause that's easy to support. All it takes is one click to donate RM5 to the charity of your choice. The target is RM150,000 to be 'collected' over 30 days. This means that 30,000 clicks need to be executed. As of now, with 20 days left, the total donation stands at RM71,980. This translates to 48% of the target and they're only 10 days into the campaign. Not bad. If you want to do your bit, click away and spread the news.

P/S : This post will be removed when the campaign is over.

Honk! @ MPH Jimat Campaign

2009-06-09T10:09:00.006+08:00

MPH Jimat Campaign is in BBT One, Klang (just in front of Tesco Bukit Tinggi). Though prices aren't rock bottom, you can get new books at a good discount. For instance, Honk! If You're Malaysian is going at RM20, which is 35% off its retail price. I found 5 autographed copies in the RM2-RM20 bin along with 2 copies of Life's Like That - Scenes from Malaysian Life (original cover). Though the latter is tagged at its original price of RM29.90, I think it's going for RM20 too. Klangites, this is a good time to get my books if you haven't. The sale concludes this Sunday, 14 June 2009.

Read Malaysia 2009

2009-06-02T16:36:00.010+08:00

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).

Astro U-Wartawan

2009-06-02T15:35:00.008+08:00

Tuesday, 26 May 2009

I was invited as a guest for U-Wartawan (Astro Awani, channel 501) The topic was rude Malaysians. You can listen to the interview here. Didn't think I did a good job, it's been too long since I was a guest on a Malay program.

This program is interactive. They get the man-on-the-street to give their opinions on Facebook and they choose the best inputs for airing. The session which is aired live is recorded in a corner of the Astro Awani office in Menara Maybank, KL. You can see the cameraman holding a hand-held camera in the second picture. The camera is strapped onto the waist but you still need a pair of strong hands to keep the contraption steady.

Did you know that Astro provides transport for interview guests who can't make their way to the studio on their own? Usually I drive myself to the tv stations but since this interview was at night and I wasn't sure of the way, Astro sent a driver to pick me from my house. Cool!

With Nazri Kahar, the talk show host, and my son

Stretching your Dollar$ and $ense

2009-06-01T20:55:00.000+08:00

Title: Stretching your Dollar$ and $ense - More than 300 money-saving tips for anyone and everyone
ISBN: 9789673035625
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Business
Publish Date: 1 June 2009
Price: RM19.90

If you do not fancy moonlighting to earn extra cash, the best way to weather the tough economic climate is to practise prudence and save as much money as you can.
Stretching your Dollar$ and $ense contains more than 300 tips on how to save your hard-earned cash, ranging from common and sensible ideas to suggestions that could save you thousands of dollars.
Lydia Teh infuses practical pointers with a gentle touch of humour to make these tips more palatable, so that you can smile all the way to the bank.

Book Talk at Read Malaysia 2009

2009-05-30T09:56:00.005+08:00

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

Eh Poh Nim in I.M.

2009-05-14T10:49:00.003+08:00

I.M. May 2009 issue

I.M. is not instant messaging. It is the name of a new magazine on all things Malaysian.

Nerd Love

2009-04-30T14:29:00.006+08:00

This is the review of my book in Amir Muhammad's Pulp Friction column in The Malay Mail, Wed, 29 April 2009.

Books that compile newspaper columns are usually as diverting as someone else’s jumbled laundry, but this is a happy exception. It helps that I had never read any of the pieces here before. I mistook Lydia Teh’s Word’s Up, Eh Poh Nim? column in The Star for some kind of simple grammar guide, so never felt compelled to go any further because I have been told that my Englands is already quite well.

Well, the joke’s on me! The column actually reads like a serial novel. Sure, it doesn’t have the relentless pace of, say, Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City, but the story definitely builds. Like several other serial novelists, Teh creates an affectionate and occasionally exasperated portrait of a city as seen by several closely observed characters. In fact, Do You Wear Suspenders? turns out to be a love story!

The eponymous (geddit?) protagonist is a single woman with the annoying habit of always correcting other people’s word usage. Even when visiting a friend in hospital, she scolds Clara for writing ‘complement’ instead of ‘ compliment.’ (The reason Clara is writing is that the poor thing is not healthy enough to talk.) Instead of flinging her filled bedpan at her, Clara just lies there and takes it all in.

And so it goes. Eh Poh Nim (the name is always spelled in full) has several talky escapades that help illustrate concepts like alliteration, hyperbole, puns, metaphors and similes. She has memorised the origins of many idioms and phrases too: “Trojan horse” is easy enough, but how many of us know where “below the salt” came from?

One of the most fun chapters has Our Lady of Pedantry instructing Australian mates on Manglish terms, which is how the title of the book came about. We use suspenders to refer to something worn underneath, rather than to hold up, men’s trousers. Another favourite has an ending where we are taught that ACDC is slang for bisexual, which you can never be too young to learn.

Strangely enough, Teh doesn’t take advantage of the interesting origin of the phrase ‘half-past six.” When a former Prime Minister (guess which one!) used it to describe the new leadership, I never realised it was a local expression. It comes from the early days of the Selangor Club in KL, where Eurasians were permitted to be at the bar only from 6:30pm onwards – when the whites would be away, preparing for dinner. So the term was a racist one to mean second-rate. (My source is this novel).

I sometimes felt like throttling her, but I feel the same about many of my friends, so I guess Eh Poh Nim became a friend. Besides, her compulsive desire to educate is a way to conceal (wouldn’t you know it?) a certain loneliness. While fending off an oafish colleague named Paul, she grows interested in Gene Rick, whose charms prove to be anything but generic. He, too, is a sticker, I mean stickler, for using the correct words, so you imagine a very happy future of matching thesauri on the bedside table.

But the path of true love is filled with sticks and stones, … or words to that effect. Eh Poh Nim first needs to make sure none of her friends or family members bludgeon her to death for always reminding them not to pronounce words to become ‘Grand Pricks’ or ‘fox pass’.

Unlike the sterile conversations in our textbooks, her mini-adventures never exist in a vacuum. (This book has far too much pork to qualify as an MOE text, anyway). There are many delicious references to contemporary controversies: the mansion built by dubious Malaysian politicians, the sex scandals of Hong Kong stars, the agricultural study trips to Taiwan, and so on. Even the romantic clincher in a park involves a hilarious cameo by killjoy khalwat-busters. Perhaps in a decade we would need footnotes to get all the jokes, but to present them unadorned adds to this book’s cheeky, faux-naif charm.

Faux-naif is a word we are not taught to pronounce properly here. Dare we hope for a sequel?

(Malay Mail, 29 April)

Eh Poh Nim at Kidz

2009-04-01T18:00:00.001+08:00

Kidz March/April 2009 issue

Eh Poh Nim at Pop Club

2009-03-31T17:41:00.001+08:00

Pop Club March 2009 issue

Eh Poh Nim at Traxx Fm

2009-03-24T17:29:00.005+08:00

(With Yen Nee and DJ Mary)

Attended a radio interview at Traxx fm today. This is the first media interview for Do You Wear Suspenders? The Wordy Tales of Eh Poh Nim. It was one of the easiest sessions I've ever had because the DJ, Mary, kept to the prepared questions. Thanks to the assistant producer, Aeida, for arranging the interview. Ten copies of the book were given out to winners of an sms contest.

Do you wear suspenders?

2009-03-01T21:01:00.000+08:00

Title: Do you wear suspenders? The wordy tales of Eh Poh Nim
ISBN: 9789675222085
Publisher: MPH Group Publishing Sdn Bhd
Publish Date: 1 March 2009
Price: RM32.90

This is a collection of anecdotes about the everyday life of Eh Poh Nim, a loquacious woman who launches into explanations of words and phrases at the drop of a hat.

Anyone with even a passing interest in the English language will find this book appealing and amusing. Phrases like "bake a tit," "Mrs. Malaprops nipples," "pie in the sky," "bananas and fruitcakes" and "satay mushrooms" may sound deliciously naughty or vulgar, but none of them are what they seem.

Eh Poh Nim, a punctilious wordsmith, enlightens readers on idioms, hyperboles, metaphors and other figures of speech with delightful humour and an insight into Malaysian life and its complexities and peculiarities.

Bookertisement - Do You Wear Suspenders?

2009-02-21T22:23:00.004+08:00

My bookertisement (a trailer to promote books) is up on Youtube. There's a contest running on my blog. Pop by to take part. You might get lucky and win RM100 worth of book vouchers and an autographed copy of the book DO YOU WEAR SUSPENDERS? THE WORDY TALES OF EH POH NIM. Closing date is 20 March 2009.

Cyberspot

2008-12-19T13:06:00.002+08:00

Malay Mail, 10 December 2008

Author in the house

2008-12-19T12:57:00.003+08:00

Her World - November 2008

Star-Popular Readers' Choice Awards

2008-08-28T14:30:00.004+08:00

Appreciated by authors
By ELIZABETH TAI

The country’s latest book prize will, hopefully, have more local writers emerging in the future.

IT was a move appreciated by Malaysian writers and book lovers alike. The Popular bookstore chain and Star Publications (M) Bhd created The Star-Popular Readers Choice Awards 2008 in which 10 best-selling non-fiction and fiction titles by Malaysian authors were short-listed. StarMag readers were then encouraged to vote for their favourite from each list of 10.
Much-loved columnist and author Adibah Amin won two prizes, one for her debut novel, This End of the Rainbow, the other for the compilation of her famous newspaper column, As I Was Passing. – File photos

On Tuesday, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the authors finally found out how the readers voted. As reported in The Star on Wednesday, the winning titles were Lydia Teh’s Honk! If You’re Malaysian for the non-fiction category and Adibah Amin’s This End of the Rainbow for the fiction category. Adibah also bagged second place in the non-fiction category for her book, As I Was Passing. (See box, right, for complete list of winners.)

Teh and Adibah each received RM1,000 and a trophy; authors of the second and third most popular book titles in both categories received RM300 cash each as well as certificates of recognition.

More than any amount of cash, though, it was the recognition that had everybody at the award ceremony walking about with big smiles on their faces.

When we contact her later, Popular’s executive director, Lim Lee Ngoh, says, “We are very happy because, as (Transport Minister) Datuk Ong Tee Keat (who gave out the awards) said, it’s the first of its kind on Malaysian soil.

“We’re also happy that our local authors are very appreciative of the effort made by the organisers, but most of all of the support and attention from their readers.

“I think it was a very successful event and we will certainly continue to organise it. Our hope is that this is a seed of an idea, and if we cultivate it, nurture it, given time, it will even bigger and better.”

With more support, we will see more locally produced Malaysian work, says Lim: “(The awards) gives authors greater motivation to produce better work,” she adds.

For author Lydia Teh, winning the top award in the non-fiction category was a very gratifying experience.

“I nearly felt like crying when they announced me as winner,” Teh says when we catch up with her right after the ceremony.

She recalls how she couldn’t sleep the night she was informed of her nomination. In fact, she had never expected to win; she was content enough being nominated.

She thinks she won because, “A lot of my readers enjoyed being able to identify themselves in the book. The book has touched a chord.”

Much hard work has gone into Honk! If You’re Malaysian, which is Teh’s third book. It contained not just her previously published newspaper columns but also many new essays.
Lydia Teh receiving her award for Honk! If Your’re Malaysian from Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat on Tuesday.

But Teh didn’t just stop at writing – she had to actively market her book too.

“You have to be thick skinned in approaching the media to get interviewed so that people will remember your book,” she says.

Teh even launched a contest on her blog (lydiateh.wordpress.com) before she published Honk!, asking her readers to choose a title for the then unnamed book.

In fact, as a thank you, Teh will use her prize money to run another contest as a way of showing her appreciation to her readers.

“It (the awards) is a great start in getting people develop more interest in books,” says Teh, who is a full-time homemaker.

For Adibah, who lives in Johor and could not attend the awards ceremony, news that she had won two awards was even more of a surprise, as she only discovered the results the day after the awards ceremony when a friend informed her. In fact, for quite some time, she didn’t even know that she had been nominated!

“I was very surprised and, of course, pleased. Wouldn’t you be surprised?” Adibah said via telephone.

“I’m also very grateful to those who enjoyed my book. And that is the purpose of the book – for people, especially the new generation, to get some enjoyment and some understanding.”

Like Teh and Popular’s Lim, Adibah believes The Star-Popular Readers Choice Awards 2008 is a good step to encourage interest in books in Malaysia.

“It’s one way of judging books and one way of getting interest in books especially for light readers,” she says.

But the ever-humble Adibah feels that she isn’t qualified to give aspiring Malaysian authors advice: “Doesn’t mean that everyone who wins an award should be ‘punished’ with giving advice,” she says, chuckling.

“I will tell you what I tell myself: Just be true to yourself and to your subject and to your own style and things will work itself out.”

# The Star-Popular Readers Choice Awards was held in conjunction with the Popular BookFest@Malaysia 2008 which is on at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre until 10pm today. The Star is a media partner of the event.

How you voted

HERE are the titles that competed for the inaugural The Star-Popular Readers Choice Awards 2008, listed in descending order of number of votes received.

Fiction

1. This End of the Rainbow by Adibah Amin (223 votes)

2. Confessions of an Old Boy: The Dato’ Hamid Adventures by Kam Raslan (218)

3. Sweetheart from Hell by Lim May-Zhee (216)

4. Long Road to Merdeka by Kamarul Zaman (209)

5. Silverfish New Writing 6 edited by Dipika Mukherjee (202)

6. Nine Lives by Teoh Choon Ean (192)

7. The Red Cheong Sam by Ralph Modder (185)

8. Mamasan by Khoo Kheng-Hor (184)

9. 44 Cemetery Road: The Best of Tunku Halim by Tunku Halim (174)

10. The Boy Who Talks to Ghosts by Benny and Alice Wong (80)

Non-fiction

1. Honk! If You’re Malaysian by Lydia Teh (357 votes)

2. As I Was Passing by Adibah Amin (254)

3. Malaysian Politicians Say The Darndest Things by Amir Muhamad (253)

4. The Sky is Crazy by Yvonne Lee (217)

5. I Am Muslim by Dina Zaman (205)

6. From Small-Town Boy to World Class Surgeon by Mangai Balasegaram (165)

7. The Reluctant Politician: Tun Dr Ismail and His Time by Ooi Kee Beng (137)

8. In Good Faith: Articles, Essays and Interviews by Zaid Ibrahim (121)

9. The Unmaking of Malaysia: Insider’s Reminiscences of UMNO, Razak and Mahathir by Ahmad Mustapha Hassan (112)

10. Tanah Tujuh by Antares (55)

Honk! on Hello on Two

2008-04-17T10:11:00.008+08:00

I attended the January MPH Litbloggers Meet with Xeus and Tunku Halim as the featured speakers. MPH had arranged for the tv crew from RTM's Hello on Two (HOT) to interview Tunku Halim. Xeus was also pulled in for an interview on her newly released Dark City 2. She asked me and Chua Kok Yee to tag along as we were both contributors to DC2. However, it so happened that HOT's broadcast journalist had done a review of Honk! If You're Malaysian for their new Book Review segment and I was interviewed for my books instead. Though I wasn't dressed or made-up for the occasion, I seized the opportunity lah. That's why I looked absolutely washed out here. Lesson learnt : when attending literary events, be smartly attired as you never know when you might bump into journalists looking for a story.

Thanks to the Samsung SGH i550 which was loaned to me for a promotion campaign, I was able to record the interview which was aired today and post it here. It's the first time ever I'm doing this kind of high tech stunt, so please excuse the amateur quality of the clip.

I shouldn't have stopped recording when I did, because after that the tv hosts (sorry, I didn't get their names) continued to sell Honk! If You're Malaysian. They said that the book is making waves in Malaysia! Since I missed that on the recording, I had to mention it here.

Viewing the clip, I realized that I had again used my 'crutch words' - meaningless phrases that creeped in unconsciously. "You know" was said at least three times and a couple of "uhms." When I asked my son what he thought of my talks (which I dragged him to sometimes), he had pointed out the countless "you know." So at the last talk that I gave at UCSI, I remembered not to use this crutch word. It worked but another faux pas I made was shaking my legs and the notes I held in my hands. Ah, as they say, the biggest room in the world is the room for improvement. If there was a seminar that teaches you how to appear polished in front of the camera and audience, I may just sign up for it.

International Women's Week at UCSI

2008-03-20T18:28:00.014+08:00

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.

Venus

2008-02-22T17:37:00.007+08:00

Wed, 20 Feb 2008

I was invited on Venus together with Datin Freida Pilus, the chairperson of the Cempaka Schools to talk on "Handphones in School". Datin Freida took the stance of No Handphones in School, absolutely. I'm pro.

Cempaka Schools had for a period of time allowed students to bring the phones to school but discovered that it was too much of a hassle. Now if students are caught with a handphone, they're confiscated till end of the year where they auction off the phones. The SIM cards are returned to students.

The reason I want my kids to take handphones to school is for convenience. Sometimes we need to contact each other, say if I'll be late in picking them, or if they have to go somewhere directly after school and I need to keep tabs of their whereabouts.

As for the security reason for carrying handphones in school, Datin Freida retorted, "Don't you have confidence in the school to keep your child safe?"

Datin Freida is very vocal, or as Aishah said, 'passionate' about the topic. In the last three minutes of the show when time was running out, all three of us were talking at the same time. Interesting!

There were many things we discussed but due to lack of time, this has to suffice for now.

L-R, Host Aishah Sinclair, Datin Frieda Pilus, me, Sariah Wan Jaafar, producer and cohost

Launch of Times @ Pavilion

2007-11-26T16:49:00.001+08:00

Times launched its seventh store at The Pavilion on 23 November 2007. I was invited read the chapter on Manglish. I did the proper English bit, she Manglish.

YB Dato Rafidah's parting remark was : "Not only do Malaysians speak like that, Singaporeans too."

I was there early and managed to take a picture of this lovely backdrop before the crowd thickened.

The authors mingling with each other. Chef Wan was comparing his and Siti Nurhaliza's Raya open house.

YB Dato Rafidah tossing the Merdeka Salad whipped up by Chef Wan. We all got to eat the yummy salad later. The core ingredient was so hoon. Mmmm... it was so delicious.

A gift for Dato Rafidah Aziz. Later I bumped into her daughter, Rohaiza, buying a copy of Honk! If You're Malaysian for herself.

It was good to meet up with other writers too. I met Florence Thomas, Amir Muhammad and Tan Twan Eng for the first time. Tan had rushed over from ntv7's The Breakfast Show. He's quite a shy guy but very nice. Also caught up with Lam Seng Fatt, assistant editor at The Star whom I've met once before at Menara Star.

The food was marvellous - plentiful and good to eat - all catered from the cafe located inside the Times. Do pay a visit to Times Pavilion.

The new store was outfitted at a cost of more than RM11 million and showcases more than 200,000 books and 600 magazine titles, said Ng. (Datuk Ng Jui Sia )

He added that books that could not be found in the store can be located at an online kiosk which gives access to four million English book titles.

The 18,000 sq ft store also has exclusive members' lounge, a 50-seat cafe and Wi-fi access.

"It will be a new book shopping experience and we have ordered special trolleys for customers to push around as they do their purchasing," said Ng.

Business Times, 23/11/2007

Temujanji @ Astro Awani

2007-11-26T15:59:00.001+08:00

4 November 2007

I was invited to appear as a guest on Temujanji. This is an interactive talk show on Astro Awani, Malaysia’s first and only 24-hour news and information channel presented in Bahasa Malaysia and targeted at the Malay community in Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

What differentiates this talk show from others is its interactivity. Here, members of the floor ask the questions. The show was divided into three slots with two breaks in between. In each slot, two members of the audience get to ask a question each. I had brought the roti horns as usual and got them to sound the horn before the question is asked.

A slogan I coined during this show (thanks to Eric Forbes for the inspiration) is 3B : Baca Buku Banyak-banyak or read lots of books. I hope viewers will remember the 3B slogan when they go to bookstores so that they will buy lots of books to read.

With talk show host, Amir Mahmood Razak

Part of the audience comprising of students from High School Kajang. Usually Astro invites MU students for the show but it was exam time in the university.

Group picture taken after the show.

The people behind the scene : (L-R) Fiza, Suhaimi Sulaiman, me, Yen Nee and Ada

Health & Beauty

2007-10-04T11:55:00.001+08:00

Health & Beauty October 2007

MPH Quill

2007-10-04T10:07:00.001+08:00

MPH Quill Aug-Sept 2007 Issue 15

Parenthood August 2007

2007-09-12T15:20:00.001+08:00

Su Yen and I are cover girls!

Tell August 2007

2007-09-12T15:14:00.001+08:00

Berita Harian

2007-09-12T15:00:00.001+08:00

Asia!

2007-06-25T11:52:00.002+08:00

Talk at UMW Toyota

2007-06-22T11:39:00.002+08:00

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.

Wanita Hari Ini, TV3

2007-06-22T11:13:00.001+08:00

Tuesday, 19 June 2007

I wrote in to Wanita Hari Ini asking if they'd like to interview me for my book, Honk! If You're Malaysian. They decided to do a segment on mummy writers and blogging, and asked if I could rope in two other authors.

That was how Yvonne Lee (The Sky is Crazy), Jamilah Samian (Cool Mum Super Dad) and I ended up at TV3 on Tuesday. It was my first time at their studio. Though the TV3 crew had interviewed me twice for Nona, those sessions were taped at my house.

I think we had more fun during the pre-interview segment when the hosts, Wardina and Ivy talked to us about what they were going to ask during the show. When the cameras started to roll, naturally anxiety came along for the ride.

L-R, Ivy, Wardina, me, Yvonne and Jamilah

MPH Singapore

2007-06-13T12:39:00.001+08:00

Author of the month for June 2007

Talk at Bookfest

2007-06-04T14:51:00.001+08:00

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.

Malaysia College News

2007-05-12T15:54:00.001+08:00

MYC! May 2007

Thanks to Esther for emailing me the scanned pix.

Shin Min Daily

2007-05-12T09:22:00.001+08:00

7 May 2007

Shin Min Daily from Singapore picked up the news from Guang Ming and called to interview me for that very day's edition.

World Journal

2007-05-11T10:26:00.000+08:00

8 May 2007

Thanks to KL from California who alerted me on Honk! If You're Malaysian appearing in World Journal, a Chinese newspaper published in USA. They picked up the news from Guang Ming Daily. KL read about it and emailed me to ask how to buy the book from overseas. I directed her to mphonline.com and she promptly ordered two copies of Honk! Thanks, KL.

Guang Ming Daily

2007-05-11T09:57:00.001+08:00

Monday, 7 May 2007

Honk! is front-paged in Guang Ming Daily!

New Straits Times

2007-05-08T11:59:00.001+08:00

Sat, 5 May 2007

NST Streets

2007-05-08T11:46:00.001+08:00

Wed, 2 May 2007

Correction :

Actually I've lived in Klang all my life, which means it has been more than four decades. But for more than three decades, I lived in the Bukit Raja area which included Taman Berkeley, Eng Ann and Bandar Baru Klang. I visit my mum on weekdays, not weekends as published.

Malay Mail

2007-04-30T12:38:00.001+08:00

Saturday, 28 April 2007

Mix Fm

2007-04-29T11:10:00.001+08:00

Mix Fm featured me as Author in the Spotlight for April 2007. Five copies of Honk! If You're Malaysian are up for grabs at the site.

Cleo Review

2007-04-12T11:21:00.001+08:00

March 2007

Borneo Post Review

2007-04-05T15:34:00.001+08:00

Borneo Post, 11 March 2007

Thanks, Georgette!

KLILF Lit Galore

2007-03-31T17:37:00.000+08:00

The KLILF was spread out over a three day period, 28-30 March 2007 in Bangsar. The sessions I attended were held at Starbucks in Bangsar Shopping Village and Alexis Bistro. Hats off to Raman and his team at Silverfish Books for thinking out of the box and holding the events at these places. I enjoyed the talks and more so, the networking. It was a pleasure meeting with familiar names as well as lurkers at my blog. I could only attend the morning sessions and one-and-half afternoon ones as I had to rush back to round up the kids.

Eric, me and Tash Aw

Shannon Shah in conversation with Randa Abdel-Fattah

Kak Teh, Mariatini, Anedra and me

Azmi Talib, me, Raja Ahmad, Gerald Chuah and Kak Teh

Eddin Khoo with Brian Castro

Me, Helen Ann Peters, DK Hansra and Georgette Tan

Tash Aw’s Beginnings Workshop

It reminded me of Critical Appreciation during English Lit classes. Tash had us read some opening and ending passages from classics such as Emma, Farewell to Arms and Lolita.

He asked questions such as : What sort of mood was conjured? What are the images used? How about the choice of words?

Some of the things he shared with us :

You must have an arresting beginning. You have to drag the reader from the threshold into your world.

In Emma, this was the opening para : “Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to united some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.”

I asked if we shouldn’t be showing rather than telling as in Emma’s opening. His reply : “Disregard rules. Do what works for you.” He loves adjectives. He is particularly enamoured with the choice of adjectives used in the first line. You couldn’t rearrange the words any other way without losing the cadence.

He then asked us to write the opening paragraph for this story: Razak is an ambitious guy who has his eyes on the CEO’s job. His wife, Amy, is beautiful and pushy. One day they invited the CEO, Tony, to their Kenny Hills home. They killed him and got rid of the body. Razak is tortured by his conscience and Amy becomes cranky. (For the more discerning participants, Macbeth quickly sprang to mind.)

He asked us to bear these in mind :

1. The opening must be representative of the rest of the novel – epic or intimate or humourous etc.
2. Give information while creating questions.
3. Drag the readers across the threshold into your novel.

The audience was very participative with dozens of hands shooting up when he asked for volunteers to read their pieces. I didn’t get to read out my passage. Here it is :

I see him in my dreams. He’s wearing his favourite bush jacket, the gold buttons gleaming like jewels in the sun. His hands are outstretched, as if he’s about to grab my hands and pump it vigorously. I extend my hands but he grabs my neck. I feel his fingers tightening.

Endings Workshop

Writers don’t often know how to end their novels because there are too many endings in mind.

Tash doesn’t like a neat Hollywood style ending. He prefers a fudged ending (as can be seen in Harmony Silk Factory).

We read and analyzed the ending passages of Farewell to Arms and Lolita. Then we did the ending for our story which had Razak meeting a sticky end and Amy committing suicide.

A young lady got up to read her piece.

“I’m experimenting with something,” she said. “I used the same image of the house in the beginning for the end too.”

Well, it turned out that quite a few of us experimented with the same concept. Another participant used the image of a spider’s web to represent entanglement both at the start and end.

I remember that was what Anne Tyler did in The Accidental Tourist where the novel opened with the protagonist in the car and ended with him in the taxi. If I’m not mistaken, in The Weekend Novelist, Robert Ray wrote of that as “framing.” Apparently there’s a name for it : elliptical ending.

Here’s mine :

I see her in my dreams. She’s dressed in a long flowing white gown, like a bride. She beckons to me with open arms. I want to embrace her but when I draw nearer, she vanishes. She has abandoned me and left me to face the harsh reality of cold prison walls.

When asked how he would write the novel, Tash said he would make it a first person narrative from Razak’s point of view and show his descent into madness. He would fudge the ending, suggesting a parallel in an oblique way.

Randa's Talk on moderate Muslim voices in the mainstream narrative

Randa’s book, Does My Head Look Big In This is about Amal, an Australian-Palestinian Muslim girl who decided to wear the hijab full time. In writing the book, Randa created a diverse range of Muslims as she didn’t want to moralize that those who wear the hijab are more pious or better than those who don’t.

Unfortunately I had to leave early to pick up the kids. On the way out, I bumped into Kak Teh who was buying Randa’s book and on seeing my hesitation when she asked if I was getting it too, she immediately offered to buy me one. Kak Teh, terima kasih. I’ve started on a few pages and it’s very good. I’ve passed it to my daughter to read first as I think it’s just up her alley.

Brian Castro's Talk on how family history can be used to create literature

Brian’s book Shanghai Dancing is based loosely on his family’s life in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macau from the 1930s to 1960s. Some of the things he said :

- Shanghai Dancing is a fictional autobiography. For a writer, an autobiography is inventing himself, unlike say, an autobiography for a Prime Minister based on facts.

- In writing, it’s not truth you’re after. It’s the psychological truth. As a writer, you’re an inventor, a liar.

- When he was a child, he used to hide under the table and listened to the goings-on from there. He got the idea that his mother was good for truth, and his father good for invention. When she died, he decided that he has to invent the truth.

- He wouldn’t have been able to write the book were his parents still alive. His siblings are still alive but he changed their names in the book. He didn’t ask their permission to write about them as he wasn’t in touch with them. “Forget about the legal implications, I have no money anyway.”

- Readers today want something short. They have no time to appreciate language.

- If you have interesting things happening to you, that doesn’t mean they’ll be interesting to others. There must be a shape to it. You have to make it interesting to them.

I wanted to ask how to derive this ‘shape’ but I didn’t as I didn’t think he could give me a satisfactory answer given the time constrain. That’s my problem. I’ve got a bunch of narratives gleaned from the family closet but they’re all over the place like an amoeba.

February Litbloggers Breakfast Club

2007-03-24T23:25:00.001+08:00

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.)

Star Review 23 March 2007

2007-03-23T11:55:00.001+08:00

Hello on Two

2007-03-14T17:37:00.001+08:00

The interview was held today at Hello on Two over RTM2. Since it was the school holidays, I brought no. 2 along so she could see how the interview was done. She also took these nice photos.

There was supposed to be three authors, Mohana Gill, May Zhee and me. The angle was women writing at different age groups. However, May Zhee couldn't make it and it was just the two of us. Somehow without May Zhee (she wrote Vanitee Bee at 15), the angle just sort of got sidelined and we talked at length about our books instead of just writing. Mohana who's in her sixties, started writing just last year whereas I started in my thirties. Naturally she thinks I've got a headstart on her and I think the same way of May Zhee.

Mohana has published two books, Fruitastic and Vegemania. Recently she won an Gourmand Wold Cookbook Awards 2006. Fruitastic!, released in March last year, won the award in the Best Single Subject Cookbook and Best Nutrition and Health Cookbook category. Congratulations, Mohana!

Look at the paper bags on the floor. Aren't they beautiful and attention grabbing? It's not cheap to make them. It's RM5 a piece! Next time I should make some of these (home-made ones-lah) for my tv appearances. They make fantastic visuals. My book is completely overwhelmed by Mohana's paperbags and books.

(L-R) Producer Khatijah, compere Soraya Ghazalie, Yen Nee, me and Zamil Idris, compere (ex-Malaysian Idol 1 finalist).

Going Places

2007-03-06T16:39:00.001+08:00

Going Places, February 2007

Book Talk, Borders Berjaya Times Square

2007-03-03T23:28:00.001+08:00

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.

Book Talk, Mph MidValley

2007-02-11T21:48:00.001+08:00

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.)

MPH, One-Utama

2007-02-05T21:20:00.001+08:00

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."

Midi : Book of the month!

2007-02-02T10:42:00.001+08:00

Malay magazine, Midi, selected Honk! If You're Malaysian as the Book of the Month and me as Author of the Month for their February 2007 issue.

Cleo Feb 2007

2007-01-29T22:11:00.002+08:00

Borders, The Curve

2007-01-28T22:35:00.001+08:00

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.

The Breakfast Show at ntv7

2007-01-25T15:31:00.001+08:00

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.

Nona

2007-01-21T14:49:00.001+08:00

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

Blogging for Writers

2007-01-20T22:37:00.000+08:00

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

Interview on TraXX Fm

2007-01-16T15:15:00.001+08:00

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

Honk! If You're Malaysian

2007-01-01T21:11:00.000+08:00

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!

Spotlight on Malaysian Life

2006-12-27T20:12:00.001+08:00

The Sun, Wed, 27 December 2006

Honk on Selamat Pagi Malaysia

2006-12-23T15:15:00.002+08:00

Interview by Sayed Munawar on Resensi Sabtu, the book review segment of Selamat Pagi Malaysia, TV1 on Saturday, 23 December 2006.

Launch of Honk If You're Malaysian

2006-12-21T23:28:00.000+08:00

Here are 12,000 words on the launch of Honk! on 16 Dec 2006 at Crowne Plaza Mutiara Hotel (a picture say a thousand words). For an account of the event, please visit my blog.

The registration table

The audience

Honk! is launched by Dato' Ng Tieh Chuan,
CEO of MPH Group

Speech time

The hardworking MPH gang (L-R)
Dato Ng, Mr. Tai, Alice, Kim, Eric, Shirley and Erine

With Susan, Xandria (woo-wit), Eric and Lynette (L-R)

With Connie, Daryl and Suzie (L-R)

With Cordy and Yvonne(L-R)

Signing Honk! for Ilene

Signing Honk! for Ted

Signing Honk! for young Tania

My kids and nieces the honkers

The joy of giving at MPH

2006-12-18T11:59:00.000+08:00

The Star, 18/12/2006

Blow your own trumpet

2006-12-14T12:45:00.000+08:00

Aneeta Sundararaj conducted an interview with me at her How To Tell A Great Story website. Here's an excerpt.

Writers must be hungry. If you can write but you don’t hunger to write, you won’t write. To succeed as a writer – and this doesn’t necessarily mean raking in the big bucks like J.K. Rowling – you’ve got to be hungry.

Click here to read the interview in full.

E-books a hot topic at session with authors

2006-09-25T11:28:00.001+08:00

The Star, 28 Aug 2006

PETALING JAYA: The question of whether consumers would switch from conventional books to virtual books was the hot topic of discussion at the MPH Megastore at 1 Utama Shopping Centre here.

Moderated by Lydia Teh, author of Life’s Like That, the two-member panel comprising author Shoba Mano and writer-cum-editor Eric Forbes discussed the topic ‘Virtual Books and its Impact on the Book Industry in the Future.’

The event was held during the ‘Hi-Tea with Local Authors’ session organised by MPH Bookstore. It was part of MPH’s ‘Support Malaysian Authors Campaign,’ which was launched three years ago.

“There is a definite future for e-books (electronic version of books) as it is slowly entering the lives of Malaysians today,” said Shoba, the author of Prodigal Child.

Forbes said that he would not rule out the possibility of reading an e-book despite his profound love for print work.

Around 50 local authors were at the event to show their support for the campaign as well as to meet their fans and share their experiences with aspiring writers.

On the tail of copycats : Star, 2/4/2006

2006-09-22T00:27:00.001+08:00

The Sunday Star
By SHANTINI SUNTHARAJAH

SIMON Khong (not his real name) was loath to admit that he had cheated in a contest a few years ago.

“I don’t really feel comfortable talking about it,” says the 28-year-old.

“But I suppose it’s all right as long as I remain anonymous.”

Khong, an engineer in the IT industry, confessed that he had resorted to plagiarism when he entered a contest sponsored by a well-known food company.

“Participants were supposed to include the wrapper of a certain kind of chocolate and complete a slogan in not more than 15 words,” he says.

The top prize was a television set and Khong, who had just started working at the time, was keen to win it.

“I’m not creative enough to come up with a good slogan so I looked it up in the Net using a few key words,” he says, rather sheepishly.

Khong’s deception was not detected, which was fortunate for him but unfortunate for other participants who had spent time coming up with original slogans.

Khong says he did not win the TV but received a consolation prize. “I’m sure I’m not the only one who has cheated,” he says, rather defensively.

Lydia Teh believes that there are indeed many people who resort to plagiarism when it comes to contests that require entrants to submit a slogan.

Teh is author of Congratulations! You have won!, a book on how to win commercial contests and competitions.

A housewife in her 40s, Teh says she enjoys taking part in all sorts of contests, especially those that require writing a slogan. She has won an array of prizes including RM30,000 cash and a trip to Greece.

It is indeed unfortunate that people resort to plagiarism and seem to have no qualms about “borrowing” creativity from another source, usually via the Internet, she says.

Teh relates how, a few years ago, she came across a letter in the “Letters to The Editor” page of a national daily. The writer was complaining about a winning entry in a slogan-based contest.

“Apparently, the person who wrote the letter had read my book and realised that the guy who won the contest actually used a slogan, word for word, from my book,” she says. Her book has a chapter with a compilation of slogans.

“The slogans that I compiled in my book are not mine and have actually been published before so they are public domain. The guy who plagiarised the thing either read it from my book or copied it from somewhere else,” she says.

There is little that can be done to curb this kind of blatant plagiarism, Teh says.

“As far as I know, nobody came up to explain anything. The person who complained can highlight it but the fact remains that people can plagiarise all they want.”

Teh’s matter-of-fact stance stems from her belief that it is nearly impossible to identify plagiarism in contests. There is no foolproof method of distinguishing between original slogans and plagiarised ones, she says. “There is no way to check. They (the judges) can use the Internet to do a search but not every slogan is there.”

Despite her conviction that copycats are hard to pin down, Teh offers a suggestion on how to reduce their numbers. A comprehensive database of past winners could be the answer, she suggests.

“Let’s say a PR company is organising a contest for their client. They should create a database of the slogans on every entry. Perhaps the database can even be shared between PR agencies.”

The existence of a master list of slogans would, at the very least, make people think twice about using someone else’s creative output, Teh reasons.

“If people know that there is such a system in place, they may think twice before they plagiarise.”

Josephine Lim, managing director of a promotions agency who has been in the public relations industry for more than 10 years, has organised slogan-writing contests as well as judged some of them. But her viewpoint is totally different from Teh's.

Lim, 39, says she has never really come across any winners who submitted answers copied from somewhere else. She feels that plagiarism in slogan-based contests is not a serious problem because it is really not that easy for participants to cheat.

“Judges look at three main criteria in slogans – creativity, originality and brand relevance,” she says.

In other words, says Lim, each contest requires a vastly different kind of slogan and that is why lifting from other sources to fit in with a particular contest is quite a challenge.

“Some contests need a 15-word slogan and some just two words. There are so many variations and criteria.”

Besides, says Lim, the issue of plagiarism in slogan-writing contests may be irrelevant soon because contests themselves are becoming a thing of the past.

“Slogan writing appeals to only a select group of people,” she says.

“That’s why many of my client companies tell me that they don’t want to organise contests that require slogans to promote their products.”

However, Lim does acknowledge that there will always be people who will try to win in less than honest ways.

“I have no doubt that if there is an opportunity to cheat people will try because it makes life easier,” she states.

“But, when all is said and done, there is no guarantee that the copycat is the one who will walk away with a prize.”

The Power to Publish : The Star, 19/12/2005

2006-09-18T00:48:00.001+08:00

By LEE TSE LING

It was a cold, dark night in suburban Petaling Jaya. Rain lashed the window and lightning streaked shadows on the walls. In the lull between the crashes and grumbles from the sky came a soft rapping at my chamber door. Who could it be?

Certainly not fame, let alone that agent of fame otherwise known as The Publisher. They don’t tend to come a-knocking, as any struggling author will tell you.
Got a killer manuscript though? Why not have a go at publishing it yourself? You might just follow in the footsteps of 19-year-old Christopher Paolini (of Inheritance trilogy fame), Alan and Barbara Pease (Why Men Don’t Listen and Why Women Can’t Read Maps) and James Redfield (the Celestine Prophecy). All of whom landed contracts with publishing colossus Random House at the end of the road less travelled.

Perhaps their talents (I use that term loosely) would not have gone unnoticed by mainstream publishers for long. Maybe self-publishing just catapulted them to a position they would have attained in time anyway. But what about the other authors out there whose sole asset is of the liquid sort?

For up until recently, only professionals dedicated to the business of producing books could afford to run a printing press, and pay their menagerie of: authors, editors, sub-editors, designers, layout artists, proofreaders, typesetters, printers, distributors, marketing and administrative executives (phew).

With such a set-up, small print-runs were too expensive. So publishers printed large runs, which they had to make sure were saleable.

Got a killer manuscript? Why not have a go at publishing it yourself?
This forced them to screen manuscripts with a fine comb.

After all, while writing might be an art, publishing is a business. Every business needs to make money.

But that was before the advent of digital technology and desktop publishing (creating book layouts with computers). Since the late 1980s/early 90s, the status quo between authors and publishers has changed slightly.

Conventional publishers will always hold the lion’s share of the market. But now more people can afford to produce small runs of books for themselves. And such authors – self-publishers – don’t have to brave a gauntlet of scrutiny and approval to do so. But to who’s benefit/detriment is this: theirs or the reading public? For if money buys the last word, what watchdog is left to guard the final product?

Are all self-published books self-serving and self-indulgent? What function does self-publishing fulfil? Is it something to be proud of, as a fast-track way to catch the eye of publishers? Or a last ditch resort taken when publisher after publisher has rejected your manuscript?

“I don’t doubt that there are good writers struggling to get published, but I don’t think we can blame publishing houses for rejecting a majority of manuscripts. Their role to filter out gratuitous writing and to publish works that appeal to the larger audience is very important,” says one freelance book reviewer.
Lydia Teh, a local freelance writer, advocates going with convention for the serious author.

“Personally, I would stick with the publishers. I feel it’s important to get the input of a third party who’s objective because it gives us more credibility,” she says.

Teh’s collection of short articles, Life’s Like That, was published by Pelanduk Publications published last year. Tony Lacey, publishing director of Viking UK, Penguin’s most diverse publishing arm, is more direct.

“Self-published books hardly figure in the stores at all. I don’t think it is snobbery; the fact is, most self-published books are not very good. Otherwise they would be picked up by the many mainstream publishers.

“They can be therapeutic for the author, and admired by his family, but that doesn’t make them good or saleable,” he says.

On the flipside, there are authors who take pride in self-publishing. “If I can do it on my own, I don’t see why I should go to a (conventional) publisher. I know what I want; I know what the book should be,” said Datin Anna Lim. Lim, who recently released her self-published memoirs Beauty & Beyond: The Journey of a Beauty Queen.
Georgianna Das is another local author who took the self-publishing plunge with The Goddess Within in 2004. She initially approached a regional publisher, but deemed their terms unrealistic.

“I would have had to come up with quite a lot of money up front (an advance) for printing etc. and sign a lot of my rights over,’’ she says. “I felt I would be losing as an author.”

From a publisher’s view, Das’ self-enrichment book could be considered too personal and a high risk. Hence the advance as a financial guarantee. However, Das’ first edition of 1,000 books has since sold out, and she is in the process of producing a second edition of 5,000. So it would seem she hasn’t done that badly.

“If you want to pay me, fine, I’ll take a risk. (But) why should I pay somebody to boss me around? I am not going to fight a publishing system that is not mature,” she says.

Which reminds us that publishers, or reviewers within publishing houses, are human. As such, their judgements are not infallible.

“A publisher might think there’s a market for a book, but only time will tell whether it will sell or not,” cautions Teh.

Indeed, Lacey concedes that there are exceptions to publishing convention when it comes to the genre of non-fiction.

“There are a myriad niche markets with highly specialised authors. The individual guru is a romantic concept, and the self-publisher can build on that,” he says.
British publishing authority Jonathon Clifford has this sensible piece of parting advice for would-be self-publishers:

“You must look on the whole process of publishing not as money to make a return, but as money spent on a pleasurable hobby ... providing you with well-manufactured copies of your book.

“If you do also manage to make a small profit, then that should be looked upon as a bonus!”

And if you’re still worried about bookstores being flooded by indiscriminate rubbish (much in the same way the Internet has been flooded by rubbish blogs because of a similar lack of screening), take comfort in bookstore democracy.
One book reviewer put it thus, “I don’t really care whether a book is self-published or not, as long as the content itself is good. I think most people would consider the writer first, then whether the book appeals to them."

The pros and cons of self-publishing

Pros:
• You’re in control of the book; it can be whatever you want it to be. Datin Anna Lim’s Beauty & Beyond: “ I love this concept where it’s not a book you read, look at the pictures and you’re finished with it. To me it’s like a life story, a coffee table book, but a collector’s item as well.” Indeed, “you don’t have to be a young aspiring beauty queen to read the book”, but it would be “good if you were, and wanted to understand what a beauty queen’s life is like”.
• Lydia Teh: “You work at your own pace; with a publisher, you need to have lots of patience. Publishing houses have their own schedules drawn out, and lots of other titles ahead of yours. The basic time frame from acceptance to rolling off the press (locally) is one year to one and a half years.”
• You might catch the eye of mainstream publishers; Georgianna Das claims she has requests to ghostwrite other books following the production of The Goddess Within.
• You can set your own price. Lim’s B&B for example, is going for RM99.
Lim: “I think RM99 is a price most people can afford. It’s less than RM100, I spent so much time and effort on it, and it’s quite good quality.
“I think it’s quite fair, and not too much for a young lady who really wants to buy the book.”
Having said that, leading regional distributor Pansing says authors should generally expect a lot less than half the sale price of the book after factoring in the bookstore’s cut and discounts, distributors cuts, transportation, etc.
• You can dictate where your books go. Das: “Local publishers’ distribution channels are not fantastic. There are so many local books I don’t see when I go to bookshops overseas. I don’t want my book to get stuck and be caught in an agreement where you can’t do any distribution myself.”
• You keep all your revenue; standard royalty payments at Pelanduk Publishing are set at about 10%. Local publishers do not offer advances but they do review unsolicited manuscripts. Viking UK, a division of Penguin UK, typically offers advances that vary from £1,000 to £1mil, and royalties between 7.5% and 10%.
Cons:
• Lim: “You have to oversee the whole project yourself; it’s so hands-on. If you’re a self-publisher, a lot of time and effort has to be spent if you want to do a really good book. If someone else does it for you, you can just hand it to them.”
• As such, you need the right contacts. Das: “I know some of the top editors in town, I had a very good photographer and graphic designer. You have to think about whether you have these resources.”
• Teh: “The biggest headache is distribution; no matter how good your book is. If it’s not in the bookshop then everything is futile.”
• Das: You have to be in a place or business where you know you can push the book (Das runs her own training academy); if you’re not confident about how the book is going to do or how to sell the book, you shouldn’t take this route. It’s a risky one.
• Tony Lacey: “You’re taking all the financial risk with no income upfront. Fundamentally, writers should reserve their energies for writing! Do they really want to spend their time worrying about stock control, distribution, etc?”
How much are we talking about here? Das’ outlay for her first run of 1,000 copies was in the region of RM50,000, supported by revenue from her business. Lim’s ran up to RM200,000, most of which came from corporate sponsors.
• You won’t get the validation / credibility, call it brand name recognition if you like, that comes with being accepted by a respected publisher. Leading regional distribution group Pansing feels that while an author might have what he thinks is a good book, a publisher would be able to decide if it will be successful in the general market.
• And while Pansing won’t turn them down cold, they feel publishers with small portfolios are not economically viable.
An irreducible amount of expenditure is incurred in any interaction between a publisher and distributor. The more books the publisher has to sell, the more worthwhile they are to talk to. A distributor can’t afford to have too many expensive conversations.
• For the same reason, bookstores do not generally deal directly with authors. Renee Koh, marketing manager of MPH Sdn Bhd: “Where we can, we always try to help local authors who self publish. Even so, they need to go through a distributor first to ensure their books are ‘taken care of’.”

Telling it like it is : Dare, Jan 2005

2006-09-15T21:01:00.001+08:00

Dare Magazine