The writing process is often a lonely journey because the activity of writing demands that the writer gets into his/her own head and the heads of his/her characters. Although the process of getting into other people’s heads is a solitary one and the only company a writer gets to keep is that of the characters’, it is a journey that must be taken toute seule. However, the process of becoming published is often one that involves various parties, unless the author is self-publishing. Having said that, the process of self-publication does also involve various parties—the printer, for example, and the public who read the books or stories you’ve self-published.
This post is all about thanks.
Open – A Boy’s Wayang Adventure could not have happened without various parties involved. I would’ve mentioned them on the dedication page if I were a more experienced author. Other books I’ve read have entire pages, even two, where the author lists the people who have contributed to the book, pre and post-publication. Now if I were a more experienced author, I’d have done that too.
I’ve thanked the four most important people in my life who I felt made this book happen. As readers will know, they are my husband and my wonderful daughters, and a dear friend whom I’ve learned so much from in terms of autism. I did not, however, thank the book publisher—Ethos Books—and my friend, Raymond Tan, of Brainchild Pictures, who was the first person who believed in my ability to tell a story through words. It was Raymond who asked me to write a book about his movie—The Wayang Kids—that led to Open – A Boy’s Wayang Adventure. However, the book wouldn’t have been published if Ethos Books hadn’t liked the story and felt that it was worth its weight to enter the world of published books. There is also the team at Popular Bookstore who asked for exclusivity for the book until April.
So, this post goes out to the team at Ethos, Popular Bookstore, Singapore and Raymond—Thank you, all!
To the Readers
This post also goes out to the readers of Open. They are Mark Anthony Rossi and his lovely children, Hilary Ryel author of Kids Like Us, James Sinclair of Autistic and Unapologetic, Hubert Hu, Elizabeth Lim, Jessie Tan, Mozhdeh, Hwee Goh, Wayne Tan, Emily Lim and the children she gifted the book to, Lianne Chen, Andera Liu, Liz Lim, Kum Suning, Ng Kah Gay, Ric Liu, Nikki (you know who you are) Trudi Batchelder and her family, Nicola Anthony, Marie-Pierre Mol, Guillaume Levy-Lambert, Sean Soh, Scott M. Anthony, Angie Png, to the family of Mohamed Nikmikail, the readers and reviewers on Goodreads, and the future readers of the book. This list is not complete, of course, and as all lists go, I apologise if I’ve left someone out. I’m not the best at making lists, to begin with; I always leave something out inevitably as my memory is a sieve these days. To top this, I hate shopping lists, Christmas lists and wish lists; it’s just me, I know, as I feel lists are constraining, even as I understand their necessity.
To those who attended the Book Launch
The Official Book Launch has come and gone. There are people there to thank too. June, the book reviewer who came to listen to the dialogue between Raymond and me, who then asked pertinent questions that kept the conversation going. If you’re reading this, June—thank you. To the people who brought their children who stayed quiet for an hour to listen to three adults (Raymond, me and the moderator) drone on about representation, the wayang and writing—thank you for listening, you were superstars! Of course, to the organisers of the launch: The Arts House, the Singapore Book Council and National Arts Council, thank you for opening up a space for promoting SingLit. Thanks go to Axl Loon, Elizabeth Lim, Hubert Hu, Andrea Liu and Edmund Wee for attending. Mostly, thanks go to my sister, Emily Wong-Lim who came with her family and an old friend, whom I haven’t seen in more than 25 years; it was great to see you there, Yvinne. To my niece, Audrey Lim for showing me how social media can work on getting the book out there.
Authors and Bloggers
The book authors and bloggers who gave me a space to talk about Open. Don Bosco, Samara Lynch and Dorothée Oké of Groupe de Press Relations Lyon—thank you, merci!
Now, if I’ve left someone out, it is unintentional. Help me by prodding me with a message.
Last but not least, to all the mummies and daddies who encourage their children to read. You know that your children’s imaginary worlds begin with books—thank you!
The Adventure Continues
The next few months will be filled with book readings, events at schools where I’ll be doing more book readings and talking about how literature can help foster a more compassionate and inclusive world. Come and find me to say hello if I’m in your neck of the woods. Thank you!
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