A Whole New Enriching Journey

I have started to get myself a little involved in publishing lately. It’s really been quite enlightening. Authors are people that we should really spend more time with, especially children book authors. Most of the authors or aspiring authors that I have met are the nicest, warmest and dearest people. They are all full of joy and hope. I love their good vibes and vibrant energy, unlike some ranting adult novel authors.

I really would like to become en editor and publisher. There is a great degree of satisfaction to bring a piece of raw test into full bloom as a book. And I certainly think that talented authors with good work deserve some recognition.

It’s e a new and interesting road. I have learned quite a bit in the last few months dipping my toes into script selection and it’s been an eye-opener. Hopefully, before the year is out, I would be able to publish at least one book.

There are so many good authors out there who really need a little help. So far, I have been pretty proud of my little project to help some local authors sell theirs books. Some people really have no idea how good they are; or likewise how bad they are. I have read some good manuscripts, and I have read some mediocre ones too. The good ones warm your heart; the others might just make you cringe and squirm.

Sometimes, authors try to force to many events into their stories and they who piece of work end up to contrived and unnatural. There also those who can argue beauty out of anything done by their kids and spouse.

Having said that, I of all people, knows better how difficult it is to create something out of nothing. Thus, for the effort, anyone’s work should be respected, and their ego taken care of. Any caterpillar has the potential to become a glorious butterfly. Some just needs a little more time and nurturing.

Serene and I are talking about starting a writers group here in Malaysia. I think that’s a splendid idea. I am quite sure it will be a it will more of a learning process for me, than for the authors.

I must say I am on the lucky end of the stick, working for a publisher and having the luxury of being exposed to so many books. I was at a workshop for aspiring authors a few weeks ago. I must say the being the publisher in that room felt like god. The moment these people heard I was from Scholastic, you can see the light in their face. Even the agents look at you differently.

Anyway, the satisfaction of helping someone far outweighs that like short moment of power. This is a new journey, and I will continue to be humble and open.

What lies...

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us.

She Always Gets What She Wants

Britney always gets what she wants. Always. She has mastered the skill of willing things out of her parents. All she needs to do is to persevere and keep asking her parents until they give up and give in. If that doesn’t work, then she stops talking to them. Both are extreme strategies –keep talking, and not talk at all – but works every single time.

So when Britney saw this stick at the store that she thought would make great addition to her toy collection, she told her mom she wanted it. It was white and slim, and it was magical. Britney was thrilled. She could bend and twist it, and it would always spring back into its original shapes. She could tie a string at the end and go fishing with her brother. She could tie the string on both ends and it would become a bow. She could even play golf with it. She could ride on her stick and it would not break. She can’t wait to show it off to brother.

Mrs. Ng was looking doubtfully at the stick and asked Britney if she was sure she wanted it. Britney could sense some resistance coming and launch her counter-measures immediately. “Yes, I want it”, she demanded. “Really?” asked mom again. “Yes, yes, yes, I want it”, she stomped. Mrs. Ng sighed and dutifully paid for the stick.

Britney was so happy. She played with the stick all afternoon. When Aunty Ah Mei came for dinner later that evening, she proudly showed off her new toy. Strangely, Aunty Ah Mei was shocked. She looked at Mrs. Ng, puzzled. Mrs. Ng grudgingly told Aunty Ah Mei that she was force to pay for the toy. Aunty Ah Mei burst out into laughter. Mom joined the hullabaloo and laughed even louder.

Britney was confused and annoyed, but more of the latter. Obviously, there was something between them that she does not know about. “What are you both laughing about?” I had to ask.

“Why did you asked you Mommy to buy this? Do you know what this is?” asked Aunty Ah Mei, giggling between the words. She was pointing at my magic stick. “Yes, it’s my stick and it is magical.” Aunty Ah Mei was still giggling. “Stop it, stop laughing”, Britney pouted.

“Come, let me show you what this” Aunty Ah Mei took the stick from Britney.

It happened too fast. I don’t really remember what happened. All I know was Aunty Ah Mei twisted her hand lightly and I immediately fell this searing pain on my leg. “Ouch!” I screamed. “What did you do? It hurts. Why are you hurting me?”

Aunty Ah Mei smiled, “well, that’s what this is for, it’s a cane. When kids are naughty or do not obey their parents, some parents will use this to cane these naughty kids.” She moved the stick again.

I was taking any chances. I jumped away. Aunty Ah Mei and Mrs. Ng laughed again.

I felt so embarrassed. No wonder Mom was so reluctant to buy it in the first place. It’s a horrible thing! I felt so silly.

From that day onwards, I no longer wanted that toy.

I'm Older Than My Mom

Last week, Mom asked if I wanted to go up to Genting to watch a concert with her. I wasn’t very keen. For someone who has successfully stayed away from that horrendously pretentious and overcrowded mountain for the 15 years, I have been up there twice in the last 6 months. Both times were for concerts with Mom. I was really not up for another gruesome weekend among plastic Vienna and screaming kids until for at least another 10 years. “Whose concert”, I asked. She said it was Michael something. “Oh no, Michael Bolton?” I asked.

“No, Michael Learns to Rock” said Mom. I almost fell off my chair. My mother wants to go to a Micheal Learns to Rock concert! I always thought that band was for kids, albeit kids from an earlier generation. Still, they were too young for me. When did Mom become a MLOR groupie? I guess I should not have been so surprised, since she can name me Shakira's and Augilera's songs these days. Even some Justin Timberlake 'Sexy something' song.

She amazes me these days. I feel like the old fart at home.

Gosh, I still remember her long nag that evening when I wore my first bare back shirt for a party. Now, she’s the one with more back-barring shirts that me. Long before me, she already had a wardrobe of Korean pop-fashion clothes, you know, the dress and leotards thingy.

I remembered the movie I watched with Mark, ‘My Mother is a Belly Dancer’. Well, lo and behold, what do you know… my mom IS a belly dancer. She started belly dancing class last month.

I guess I am happy about it as much as I am bewildered. It’s good that she’s got some hobby.