What Sallamah Didn't Know

Write.Speak.Play

2009-07-15T22:54:00.003+08:00

That's what I DO.

I write and speak for a living. And I play, as much as I can, with Sarah.

What I hadn't realised was, when the name Write.Speak.Play came to me in a state of medicated high, how right it just felt.

It seemed to 'vibrate' or resonate with me somehow, on quite a few levels. (Then again, that could have been the Codeine too.)

Well, whatever it was, I now have a business listed under my name - Write.Speak.Play LLP.

As of 1st July 2009, I am a business owner. Yikes :)

This is what I do:

I write: children's story books, workshops and courses for educational institutions, my blog, Sarah's name on big sheets of paper when we play.

I speak: at lectures and tutorials, training sessions, events as an emcee and hopefully soon, as a volunteer too.

I play: all of the above qualify as 'play' right now. Oh, and 'play' as in stage plays. I act.

It's a great place to be at right now. I'm much happier with my life right now; it feels like there is some semblence of balance. Like I'm getting somewhere.

Where exactly? Who knows. I'm just having fun. :)

2009-06-18T21:03:00.004+08:00

There is something to be said about persistence.

I met up with an interesting person - a veteran in the book distribution business in Singapore - a few days ago and this was a yet another reality check for me.

What have my peers (meaning children's book writers) been doing and how is the book scene like generally?

Long story short - I need to re-think how I'm going about writing for children. It's not enough to just focus on the writing, the creative aspect of it; I've also got to think about this like a business - how to nurture it, grow it and make this a viable platform for me to express my passion for the written word, connect with young people through stories and be taken seriously as credible educator / entrepreneur.

There, I've said it - it's scary to see the actual word in print. "Entrepreneur" and equate that with me, a through and through arts major.

But I need to do this. I don't know why. But something tells me I need to pursue this.

Whatever happens, I know it'll be one heckuva ride!

Join me in my journey? Pop by once in a while and kaypoh around. See how I'm progressing and give me a kick in the butt when you need to. Any ideas you may have or want to explore with me are also welcome :)

Virtual kicks or shout outs are welcome in the tagboard and via email at sharonismail@gmail.com.

Bendemeer Primary School

2009-05-27T22:04:00.003+08:00

I had an awesome time yesterday at Bendemeer Primary School.

One of their teachers, Ms. Poon, had gotten in touch with me just last week regarding their school's experiential learning week. Essentially, the message was that learning takes place anywhere and in many forms - you don't have to be in a classroom and learn by rote.

I completely agree with that. A lot of things in life, we learn by experience of some sort using sight, sound, hearing, touch and emotions.

And they had wanted me to share my story with their students. Wonderful, it was another opportunity to tell my mother's story!

I was nervous, though. It would be the first time that I speak to 150 Primary 2 students at one go so I had to figure out a way to tell this story, which is encapsulated in all of 20 sq cm, and amplify the book by what, 50 times so that the kids could see Khai's illustrations. I mean, what is a children's book without illustrations, right?

And they were 8 years old. So literacy was something I needed to think about too.

So, like any lecturer worth his salt (I cringe at the stereotype I am perpetuating), I made up a "photo album" of many pictures and few words using the trusty Powerpoint. That's all the tech-savviness I could muster in my anxiety to speak to my new audience.

Anyway, minus the slight hiccups with my wireless presenter (a fancy name for the remote control slide changer thingy and laser pointer), the session went very well.

The kids were such darlings; they were so attentive and responsive that I felt so bad I had only a few books to give away. I think despite being so young, they may have found the story a little too painfully familiar.

Ms. Poon shared with me how this was what some people would consider this a "neighbourhood" school, with bread and butter concerns. Understanding the socio-economic background of families in the area, my heart ached for them. They are too young to be yanked out of their innocence.

Life can be tough in times such as now, and it is during times like this that you see angels emerge. Ms. Poon and her colleagues, Winnie and Mrs. Bala are teachers who make me want to be a better teacher myself.

From the way Ms. Poon spoke about her students, I could see how much their well-being meant to her. This is not a job you get into for the money; it is a calling. No one can pay you enough to honestly and sincerely care about another human being. You just can't put a price on that.

So it turned out that while I was there to provide some experiential learning for their students, I went away having learned experientially myself.

And by some cosmic coincidence, a long-lost friend from almost 15 years ago greeted me in the staffroom. And the father (?!) of an ex-classmate recognised me as his son's friend! Both are also teachers there.

I wonder what I did to attract these people back into my life? :)

2008-12-08T23:11:00.002+08:00

Tomorrow is the day. I get to share my mother's story with probably the hardest audience in the world - children. :)

Tomorrow's children are members of a reading club that meet at the Woodlands Regional Library and I'm really looking forward to reading them the words that had swum in my head and in my dreams for the longest time.

(I literally dreamed up some of the sentences in the book, and those dreams were a godsend; they helped me untangle my thoughts and came out the way I meant them.)

I don't know if the words I wrote would still sound the same to me when I read them out loud tomorrow but I do know that whatever they sound like, they hold part of what makes me, me.

And that should help with my nervousness.

Oh boy, I hope so. :)

One Year Old Already...

2008-11-06T14:54:00.003+08:00

Well, folks, this month sees What Sallamah Didn't Know turn one year old.

Coincidentally, it is also the birthday of my daughter, Sarah, who has yet to appreciate the book beyond its colours and its bite-ability. (She's teething now and everything that's not pinned down is a teething ring.)

Looking back, I feel I could have and should have done more with the book. Now that things have finally settled down at home, it’s definitely time to wipe the dust off my book-writing notebook.

Corny as that may sound, I find that having a place to gather my scattered thoughts together before they disappear into nothingness is extremely useful. And my friends can attest to how easily I get distracted by, well, life.

My notebook functions as a checklist for me to see if I’ve been on track with what I’ve wanted to do and where I want to go.

So to start the birthday celebrations off, I’ll be conducting 2 reading and sharing sessions at children’s reading clubs.

Here are the details:

Tuesday, 9 December 2008, 2.30 – 4pm at the Woodlands Regional Library

Thursday, 11 December 2008, 2.30 – 4pm at the Tampines Regional Library

More details soon.

By the way, I’ve been trying to upload our photographs from our visit to the Istana but have been having problems with my scanner. Will try again soon.

Have tea with the President? President of what?

2008-09-29T17:38:00.003+08:00

That was exactly what my husband asked me when I called to tell him that we're having tea with the President.

I don't blame him. I tried very hard not to grin like an idiot all day and understand, REALLY understand, that this conversation to accept an invitation to tea with the President actually took place.

OK, here's what happened: I had the privilege and pleasure of meeting President S R Nathan (yes, the President of Singapore) and his lovely wife on a few ocassions where I had hosted events over the last few years.

They have been nothing but friendly, unassuming and so genuine about meeting and talking to the legions of people they must meet everyday.

It's a well-known fact that President Nathan and Mrs Nathan are doting grandparents so I decided to give them a copy of What Sallamah Didn't Know.

And I did it before I could change my mind, because that little voice in my head kept nagging me, "What do you think you're doing? How good do you think your little book is? Good enough for the President? Please."

Now of course, I didn't expect to hear anything from the Istana. It was really just my gift to two such lovely people that I had the chance to meet.

I figured, good enough or not, my intention was to share my mother's story and one of my passions (writing) with two people I like. That was it. No expectation of any returns.

So picture my jaw on the floor when the Istana called to invite my husband and I to tea with President! I'm still recovering from the news. (And still grinning like an idiot.)

Well, that's it for this post. I'll save the after-visit post for later :)

Gosh, you never know what would happen if you just took a chance, huh?

(In case you think that sounds familiar, check out The Secret and The Attractor Factor. Yes, yes, I've been re-reading my old books again.)

The Last Lecture

2008-09-22T17:04:00.003+08:00

Now this has nothing to do with What Sallamah Didn't Know, but I recently went to check out Dr Randy Pausch. I had heard so much about him and this speech he gave called The Last Lecture.

You may have already read all about this months ago, and I was the only one left in the dark ages, but really, I think this is one of those messages that stand the test of time.

Dr Pausch was dying of pancreatic cancer and the last lecture he gave at the Carnegie Mellon University where he worked, spoke about how much he had gotten out of life, despite the hard slap that cancer dealt him.

I wish I had heard his speech earlier in life. If you need a swift kick in the butt and a proper perspective on life like I did, go google him.

And get out your tissues. That's all I'll say.

There are angels

2008-09-10T12:44:00.003+08:00

I am a soppy mess after reading how Madam Indranee Nadisen fostered 43 children over 32 years, giving them homes and love only a mother could give, with no expectation of reward or even acknowledgement of gratitude.

Her story touches a nerve because she reminds me of my late grandparents who took in my mother and several others, just because they loved children. The children were Chinese and of other indigenous origins but Mak and Bak didn't care.

Madam Indranee's son, Father Ambrose said, "There was no bigger piece of chicken for her own children".

Likewise, it was the same for Mak and Bak's own children. And they showered the same love on the children of the children they adopted - that would be me and all my 'cousins'.

For most of the first 11 years of my life, Mak and Bak took care of me while my parents worked. I was the favourite grandchild for a long time and the first granddaughter.

I was blessed to have been cared for by such angels - Haji Aboo Bakar Ahmad and Hajjah Khatijah Abdul Rahman.

I miss them. Especially during this fasting month. I know they would have loved playing with my daughter Sarah.

How did we get to Ohio & Melbourne?

2008-09-08T21:48:00.003+08:00

It's the strangest thing... My brudder Rosli, high on flu medication, was googling when he should have been resting.

And this was what he found out - our book is found at Ohio University library. That's right, folks. Ohio as in Ohio of the US of A.

Now, how on earth did that happen? Who (blessed soul) is responsible for our little book to travel all that distance? We're absolutely thrilled, of course. :)

If you know how our book ended up in the Ohio University library, please mail me to let me know.

By the way, in conjunction with Singapore Day to be held in Melbourne on 4 October 2008, 400 copies of our books have made its way there to be given to Singaporean children living overseas.

I'm not sure of the details just yet but our books have definitely been shipped over late last month. Now, if only I could be there to see how Singapore Day is celebrated and where the books go to... That'll be such a treat!

I don't even mind conducting reading sessions or book talks there... I'm wondering if the National Resilience Division is reading this. *Hint hint.

What makes Asian stories 'Asian'?

2008-09-04T12:09:00.004+08:00

I was asked this question 2 days ago at a panel discussion during the Singapore International Storytelling Festival.

The rest of the panel were professional AND renowned storytellers and authors from all over the world (Linda Fang, Arif Choudhury, Alton Chung, Jeeva Raghunath & Nury Vittachi)... and then there was... me.

Somebody must have gotten desperate and invited me.

But enough insecurity.

My point is, I was stumped by this question. And the first thing that popped into my head about 'Asian' stories (I'm quite disturbed by this label for some reason) are flavours - sweet, tangy, salty, spicy, bitter...

Because for as long as I can remember, when I think of stories close to home - home being Singapore - these stories always come with an explosion of flavours, colours, smells, etc.

When I was writing What Sallamah Didn't Know, I not only saw in my head the kampung that Sallamah grew up in (not that difficult to do since I grew up in the very kampung myself), but I could remember what it smelt like in the kampung.

The crispy, delicious smell of goreng pisang (banana fritters) frying in a huge black wok over an outdoor stove from a neighbour's house at 4pm everyday - she sold these as tea time treats to the kids and her neighbours.

And the pungent smell of the salty petis (black prawn paste) from the rojak (a typical Malay salad) sauce that she made to accompany the goreng pisang... (Maybe this isn't such an appropriate memory during the fasting month. Sorry, fellow fasters!)

The smell of wet sand after the rain - slightly chalky and earthy clean.

The smell of bouganvilla leaves pounded into a pulp when we played masak masak - till this day, that's what 'green' smells like to me.

And the smell of the freezing sticky sweet grape-flavoured ice-lollies, hand-mixed-and-poured into sausage-slim plastic bags from Nek Timah who lived two houses down the street - it's artificially-scented of course, but I loved it.

These memories are what made my story. I just never realised that they made our stories 'Asian'.

A change in the winds

2008-08-21T15:37:00.003+08:00

Here's what I'm thinking...

Come October 2008, I will be operating on a new level of reality - I will no longer have a full-time career with any one employer, but will be looking at different ways of doing what I love, work-wise.

That means that after Sarah, I will be exploring other avenues to teach, write, act, host (not necessarily in that order).

What happened in March this year was quite encouraging. I managed to conduct 6 creative writing workshops with Boon Lay Garden Primary School using What Sallamah Didn't Know as a base text.

Participants each received a copy of our book and the 2-hour session was an interactive one for students to understand the story from the author's perspective.

Students delved into themes of family and identity, while also understanding how stories are written, in terms of structure, theme and plot.

Feedback from the HOD in charge, Madam Indrawati Ali, indicated that the students found the session helpful and interesting. My hope was for students to understand what 'ingredients' they could add to their own writing to make their compositions in school more interesting for their readers.

What really gripped the students, though, was not the fact that they could see how stories operate, but the fact that Sallamah was a real, living, breathing person that they could write to and ask questions. Which they did.

And Sallamah got a real kick out of reading the letters from these 10 - 12 year olds. :)

Which just proves to me something - we DO have stories of ordinary Singaporeans that are worthwhile telling. After all, children make the most honest of critics.

And that maybe I should write some more of such stories. And maybe conduct some more workshops.

If you're interested in having me come to your school from October onwards, or maybe for the school holidays, please contact me at sharonismail@gmail.com

Each workshop can be customised for your needs and we can even arrange sessions for teachers or parents.

Finding my groove

2008-08-12T21:16:00.005+08:00

I cannot believe how long it has been since my last post. I wish I could say that I have been lost in meditation and have been churning out books by the dozen, and am bleeding from the ears from having been frantically inspired by these words in my head clawing their way onto paper...

But alas.

To be humbly candid, I have been spending the last 8 months trying to figure this thing out - this thing they call 'motherhood'. And that other little thing they call 'career'.

I apologise. Unreservedly, to the gods of blogspot, the 8 people who read this (when they have absolutely nowhere else to surf online) and to Rosli, my brudder-blogspot creator-marketing person.

Back to this whole "I am Woman, so multi-tasking is my middle name" thing, I cannot tell you how many times I've cursed under my breath about what a load of ... it must be, coz I was struggling like I've never struggled before.

I must be a slow learner.

In these 8 months, I've come to realise that like all things in life, all it takes is time. Developing patience takes time. Now, doesn't that sound funny?

I'm not known for my patience but for this stage of my life, there was no way I could wing it, fake it or bamboozle my way out of it. 8 months just took well, 8 months.

That's how it took for me to find my groove again. It took me that long to realise I could not be clocking 100km each day shuttling baby to my mum's place, head to work, reverse the order at the end of the day, do this 5 times a week, do laundry, run errands, clean the house, eat 3 meals a day, have 7 hours of sleep, have time for husband, have time to myself, bring work home, have friends, write more books, get back to work on TV, lose pregnancy weight, host concerts, read newspapers like normal people do, and expect it all happen like clock-work... all because I forgot one thing.

Babies live life on their own schedule, and boy, was I upset. The control freak in me freaked and only now I realise, if only I surrendered sooner to this new 'normal' (where nothing is 'normal'), I would have been able to find my groove a lot sooner.

Ah well. Better late than never. Just surrender. :)

P/S - My little Sarah's the joy of my life. She's also the new boss. And she knows it. :)

PP/S - Next post will be on my book, promise.

An Ang Moh says...

2008-01-15T21:51:00.001+08:00

Lest I be accused of using a racial slur, I must tell you that this Caucasian person used the term to refer to himself on his blog, so I'm just repeating his words.

Australian educator Murray Stuart Bourne has a copy of our book and has given us his review on his blog. Very kind of him.

What can I say? It certainly made my day!

Storytelling & Workshops

2008-01-08T23:58:00.000+08:00

Happy New Year, everyone! We hope this new year has kicked off with a bang for you, with great beginnings and much to be excited about.

2007 was certainly an eventful year for me - if you've noticed, I went MIA for 2 months on this blog - because on the day after my previous post, our family welcomed the latest addtion to our family, baby Sarah. She's been such a joy and just the most adorable blessing to round off our year.

For our readers who are parents, I'm sure you'll be smiling with knowing wisdom when I say I really had my hands full for the last 2 months! Too full to post you latest updates of our book, What Sallamah Didn't Know.

But now, I'm back! And I'm very happy to tell you update you that our book is now pretty much in all major bookstores in Singapore - yes, even at Popular! If some of the smaller branches don't carry them, please request for them at their respective counters. From my experience, the bookshop will be happy to order a copy for you. (Or you can always buy a copy from me by post ;) )

Update No. 2: We will be conducting a storytelling session at the Bedok Community Library on Saturday, 8 March, 3 - 4pm. We are really looking forward to this because it gives us a chance to meet our readers face to face, especially those who have corresponded with us through email so far. This date is chosen specially with children and parents in mind because it is the first day of the March holidays.

This session is free and open to everyone, with no age restriction, so if you'd like to check out our book and get a copy, you can also get it from us there.

For those who have already gotten our book and would like their copy signed by myself and Khai, please also do join us. We would love to meet you!

After the storytelling, we're also open to answering any questions you may have about the book, the process of writing, etc, so let's have a casual chat!

If you'd like to come, you can drop me an email at sharonismail@gmail.com so we'll know to expect you.

Update No. 3: We're taking our book to schools this year! This is really a dream project for me - I'd love to visit our Singapore schools to conduct workshops for students, starting out with our story and extending it to related activities such as storytelling, dramatisation and creative writing. A few teachers have fed back that our story has elements for national education and also family counselling, so that's an added bonus as I didn't write the book with that aim!

For older students in secondary schools and above, I also intend to pitch our workshops accordingly to address issues of identity, sense of belonging, the process of writing, and drama.

In addition, I do also want to give back to our schools with these workshops Sp I pledge to donate 10% of the proceeds of each workshop back to the commissioning school for its needy students fund.

If you or your school are interested, please do drop me a mail and we can explore what your needs are. I feel very strongly about customising a workshop that meets the individual needs of each school and not propose a package that 'fits all'.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Parents' Feedback

2007-11-02T12:42:00.000+08:00

"Would parents and children who haven't had first-hand encounters with adoption be able to appreciate What Sallamah Didn't Know?"

"Were the (emotional) layers expressed in the writing too difficult for these readers?"

"Are the writing and illustrations too depressing?"

These were the questions I have been pondering over the last few days, given the comments that two trusted friends had passed recently. One had a sibling who was given away and another was a theatre practitioner with an eye for visual detail. Both were candid and had the best of intentions. And I do appreciate their feedback very much.

This morning, I was greeted by this email:

Hello Sharon,
We received your book and my daughter was the first person to read it. She was intrigued. Her whole body, really, I mean whole body, was absorbed in the book. It was simple to read, easy to understand, and it touched her. Very clever illustration by Mr Khairuddin. Not so cartoonish. It is different from the usual picture story books which she has read and that interests her. She told me the whole story. She is into story telling now, with facial expression and gestures. It felt great to see such improvement in her.

Kudos to you and Khairuddin!!
Suraya - mother of Nadiah, aged 8.

And this came by SMS a few days ago:

Hi Sharon,
My daughter enjoyed your book so much and asked so many questions about Sallamah - why her parents did not want her, etc. Very intriguing to her. She told me to ask you if you can write more of this type of local tales because she enjoys them so much!

Rahimah - mother of a primary schooler.

What I do know for sure is - it's been a very gratifying journey. And I relish every bit of learning that comes with it. :)

So please keep your feedback coming.

P/S - By the way, I am thinking of the next story - perhaps something about a little boy this time. If you have an interesting story about a boy growing up in Singapore, do feel free to mail me at sharonismail@gmail.com.

Buku kanak-kanak hasil penulis, pengilustrasi Melayu ke pesta

2007-11-01T19:08:00.000+08:00

Berita Harian
Oleh: HALIFI HUSSIN
5 October 2007

IMPIAN tiga penulis baru setempat Melayu akhirnya menjadi kenyataan apabila karya mereka dipilih untuk mewakili Singapura dalam satu pesta buku antarabangsa yang berprestij.

Buku kanak-kanak yang dihasilkan ketiga-tiga penulis itu – Cik Sharon Ismail; Cik Zarina Yusof dan Encik Rhaimie Wahap – dengan bantuan tiga lagi pengilustrasi Melayu, adalah antara karya Singapura yang bakal ditampilkan dan dipromosikan di Pameran Buku Frankfurt di Jerman, berlangsung dari Rabu hingga Ahad depan.

Pameran itu merupakan wadah bagi syarikat dan penulis setempat untuk menonjolkan bakat dan karya mereka kepada industri penerbitan dan percetakan antarabangsa. Barisan penulis dan pengilustrasi Melayu itu adalah antara sembilan yang dipilih di bawah Inisiatif Penerbitan Penulis dan Pengilustrasi Baru (FTWIPI) yang disokong Penguasa Pembangunan Media (MDA) dan Majlis Pembangunan Buku Nasional Singapura (NBDCS).

Bekas pengacara Suria yang kini menjawat sebagai Pensyarah Sekolah Pengajian Antara Jurusan Politeknik Ngee Ann (NP), Cik Sharon, telah bergabung tenaga dengan bekas rakan sekerjanya, Encik Khairudin Saharom, untuk menghasilkan buku berjudul "What Sallamah Didn’t Know”.

“Buku itu berdasarkan pengalaman ibu saya apabila beliau diserahkan kepada sebuah keluarga Melayu untuk dijaga waktu beliau masih kecil lagi. Pada mulanya, tujuan saya hanya untuk mengabadikan kisahnya supaya tidak hilang dek masa tetapi tidak sangka ia akan dipilih FTWIPI dan kini dipamerkan di Frankfurt pula,” kata Cik Sharon.

Bagi Cik Zarina, 34 tahun pula, yang juga pensyarah di politeknik yang sama, inspirasi bagi bukunya yang berjudul “Fafa & Dani” datang dari kedua-dua anak lelakinya.

Menurut beliau, bukunya yang dijayakan bersama pengilustrasi terkenal, Encik Syed Ismail, itu dihasilkan kerana kekurangan buku-buku misteri bergambar bagi kanak-kanak antara usia tiga hingga enam tahun.

Namun, bagi penyunting syarikat penerbit sendiri, Encik Rhaimie, 40 tahun, beliau telah berganding bahu dengan adiknya, Encik Rizal Wahap, 38 tahun, kerana ingin mengisi jurang yang berlainan.

Mengambil inspirasi daripada buku-buku misteri yang dibacanya waktu kecil seperti ‘The Hardy Boys’ dan ‘Secret Seven’, Encik Rhaimie selaku penulis dan Encik Rizal sebagai pengilustrasi, telah sama-sama menghasilkan novel grafik berjudul ‘Mystery Investigators Five and the Case of the Missing Golden Bird Mask’.

“Kami bukan sahaja mahu memaparkan kisah-kisah misteri, tetapi yang berlatarbelakangkan Singapura bagi mewujudkan satu identiti kesingapuraan,’’ kata Encik Rhaimie.

Karya Singapura ke Pesta Buku Jerman

2007-11-01T18:55:00.000+08:00

Berita Harian

Oleh: HALIFI HUSSIN

5 October 2007

LEBIH 80 hasil terbitan dan lebih 60 penulis, pengarang dan pelukis ilustrasi akan dipromosikan di pesta buku berprestij yang berlangsung di Frankfurt, Jerman, dari 10 hingga 14 Oktober ini.
Karya-karya tersebut akan dipromosikan oleh Penguasa Pembangunan Media (MDA).

MDA akan mengetuai satu delegasi 10 pertubuhan, termasuk IE Singapore, Majlis Seni Kebangsaan (NAC) dan lapan syarikat penerbitan dan percetakan setempat ke sana.
Menurut satu kenyataan MDA, tumpuan Singapura di Pesta Buku Frankfurt itu tahun ini adalah buku kanak-kanak.

Kesemuanya, terdapat sembilan tajuk hasil para penulis dan pengarang berbakat, yang dipilih di bawah Inisiatif Penerbitan Pelukis Ilustrasi dan Penulis Kali Pertama (FTWIPI).

MDA juga berkata antara syarikat penerbitan terbesar di Amerika Syarikat, Running Press, telah membeli hak eksklusif bahasa Inggeris kepada buku kanak-kanak bertajuk The Elephant and the Tree, yang dipamerkan di pesta buku tahun lalu.

Penolong Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (Industri) MDA, Encik Seto Lok Yin, berkata penglibatan Singapura di pesta itu telah mula membuahkan hasil.

'Kini lebih ramai penerbit antarabangsa, ejen kesusasteraan dan pengedar mula menghargai buku- buku, komik dan majalah bertemakan Singapura, yang mempunyai gabungan unik antara budaya Timur dengan pengaruh Barat,' ujar beliau.

Memandang ke depan, Encik Seto berkata MDA akan terus membantu para penerbit Singapura menghasilkan dan mempamerkan karya mereka.

Ini termasuklah untuk wadah gabungan antara media baru seperti animasi, filem dan media interaktif.

Erti Sebuah Keluarga

2007-10-25T07:45:00.000+08:00

Berita Harian - Ekstra!
Oleh : Dewani Abbas
25 October 2007

PADA suatu hari, sedang Cik Sharon Ismail mengikut ibunya ke pasar, ibunya tiba-tiba bersuara: 'Kamu sebenarnya anak separuh Cina.' Ketika itu beliau baru berusia 13 tahun.

Terperanjat Cik Sharon mendengar pengakuan ibunya. Beliau kemudian mendapat tahu bahawa ibunya sebenarnya ialah seorang anak Cina yang diambil sebagai anak angkat oleh sebuah keluarga Melayu.

Kini, hampir 20 tahun sudah berlalu. Cik Sharon, personaliti tidak asing lagi dalam dunia pengacaraan dan drama televisyen, sudah pun berusia 33 tahun dan bakal melahirkan seorang bayi sulung pada bulan depan.

Namun, dek teruja dengan pengalaman itu dan kisah ibunya, beliau menghasilkan sebuah buku cerita kanak-kanak yang mengisahkan perihal bagaimana ibunya, Cik Sallamah Aboo Bakar, 56 tahun, diambil sebagai anak angkat oleh datuk dan neneknya daripada sebuah keluarga Cina pada 1951.

Buku dalam bahasa Inggeris berjudul What Sallamah Didn't Know itu bersama dua lagi buku yang ditulis oleh penulis Melayu, merupakan di antara sembilan buku dari Singapura yang dipilih untuk dipamerkan di Pameran Buku Sedunia Frankfurt di Jerman dari 10 hingga 14 Oktober di bawah satu program diberi nama Inisiatif Penerbitan Penulis dan Pengilustrasi Baru (FTWIPI).

Inisiatif ini mendapat sokongan daripada Penguasa Pembangunan Media (MDA) dan Majlis Pembangunan Buku Nasional Singapura (NBDCS).

'Saya menulis buku ini agar generasi saya yang seterusnya akan tahu asal-usul mereka. Saya juga ingin takrifkan apakah sebenarnya makna 'keluarga'. Adakah keluarga semestinya orang yang melahirkan kita atau adakah mereka orang yang menyayangi dan melindungi kita?' ujar Cik Sharon, pensyarah di Sekolah Pengajian Antara Jurusan Politeknik Ngee Ann (NP).

Bagaimanapun, menurut Cik Sharon, ibunya tidak mahu gambarnya diambil untuk wawancara ini kerana 'malu'.

Jika Cik Sharon menulis mengenai ibunya, Cik Zarina Yusof, 34 tahun, juga pensyarah di sekolah yang sama di NP, menulis buku kanak-kanak mengenai dua anaknya pula.

Buku bergambar berjudul Fafa & Dani itu ditujukan untuk pembaca cilik berumur tiga hingga enam tahun.

'Saya terdorong menulisnya setelah mendapati banyak buku yang ingin dibaca oleh anak-anak saya kurang menyeronokkan. Jadi, saya fikir mengapa tidak saya tulis sendiri sebuah buku cerita kanak-kanak. Saya pilih tema tentang persaudaraan dan kerja-sama,' terang Cik Zarina yang mempunyai dua anak lelaki, Yuri Danial Mohd Zaki, lima tahun; dan Danish Farran, dua tahun.

Nama buku itu diambil daripada kedua-dua nama anaknya itu.
Ia mengisahkan tentang dua beradik yang menemui bekas tapak yang luar biasa di dalam rumah mereka, dan daripada situ bermulalah pengalaman menarik penuh misteri bagi mereka.

Bagi adik-beradik, Encik Rhaimie dan Encik Rizal Wahap, pula mereka turut berbesar hati apabila buku komik mereka yang dikategorikan sebagai novel grafik, The Case of the Missing Golden Bird Mask, dipamerkan di pameran tersebut.

Encik Rhaimie, 40 tahun, seorang editor di sebuah syarikat penerbitan, adalah penulis buku komik itu manakala Encik Rizal, 34 tahun, pegawai teknikal, ada- lah ilustratornya.

'Ia memuatkan cerita misteri mengenai seorang pelajar putera raja yang mempunyai kuasa luar biasa. Banyak buku komik di sini meniru gaya Hongkong, tetapi dalam buku ini kami cuba paparkan ciri yang berunsur kesingapuraan sepenuhnya,' kata Encik Rhaimie, bapa tiga orang anak.

Kesemua penulis itu masing-masing mendapat geran $8,000 daripada MDA untuk menghasilkan buku-buku mereka.

Readers' Feedback

2007-10-24T16:35:00.000+08:00

Among the blessings (and there have been many) since What Sallamah Didn't Know went on sale, are the emails and feedback that we've received from readers whose kind words were not solicited or even expected.

These kind words made our day and we are so thankful that our story lends a voice to the many people who have something to convey to others about family, adoption, the love of reading, even how to get published as a new writer!

On a more personal note, here are two letters that gave me goosebumps reading them. I am so glad we decided to make this book a reality because that's my personal mission in life - that I can be of service to others in whatever I do.

Hi Sharon,
I would like to congratulate you on your book What Sallamah Didn't Know. Its a wonderful, wonderful book. I have been searching for many months for a book on adoption. I couldn't find a suitable one. I have an adopted son and I think before he hears it from others, I would like to tell him myself that he is adopted. To soften the effect, I have been looking for a suitable book to introduce to him about adoption. (He didn't buy my tummy mummy and heart mummy storylah.) That's why after reading the story you wrote, I find it very close to the heart... Thank you very much. And, congrats to both you and your husband on becoming parents. Khai's illustation is as also captivating. I personally llike the one on the different footwear.

Regards,
Nooraini

Dear Sharon,
I just wanted you to know that I did read your book What Sallamah Didn't Know over the weekend, and I found it to be beautifully accomplished in every way. The writing itself is gentle, poignant, and moving; the illustrations are exquisite. Of course your message - that people are people with the same aspirations, hopes and dreams, whatever their family background or origin, and whoever their parents may be - is a very important one, and a message that the world desperately needs to hear.

Best,
David Fedo
(Dr. David A. Fedo is the Executive Director and Visiting Scholar at the Wheelock College’s Center for International Education, Leadership, and Innovation - Singapore branch. Currently, the college offers a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Educational Studies & Leadership. )

Alphabet Soup

2007-10-21T08:21:00.000+08:00

Lifestyle, The Sunday Times
By : Stephanie Yap
21 October 2007
SHARON Ismail was 13 when she found out the truth about her family background.

Now 33, she recalls that she was with her mother at the wet market waiting for her father to pick them up when her mother said, apropos of nothing: 'By the way, you're half-Chinese.'

She says the revelation that her mother was Chinese was unexpected, but not entirely a surprise.

'When I was much younger, people kept asking me if my Mum was Chinese and I would say no as that was what she herself always said,' says the lecturer at Ngee Ann Polytechnic's School of Interdisciplinary Studies.

She is also known as an actress and host, on stage and on MediaCorp's Suria channel.

'But I had noticed that my aunts and uncles also did not all look the same, though I could not quite put my finger on it,' she added.

As it turned out, her mother, Sallamah, was a Chinese baby adopted by an Indian father and a Malay mother after her own parents decided to give her away.

Three of her mother's five siblings were also adopted.

As Sharon and her two younger brothers grew up and got married, she wanted to write her mother's story down for the next generation.

'Last year, my brother's wife became pregnant with my mother's first grandchild. I thought it would be really great if her grandchildren knew her story,' she says.

The book, What Sallamah Didn't Know, was published this month by Candid Creations under the Media Development Authority's (MDA) First-Time Writers and Illustrators Publishing Initiative.

The book is also just in time for another addition to the family: Sharon and her husband are expecting their first child this month.

Why did you decide to turn the story into a children's illustrated book?

At first, I had more of a family scrapbook in mind. I thought of writing a little story, fiddling with Photoshop a bit and compiling other stories about my extended family growing up in a kampung. Mainly, I wanted the children to know their grandmother's story.

However, eventually I realised that this is a story that belongs to all of us. This bi-racial, bi-cultural story is a common one that is unique to Singapore.

You keep hearing about people who were adopted into a different race and religion, about people reunited with long-lost blood family.

Through this story, I hope people will rethink the old saying that blood is thicker than water.

Tell me about the illustrator, Khairudin Saharom.

Khairudin is a Suria colleague and good friend. He is a full-time architect and this is his first time illustrating a book.

I just gave him the manuscript and asked if he wanted to work on it. The first sketch he showed me, which is in the book - it is of the baby being given away - just stunned me. He completely captured the tone and feel of the story.

It is so great that I got the MDA grant, because after that I could afford to pay him.

How has your family reacted to the book?

My Mum is very blase - you can throw anything at her and she won't jump over the moon.

She was only a bit hesitant for a moment when I asked if I could include a picture of her as a toddler at the back of the book. But overall, she seems quite pleased.

My brothers and my husband have been really supportive, though we'll have to wait and see if our children like the book. My nephew is only six months old now, and mine isn't here yet.

What Sallamah Didn't Know ($15.70 without GST) is available at major bookstores.

Singapore Writers take on the World!

2007-10-20T20:26:00.000+08:00

Interview on the "Write Stuff" with Loretta Foo
Radio Singapore International
18 October 2007

If all you remember of home-grown books are Russell Lee’s True Singapore Ghost Stories, it’s time you wake up and smell the coffee. There is a new generation of Singaporean authors who not just brimming with ideas but are bold enough to take on the world! Sharon Ismail and Adeline Foo - two first-time children’s authors, tell me about the challenges of being a Singaporean writer facing an increasingly globalised and sophisticated reading market Welcome to the Write Stuff with me, Loretta Foo.

Last week, we heard from Lee Jin Pyn, whose book travelled up to the largest book fair in the world in Frankfurt, Germany. This year, books written by Sharon Ismail and Adeline Foo made their journey to the Fair. Being chosen by the Media Development Authority to be part of the First Time Writers and Illustrators Publishing Initiative means a lot to a first-time writer as Sharon shares.

SI: First of all, it gives us the recognition that there is support, not just overseas but more importantly, in Singapore and it was really wonderful to see them support our work this way as Singaporean writers especially when I wanted to write about stories that were really grounded in our Singapore culture, not necessarily our racial or ethnic backgrounds and typically Singaporean stories. What I wanted to do initially was to see if I could be a good writer at all in the first place and the Book Council and the NBDCS had given me that kind of confidence to say that your manuscript has a bit of value there. I think they’d received several of hundreds of manuscript copies from people who wanted to be published for the first time so quality control for me was very important, that at least I got that kind of acknowledgement.

What both writers share in common is a desire to share Singapore with the rest of the world. Sharon’s book, “What Sallamah didn’t know” is based on her mother’s childhood as a Chinese girl adopted by a Malay family.

SI: It talks about the concept of a family. It talks about inter-racial adoption but at the same time, it exposes a western audience to what it’s like being in Singapore. The background landscapes of village ‘kampungs’ in the 1950s, particularly in those days when we had fruit orchards. The concept of the different kinds of fruit that we see here and are familiar with, like the durian and mangosteen, those are very foreign and I’d like to know that our little Singapore country has something to offer Europe and to show them that Asia is not boring and it’s not as if there is nothing about Asia in terms of our literature but now there is.

“Ben’s Friends from the Rainforest” on the other hand is based on the many nature expeditions that Adeline and her three children have carried out.

AF: Not many people know about our rainforests. In fact, not many people know that Singapore has rainforests though we have beautiful rainforests to shout about and fascinating creatures. Creatures that are quite local but may not be recognized because they are not so exotic and perhaps my book will introduce these creatures in a friendly way to children or publishers who might be willing to pick up a book on this part of the world. I hope that my books will raise awareness of creatures in the rainforest area and backyard creatures that have always been neglected in stories that we read as children.

While it is important to showcase Singapore’s unique culture to the world, won’t the distinctively Singaporean books pose a problem to children in other countries? Adeline thinks not.

AF: In my first book, Ben’s Friends and the Rainforest, we were talking about a lizard. I think lizards are very fascinating creatures to children. This particular lizard we are talking about is the changeable lizard, it’s local of course, but that is not so far off from the kind you see in North America so they at least have a character that they can identify with. I guess the whole approach of the books is taken in a more local sense in terms of the illustrations but the messaging as well the values that the children represent in the books are common across all nations. Like the first book had a boy who was hiding something from the mother because she didn’t know there was something in the house. I think a 3 or 4 year old can identify with that.

The wildest hope that both Sharon and Adeline have is that an international publishing house would take a chance on their books, possibly even translating it into other languages for children all over the world to enjoy.

SI: I don’t care what culture it comes from. I just love good books and I think sometimes we may give too much credit to a piece of work that is written by a foreigner or a Westerner and when we look at Singaporean writers, we might not feel the same kind of reverence for them. Good writing is good writing and it opens out the world to other cultures. That is not necessarily something that can happen if we let the book just stay in Singapore.

That was children’s author, Sharon Ismail. Earlier, you heard from another children’s author Adeline Foo. Till next week, this has been The Write stuff with me, Loretta Foo only on Radio Singapore International.

The Illustrator

2007-10-20T16:55:00.000+08:00

As a child, Khairudin Saharom loved doodling anywhere and everywhere: school textbooks, bedroom walls, and even on the underside of the bed.

"Illustrations must not only connect the reader visually to the text," he says, "they must also trigger the senses and capture emotions that are true to the story."

And that marks the end of the official introduction to my illustrious illustrator.

On to the good stuff: Khai has been a good friend for years, since our days of co-hosting a Sunday morning magazine programme Selamat Pagi Singapura (SPS) on the Suria channel in 2002 - 2004.

But still, when I told him that I was thinking of getting my children's story published, I was still a little embarassed to ask if he'd like to be my illustrator.

(Why Khai in the first place? Because the whole SPS team knows he has this habit of doodling strange, alien-looking, mutated unknown species kind of characters on our birthday cards, our scripts, and even on my kitchen wall!)

Anyway, he made it very easy for me because the moment I told him I was looking for an illustrator, he volunteered himself!

When we host together, we know what we each like and don't like, and can pretty much anticipate what the other is going to say. But I had no idea that Khai also has a knack of knowing what I want and don't want in terms of illustrations.

In fact, the next time I met him after he read my manuscript, he showed me a sketch that blew me away - the orange illustration you see on page 6 of the book. It was exactly what I had imagined - a poignant scene of a family giving away their baby, rendered to show the Asian-ness of the story with rich colours, and a slight batik and woodcut feel to it. And that was how we started. (That illustration has not been re-done since.)

Trivia for the girls: Khai is a full-time architect, who loves hosting and acting on television, wakeboarding, going to the gym and chicken (the man eats anything with chicken in it.)

At the end of the day, he's just a darn good guy. And yes, he's also the gorgeous host of the recent Channel 5 series Missing.

Thanks a million, Khai! As always, it's been a real blast working with you :)

MDA Showcases The Best of Singapore Inc at the Frankfurt Book Fair

2007-10-17T23:13:00.000+08:00

9 new children’s book titles and a TV animation series from MDA’s first Print-to-Screen initiative to make first international appearance.

Newcomer NAC gears up to promote Singapore authors and local literature under the Singapore Pavilion.

Singapore, 3 October 2007 – The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) will lead a delegation of 10 organisations – comprising IE Singapore, National Arts Council (NAC) and eight local publishing and printing companies – to the Frankfurt Book Fair, to jointly showcase local publishing capabilities and talents in the Singapore Pavilion.

In total, over 80 new titles and more than 60 authors, new writers and illustrators will be presented and promoted to the world publishing trade from 10 to 14 October 2007.

With Children’s Books as a pivotal theme, the spotlight for MDA this year will be on nine new titles developed by promising, but unpublished, writers and authors whom MDA has selected under its First Time Writers and Illustrators Publishing Initiative (FTWIPI).

The First Time Writers and Illustrators Publishing Initiative (FTWIPI) was started in 2005 by MDA, in partnership with the National Book Development Council of Singapore, to nurture aspiring local writers and illustrators who have not yet had the opportunity to get their works published. This is among several initiatives launched by MDA to develop and grow the local publishing industry.

Among this slate of first-time titles are “What Sallamah Didn’t Know”, “Prince Bear and Pauper Bear” and “Little Naughty Nigel”. Making its first-time appearance also is MUGEN, a six-part comic anthology series which features 100 per cent original content by Singapore creators, and published by Singapore’s Chuang Yi Publishing. These creators were the selected recipients under FTWIPI’s comic and graphic novels category.

Additionally, Running Press2 in the US has bought over the English Language exclusive rights to “The Elephant and The Tree”, a title from the first edition of FTWIPI by author and illustrator, Lee Jin Pyn. The 44-page children’s book, a charming tale on environmental protection and conservation, first appeared at the Frankfurt Book Fair last year.

Tales Alive – a nine-episode animated series adapted from story book titles – will be simultaneously marketed at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair and at MIPCOM, an audio visual content trade market.

Commissioned by MDA, Tales Alive is produced by Singapore’s animation studio company Peach Blossom Media which saw the potential of turning nine FTWIPI original children’s stories into a 2D animated series for worldwide distribution. It is the first crossmedia, print-to-screen project initiated by MDA to encourage multi-purposing of content.

Said Mr Seto Lok Yin, MDA’s Assistant Chief Executive Officer (Industry): “Singapore is already home to some of the biggest names in the publishing trade, including John Wiley and Sons, Reed Elsevier, McGraw-Hill and Cambridge University Press. Four years after our first participation in 2004, the presence of Singapore publishers at the Frankfurt Book Fair is bearing fruit.

Today, more international publishers, literary agents and distributors are beginning to appreciate Singapore-themed books, comics and magazines, with its unique blend of Eastern culture and Western influence. This is a positive step forward for Singapore. Moving forward, MDA will develop new ways to help Singapore publishers create and showcase their original content and titles, even extending to new cross-platforms like animation, film and interactive media."

The Question

2007-10-17T23:02:00.001+08:00

I was too young to understand many things, but deep down, I thought my family must be a little different from other families in the kampong. Because from my limited understanding about the world, and I suppose from just pure innocence, I noticed that other children did not get as many questions asked about their parents as I did mine.

From as far back as I can remember, I was always asked the same question,
"Is your mother Chinese?",
from teachers, parents of other children and many other strangers.

It was always the same question they asked after they saw my mother. Strangely enough, I don't remember them asking her the question directly, only through me, and only after my mother has excused herself.

My answer was always a simple "No", because that was what my mother always replied when I asked if she was indeed, Chinese. I remember asking her this many times, because being the chatterbox that I was, I liked to report to whoever who would listen what happened during my day, until someone told me to shut up.

I remember my mother asking me why I thought other people always asked the same question, and I said, "Because they said you look Chinese."

"But I'm not," was her reply.

So after that, my response to these people was a modified, "No, my mother says she's not Chinese."

People countered with a, "Really? Are you sure?" and that irritated me. To my simple five-year-old mind, they had asked what seemed like a simple question and it had come with a simple enough answer. So, which part of "No" didn't they understand?

Synopsis

2007-10-17T22:58:00.000+08:00

"Even though Sallamah felt that her world at home was topsy turvy, her friends didn't seem to treat her any differently. Sallamah wasn't sure if they knew her secret but she was careful never to reveal it."

Sallamah grew up thinking that her life was ordinary. She lived in an ordinary kampong with an ordinary family and had an ordinary group of friends whom she played ordinary games with. Little did she realise that a piece of paper would change the reality of all that she knew and understood.

Join Sallamah as she goes on a journey to understand the true meaning of family. Is 'family' the one who gives birth to you? Or, are they the people who love and care for you?

In today's world, where the lives of so many races intermingle into one strange but wonderful melting pot, the questions of identity and family remain relevant as we celebrate the similarities (and differences) in what we understand to be 'family'.

Sallamah is my mother. This is her story.

"This is a very touching story. Especially because it is also a true local story. It illustrates a universal truth. Your mother has taught you that love and commitment are the essential ingredients of life in a happy family."

- Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development,
Youth and Sports & Second Minister for Information,
Communication and the Arts

About The Author

2007-10-17T22:51:00.001+08:00

Sharon Ismail has been interested in storybooks since she was a little girl. Weaned on adiet of western children’s writers, she is fascinated that there are so many stories about children in Singapore that are not yet told, not necessarily huge epic stories, but little fascinating stories about our parents, neighbours, teachers and friends. This is her firstbook.

She has enjoyed working with young minds since 1994 and is currently a lecturer at a polytechnic. In between, she indulges in her passions of acting and hosting for stage and television, and has won Best Actress in a Leading Role twice at MediaCorp Suria Channel’s annual television awards Pesta Perdana in 2000 and 2004.

The Beginning

2007-10-14T20:00:00.000+08:00

I succumbed. This old-fashioned pen-and-paper-journal girl surrenders to The Blog.

But thank you, for finding this blogspot, whether it was by word of mouth, or by accident.

We've received such encouraging support for my first and recently published children's book What Sallamah Didn't Know that I'm moved to start this blog. This is important to me because you have taken the interest in my little project.

What Sallamah Didn't Know is a story based on my mother's childhood and her experience with inter-racial adoption.

Written in English, in full-colour and measuring 25cm x 25cm, it is written with readers aged 8 and above, although adult readers have fed back that the writing is at times nuanced for adult reading as well.

This book became a reality, thanks to the First-Time Writers and Illustrators Publishing Initiative (FTWIPI). Singapore now has 9 more new writers of children's books to call her own. Hopefully, we will not disappoint.

Yes, the book is ready and on sale - from us direct at S$15 nett (with a portion of the proceeds going to children's charitable causes).

Here's how you can get our book:

Option 1
You could pick up your copy at AutoInc Sports at 179, River Valley Road, #01-03, Singapore 179033 (a single-storey red building next to Liang Court - my husband Jo's office).

Please call 6338 0123 ahead of time to make sure that the office is open, and that your copy is ready (especially if you'd like it signed).

Option 2
We could post it to you at an additional S$2 for postage. Please provide us your mailing address upon ordering.

* Free delivery with orders of 10 copies and above.

** Payment is by cash, cheque or bank transfer. Please email me at sharonismail@gmail.com for required bank information.

Alternatively, you can get our book at major bookstores in Singapore eg. Kinokuniya, Borders, MPH, Times and PageOne. (Popular will carry the book soon.) It retails at S$16.80 after GST. (No charitable causes there, I'm afraid.)

OVERSEAS ORDERS

Now, here's what I didn't expect so soon - requests from overseas regarding how to get copies of What Sallamah Didn't Know. What a nice surprise!

It's wonderful that our story can be enjoyed by people beyond Singapore. Hopefully, it lends a sneak peek into our culture and lifestyle whilst still showcasing the universality of 'family'.

As Dr David Fedo said, at the end of the day, "people are people with the same aspirations, hopes and dreams, whatever their family background or origin, and whoever their parents may be".

So here's what we found to be the fastest and most cost effective way to get our book to our overseas readers:

For Malaysia: By post and payment method by bank telegraphic transfer: 67 MYR

(There are plans for our books to hit the Malaysian bookstores but not till next year, I foresee.)

For Europe: (we've received queries from Holland and the UK)

By post and telegraphic transfer: 13 GBP or 18 Eur.

These prices have included postage and bank charges, which explains why they do not correspond directly to the Singapore selling price of SGD 15.

And yes, part of the proceeds will go to children's charitable causes.

Please mail me at sharonismail@gmail.com for the required payment information.

Thank you for your support!