It’s high time by Daphne Lee
Linda Tan Lingard, the President of SCBWI Malaysia texted me whether did I read an article by Daphne Lee on Sunday. I didn’t and she said I can read the online version and so I googled and found it here.
I am going to copy and paste it here for my record ^__^
It’s high time!
TOTS TO TEENS
By DAPHNE LEE
An Emila Yusof watercolour from Sedna the Eskimo Girl
The president of the Malaysian chapter is Linda Tan Lingard who is an avid reader and collector of children’s books. Like many Malaysians with a passion for children’s literature, Lingard is aware of the dearth of quality Malaysian children’s lit. She ventured into publishing to address this lack and, to date, her company, Oyez!Books, has published over a dozen titles by Malaysian and ex-pat writers and illustrators.
Lingard decided to start the Malaysian chapter of the SCBWI because she felt that Malaysian authors and illustrators need support and would benefit from being part of an international and well-established organisation. It is hoped that the SCBWI Malaysia will provide Malaysian children’s book writers and illustrators with professional advice and information as well as a platform for networking. The society hopes to hold regular conferences and organise talks and workshops for its members. The conference last week featured an exhibition of illustrations from Malaysian picture books, a talk by artist, illustrator and writer Yusof Gajah (on becoming a children’s book writer and illustrator), and two panel discussions.
I moderated one of the discussions (about the importance of creating children’s literature for Malaysian children), while the other (on the use of illustrations in Malaysian children’s literature) was moderated by picture book illustrator Sarah Joan Mohktar. Panelists included graphic novelist Chin Yew; Lingard; and Sireh Anuar, cartoonist and lecturer University at Multimedia University.
The exhibition showed that Malaysia boasts illustrators of great promise. Artwork displayed included Emila Yusof’s beautiful watercolours from Sedna the Eskimo Girl, a story in the Oyez!Books’ collection, Wonderful Folktales from Around the World.
I am excited about the SCBWI as I think it’s high time we had a society that encourages, supports and nurtures those who wish to write and illustrate children’s books, as well as all those involved in one way or other (directly and indirectly) in the production, promotion and distribution of Malaysian children’s literature.
To join the society, e-mail Lingard at lindalingard@yusofgajahlingard.com.
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14 Comments
azyze
Congratulations Kak Emil! It’s high time you got promoted on the newsies… lepas ni glamorlah illustrator kita nih.
marvic
kak emi…best la article tu….hehehe
marvic
i know u can make wonders lepas ni in children books
marvic
best..best..best…
unlisted_one
cool!
ET
Seriously, your works are so neat.
Spiff, The Spaceman
Congrats Emila, you deserve all the recognition you get cos you’re good at what you do and I’mnot trying to bodek you to win prizes tau … hehehe …
Jokes aside, you’re really passionate about art …
emila
😀 hopefully tak glamer mana, saya malu!
emila
maria, the article is written by a children book’s writer, you know!
emila
thank you, i hope to illustrate more for our children
emila
thank you, maria!
emila
thanks, nia!
emila
thank you ET!
emila
thank you, spiffy! you’re so right, i am passionate about art