Interviews with authors, event exclusives, and news on books and popular culture. I write about fictions, non-fictions, comics, anime, book-to-screen and all that is popular and enjoyable to read. Like Elton John and Bernie Taupin, I partner with our Creative Director, Zarina Holmes, for the look and feel of our coverage.
Review
The Citi Exhibition Manga マンガ (British Museum, 2019)
I was invited by The Comics Grid, the journal of comics scholarship, to review The Citi Exhibition Manga マンガ at the British Museum. It’s my point of view as a Southeast Asian who loves manga and anime, but whose family life was shaped by World War 2. It’s not a political commentary. It’s a manga commentary.
Interviews
The original book Q&A series that began life in 2011. Much copied, never surpassed. I got the idea from my former colleague and editor at Animal Pharm, Mr Joseph Harvey, famed for his quick-draw Q&A’s with vets and pharma execs.
A selection of interviews:
- Nicola Cornick, Chairman, The Romantic Novelists’ Association
- Dr Brooke Magnanti, Author & Scientist
- Phil Mac Giolla Bhain, Author, The Squad
- Gaby Franger, Author, Frida Folk
- Bada Song, Publisher, Eeodo
- Tintoy Chuo, Designer & Shadow Puppeteer, Fusion Wayang Kulit
- Dr Richard Irvine, Author & Anthropologist
- Andy Adams, Director, FlakPhoto Projects
- Marco Pavan, Documentary Journalist, All Is Written
- Michael Coles, Graphic Artist & Book Maker
- Andrew Weale, Author, London Out Of Time
Talks by authors
Some of the talks we covered:
- Good Omens: Neil Gaiman at the Southbank Centre
- My Brother’s Husband: Tagame Gengoroh at the Japan House
- Mission Moon 3-D: Dr Brian May at the Science Museum
- Mike Zeck and John Beatty at MCM Comic Con
- Twisted Dark: Neil Gibson at MCM Comic Con
- Supernova: Dee Lestari at The London Book Fair
- Technologies Of Romance: Paul O’Kane at the University Of The Arts
- Robotech: Tommy Yune at MCM Comic Con
- Bullshit Jobs: David Graeber at the LSE
- Globalisation vs Internationalism: Yanis Varoufakis at the Southbank Centre
- David Baldacci at The London Book Fair
News
Weekly news updates. I don’t employ journalese for this reporting. I do that inverted pyramid style for my business and tech clients. The tone of voice is conversational but mindful of my readers’ intelligence. They like it simple and enjoyable, but they’re very smart. I write for those who probably have several degrees already in their chosen fields but would like to discover new, happy things like anime, romance and fantasy novels.
Special editions
Events
- The London Book Fair
- MCM Comic Con
- London Art Book Fair
- London Design Festival
- HF Artsfest
- HF Means Business
- Talks & Launches
- Masterclasses
Salina Christmas 