Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born and raised in Singapore. I am a Public Relations Practitioner who began my writing career in journalism. I have written for magazines, newspapers and news syndication. My career also took me to Cairo, Egypt where I reported for Egypt Today. I had lots of fun in Egypt, and it was also the setting that inspired me to complete my novel.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
SMOKESCREEN. I was inspired to write the novel pursuant to Singapore’s relationship with Israel. The little island in Southeast Asia, surrounded by large Muslim countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, suffers from a state of paranoia and mistrust of its neighbors.
Singapore went to the extent of getting Israel to train its army, and since then both countries have also reportedly enjoyed all levels of “security relationship.” The island also made major purchases of IDF tanks, as well as aircraft, anti-aircraft missiles, and surveillance technologies.
Singapore has also had its fair share of adventure despite its far location from the Middle East. To that extent, Muslims have little role to play in the Singapore army, their loyalty often being questioned.
Back in the 70s, several Palestinian commandos raided an offshore island in Singapore and attempted to blow up an oil refinery as a political message. During my stay in Egypt, I also met many Palestinians and I used to come across Israeli tourists at the seaside resort of Dahab in the Mount Sinai region, near the Israeli border. My observation and personal encounters with everyone served as ingredients for the novel. Details are classified. As the old saying goes, if I tell you, I’ll have to…
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t plan my manuscript. I construct pages in my head and with a little bit of help from inspiration here and there, the story begins to unfold. When I get stuck, I’ll take a break and resume when the ideas start to flow again.
I tend to method act in some cases as I feel this is helpful to produce stronger characters so that readers can appreciate the story more.
If you look at the stories of ancient Egypt, especially the drawings on the walls, you’ll notice that the drawings portray images of people in one dimension. It does not give you details of the characters and who they really were. In writing my novel, I wanted my characters to jump off the page like popcorns on a hot stove.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many authors – too many to list down, honestly. But the immediate few that springs to mind include Robert Ludlum, Tom Clancy, Len Deighton, Agatha Christie, Ernest Hemingway, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I even read non-thriller authors to get influences, especially since they discuss life, culture, human values and religion.
Although Smokescreen is a thriller novel, there is a little bit of philosophy in it. One of the subject matters that I raised revolves around the eastern and western beliefs and how they look at life. Islam, Christianity and Judaism share common values. For example, they all agree on what is right and what is wrong. However, in Asia the concept of what is right or wrong does not exist. It’s more a question of what can be done and what cannot.
Let me give you an example, several years ago, a young man, an Australian of Vietnamese descent, was arrested by the Singapore police and later hanged for smuggling drugs. I told a taxi driver that it was a sad case that the life of a young man was not spared, but he was silly to take the wrong path. The cabby shrugged his shoulders and replied that the young man took a risk and lost. He added that if he could have gotten away with it, then he was a winner. So you see, there’s really no right or wrong with some people.
What are you working on now?
I am working on another suspense-thriller, which is set in Europe. It’s going to take a while for me to finish. It is an entirely different story. It gives me goose bumps whenever I work on some of the scenes because they are eerie, if I do say so myself.
Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to write another. It was hard for me to write my first, I almost gave up. But the proverbial train kept dragging me up the hill. And then I found myself working on a second manuscript.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Apart from the many PR and marketing tools that I am applying, I am part of a YouTube project that’s made in Canada called Fiction Frenzy TV. Every two weeks, you’ll find me doing something from showing places based on scenes in the novel to talking about my book and writing. I am not the only guest author there, there are others. But we all get our fair of promotional broadcast time.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I have been mocked at, insulted, sneered by many people who thought I was living a fantasy when I told them I was writing a novel. I come from a society where people mostly follow the leader. There is a lack of critical thinking here in Singapore. I think everyone had a shock to learn the novel was completed and eventually acquired. So my message to new authors: Don’t give up and believe in yourself.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Listen to your inner voice. Nobody knows you better than you. Maybe your pet cat or dog does, but humans, gotta watch out for those guys…
What are you reading now?
I am reading a few books by Keith Thomson, Jon Mcgoran, Jake Needham and Anne-Rae Vasquez. They include thrillers, science fiction and paranormal fantasy.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Honestly? I don’t know. But I hope to write more. You know, being a writer – at least when your first book gets published and recognized – you get a nice sensation that comes with it. It’s a very rich feeling. It’s hard to explain, but you feel accomplished.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Quran for hope, Robert Fulgham’s All I Really Need To Know, I learned In Kindergarten for a good laugh, and Nick Schade’s Building Strip-Planked Boats to escape from the island. I hope rescue comes in time before I finish all these books. But if they do make a TV series based on my castaway life and write a ballad about it, please send the royalties to my family members. Thanks in advance.
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