I was delighted to witness a friend and colleague’s book launch the other night. It’s taken Siang a few years to get to this stage and I admire her dedication and drive in achieving this goal.
When she’s not at work she’s inevitably at home writing and when you work full-time even just writing a book is a great effort.
Well, she did have some time off to finish the book, but finish it she did and it was recently published by Harper Collins and launched the other night. The book is called Handpicked, by Siew Siang Tay and the picture below is Siang signing someone’s copy at the launch.
The launch was fun and it was a bit like a work reunion as Siang invited quite a few ex-colleagues so it was great chatting to them amongst the formalities of the evening.
I have a copy of the book (signed by the author of course) but haven’t had a chance to read it yet. Buying fiction books for me is a luxury these days but I gladly bought a copy to support Siang. I also don’t read many books set in South Australia so I look forward to reading it for this aspect alone.
She’s finishing off her second novel and already planning her third so hopefully there will be more book launches to come. Keep an eye out for her at the Sydney Writer’s Festival in May.
I have always thought of writing an autobiography when I was younger, but now that I know how much effort one needs to put in into writing a book, I’m having second thoughts.
Writing my Master’s thesis at the end of 2007 was something I struggled to pull myself through, so yeah. Cheers to Siang!
I’ve heard Master’s and PhD’s are hard work, I guess a bit like a book so I understand your reluctance. Maybe one day you’ll revisit your autobiography. I guess with your blog you’ve already started.
This is quite an accomplishment Jen….it’s a very exciting time. Congratulations to Siang.
My daughter, Julie, just finished her second book; titled The Madame Curie Complex. It will probably be out around this time next year. When she called me a couple of days ago and asked if she could read me her introduction….I cried through the whole thing. I had no idea she dedicated this book to her dad. He was her inspiration for writing it. It was so beautiful Jen….and so perfect. My husband would have loved this book.
When Bella was born almost six years ago and I went to Boston to see her…Julie first put the baby in my hands and then put a copy of her first book in my hands….”Women & the Historical Enterprise in America…Gender, Race, and the Politics of Memory, 1880-1945.” She dedicated that book to me. I cried like a baby then too.
But this dedication to her father really touched me so much….I don’t know why I was surprised….her book is about women scientists. They had many talks about the subject. My husband loved discussing these things with her…and more. He would have been so proud of this book….and was always so proud of her. At least he got to read her first book.
Again…congratulations to your friend on a wonderful achievement. Love, Joy
Congrats to your friend, that’s wonderful 😀 !!
Joy, you do have a talented family. I’m sure you’re very very proud and to have a book dedicated to you – what an honour.
Thank you Jayne. I think she’s still walking on cloud 9.