1. Tell me about yourself?
A. Hi! I’m B.J. Seow. I’m a Malaysian and have been living in Austria for the past 11 years. Back in Malaysia, I managed a company in the paper industry till 2010. I live with my husband and two children, who are my biggest inspiration. And if I’m not writing, you can find me playing the piano, being around with my girls, or when the weather is beautiful, please don’t laugh at this one… pulling weeds. Somehow it’s therapeutic.
2.What are your favorite books to read?
A. I’m into autobiographies, memoirs, romance, and crime fiction. Though I do delve into some fantasy. My favorite authors are Patricia Cornwell, E.L. James, and Nora Roberts.
3. When did you decide you were going to write a book?
A. It was during the pandemic. We travel to Malaysia every year with the kids. The primary reason is to visit their grandparents and families, but it’s also vital that my kids understand and observe different cultures, traditions, trying out new cuisines, and open their minds that the world is made up of beautiful societies. And one day, while the girls and I were talking about a topic regarding Malaysia or something to that matter, they didn’t have a clue. That’s the reason no. 1 – to write a book with some correlation with Malaysia.
Reason no. 2 – It’s something I’ve been toying around in my mind for quite some time and decided it’s time to buckle down and get started.
4. How did you come up with the name of your book?
A I wanted to portray the exotic tropical fruits available in Malaysia and also deliver a message to kids. So, the king of all fruits, the Durian, came to mind and found a rhyming name, Dury. And the thing about Durians, you may find it pungent, but the fruit itself has a fascinating taste. That’s how the title Dury Durian, A Fruit So Unpleasantly Sweet came about. It is a beautifully illustrated tale about accepting someone or something for who or what they are, written from a fruit perspective. You’ll also find other unfamiliar fruits in the book, and at the end of it, there’s a short description of the book’s characters.
5. What are you working on for 2021
A. Other than working on marketing Dury Durian, I’m also in the midst of writing 2 children’s books titled Philomena Perfect and Infinite Shine.
6. How long have you been writing?
A. I can’t really recall when, as I’ve been writing bits and pieces here and there. But 2 years ago, I decided to really put my thoughts out there to the world to read.
7.What advice would you give other authors?
My father gave this advice to me, and I still hold on to it. It was when I couldn’t decide on certain things. I wanted it to be perfect and got too fickle.
“One major problem authors face is, they are never satisfied with the first, second, or even the third writing. They’re always making changes, and it never seems to end. You got to know when to stop deliberating too much and go with your first flow because it was written based on your very first emotions.” – R.C.W. Seow
8. Where can people find you online?
A. You can find me on Instagram @bjseowwrites or Facebook at Beverlogue, and I could be contacted through my website at https://www.beverlogue.com.
9. What is your favorite coffee drink?
A. Cappuccino.
10. What is your favorite coffee shop?
A. In my house! We’ve got an excellent coffee machine, which makes coffee like in cafes. 😊
11. Do you plan on making a new book in the future?
A. Definitely! I’ve actually got a manuscript done. Just need illustrations. And working on 2 children’s books, i.e. Philomena Perfect, which I plan to make into a series and Infinite Shine.
12. How many books have you written?
A. Dury Durian is my first book.
13. Did you go to college to be a writer?
A. No. I graduated in International Business from Helsinki School of Economics and Piano Performance from London.
Comments
Post a Comment