Wednesday, 9 March 2011, Central Hong Kong, 7.00-9.00pm. Helena May, Blue Room.

Chocolate's Brown Study in the Bag

Rupert Chan's story told from his toy poodle, Chocolate's point of view was launched at this event. Chan talked about Chocolate's autobiography as well as other animals in literature. A brief introduction to Mary-Jane Newton's new book, "Of Symbols Misused",  opened the evening. Moderated by Gillian Bickley. Also at this event, co-founder of the Proverse Prize for unpublished writing, Verner Bickley,  announced the Proverse Prize winner(s) (2010). Other published Proverse writers attending incuded Akin Jeje ("Smoked Pearl") and J S Polley ("refrain"). Four books were launched, including Caleb Kavon's second novel, "The Reluctant Terrorist: In Search of the Jizo" and Lelawattee Manoo-Rahming's "Immortelle and Bhandaaraa Poems".

Friday, 11 March 2011, Fringe Club, Central Hong Kong, 7.30-9.30pm. Several Proverse Poets joined others in a well-attended, convivial event, honoured by the participation of Sir Andrew Motion, former British Poet Laureate.

27 January 2011

Proverse Author and Honorary Advisor to the Proverse Prize Olga Walló launched her Proverse Hong Kong published book in New York.

Jennifer Ching's Creative Writing Seminar at Hong Kong Baptist University, jointly sponsored by the English Department and the Language Centre, was attended by HKBU students and members of the writing community in Hong Kong.

There was a lively question and answer session.

Discussing the choice of subject, Ms Ching said that one of the most difficult decisions was to find a subject one cared so much about that one was willing to spend on it the considerable time needed to write a novel.

Asked about her writing schedule, Jennifer said that, being a "night person", she wrote at night rather than in the morning (as many famous writers are known to have done).

Many good images and interesting thoughts came to her when she was not sitting down writing and indeed not thinking about her writing at all. The important point was, though, Ching emphasised, not to forget these.

She did not mention Shakespeare's Hamlet's habit of taking notes -- "My tablets, meet it is I set it down . . .!" Nor did she mention the note-taking habits of such famous novelists as Henry James and others. But clearly, she knows the same well-tested truth: -- write it down; do not expect to remember it!

26 April 2010