Desmond & Eric at Books Actually

On 20 March at Books Actually, Eric Valles and Desmond Kon talked about the craft of writing, their literary journeys and their poetry and prose. Both poets have been journalists and have strong theological interests that shines through in their work.

Desmond spoke about his novel, Singular Acts of Endearment (Squirrel Line Press), which recently won an award at the Beverly Hills International Book Award. 

I really enjoy the rich, intricate, ambitious depths of Desmond’s fiction and poetry. I first met Desmond in 2010 at an NUS reading where he read some Haikus and I read my short story We Rose Up Slowly. Recently we caught the wrong bus from Speakeasy and I left him, late in the evening, stranded near a building site on the other side of One Raffles Quay.

Eric talked about his poetry collection After the Fall: Dirges among Ruins (Ethos Books). He read a wonderful poem about the restoration of a mural in Changi prison.

It was a very warm and pleasant evening.

Speakeasy #18: The Valentine Edition

Speakeasy #18 was held at a packed Artistry and featured poets, playwrights, DJs, academics, musicians, teachers and booksellers/publishers/institutions reading their favourite love poetry for Valentine’s Day.

The poetry was eclectic, exuberant and celebratory, and included Pablo Neruda, Dorothy Porter, Arthur Yap, Cyril Wong, ee Cummings, Carol Ann Duffy, Leonard Cohen (Alvin Pang knows him and I understand efforts will be made to get him to SWF this year) etc, etc.

There were several romantic moments including Rene & Kenny’s reading and Philip Holden’s rose for his beloved, not to mention a blow job poem and a couple of lyrical cow pieces.