The launch pictures, as promised!

Read the article about our launch at the PLU website!

Stuff about the launch which I didn't get to say before:

Attendance: a capacity crowd of 200-300 people (of various orientations, may I add).

Sales: not 200 books, but 250 books.

Distinguishing features: SQ21 is not only the first book of coming out stories in Singapore - it is the first book of coming out stories with both real photographs and names in the whole of Asia. Singapura boleh, right?

And as promised, the photographs, taken by the indomitable Roy:


part of the crowd at Mox.


The compere, Sam Wu, and the author, Ng Yi-Sheng.

Okay, from the top: the editor, Jason Wee, and interviewees Lu Huen, Dominic Chua, Nicholas Deroose, Jeremy Kwok and Sheila Rajamanikam.

And a shot of all 14 of us (minus Louis, who's in Switzerland getting married to his boyfriend), just before our big autograph-o-rama. My hands are waving because I'm speaking in sign language to Daniel Lim. (I only wish the photographer caught the interpreters trying to figure out how to sign "packing".)

A fun quote from the PLU website:

"The book is based on interviews by Ng Yi-Sheng (above right) over the past year. Even transcribing the interviews was a transgressive endeavour, undermining a lifetime of social courtesy. Yi-Sheng recalls an encounter from Chinese New Year with an 80something year old widow and neighbour.

Neighbour: These are nice pineapple tarts.

My mother: Yes, why don’t you tell Mrs Gan about the nice book you’re writing?

Yi-Sheng: Yeah, um, it’s a book on homosexuality in Singapore.

(Uncomfortable pause)

Neighbour: Oh my. Is it rampant?"

(UPDATE: we've got video of the event, courtesy of Roy Tan. It's in parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. You can also take your time to look at some of the still frames.)

Oh yeah, and the TalkingCock event rocked. Alex Au, Hossan Leong, Mr Brown and Mr Miyagi also spoke... although the highlight, and the best-applauded moment, was probably the review of the different accents of English by my friend and teaching scholar, Ruby Pan (American =>British =>Singapore educated =>Singlish => Filipina. :)) Don't believe me? Just have a look a the video.)