Tina M. Cho
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My First Writing Conference Nitty Gritty

5/27/2016

40 Comments

 
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 Believe it or not, my first writing conference happened a world away in Singapore! The annual Asian Festival of Children's Content celebrates books by Asian authors or children's books with an Asian setting. I left my apt in Korea at 4:30 a.m., took a bus to the Korean airport for my 9:00 a.m. flight, arrived in Singapore around 2:00 p.m in time for the Scholastic Asian Book Awards ceremony at 7:00 p.m.

It all started the summer of 2015 when I took Nancy I. Sanders' online course Write a Middle Grade Novel in 1 Month. I had a picture book story that some of my peeps and agents suggested trying as a novel. So I did. I wrote it in May 2015, sent it out to beta readers, and revised in July/August. My critique partner Carrie Finison and the Sub It Club Facebook group told me about the Scholastic Asian Book Award deadline of September 1st, in which an author of Asian descent living in Asia who has a book set in Asia could apply. So for fun, I submitted, dreaming of flying to Singapore the next May. 

Sometimes dreams come true! In April, the conference organizer emailed saying my manuscript Chasing Freedoms: The Asian Underground Railroad was shortlisted along with four other contestants out of 50-60 submissions (can't remember the exact number). Soon I saw my photo and synopsis that I had composed as an exercise from Cheryl Klein's Second Sight on their website, newsletters, and even the Singapore Times Newspaper! 

Chasing Freedom: The Asian Underground Railroad (Author: Tina Cho, South Korea) Two unhappy kids. Two stories that lead to separate escapes across the North Korean border to China. Brokers, a pastor, and other people help Yunho and Joo Ri escape to freedom along the Asian Underground Railroad through China, Laos, Thailand, and eventually to America. Soldiers, child slavery, fake IDs, jail time, and trekking through jungles are difficulties they must face. Will they be caught and repatriated back to North Korea and sent to brutal concentration camps? In the worse moments, Yunho and Joo Ri come to terms with their past, their fears, and face the enemy head on.

Thankfully God worked out all the details so I could attend. I'm thankful to my job and husband who allowed me to go. 
One thing I love about Singapore is that people speak English. It was so refreshing to order at Subway at the airport, and the clerk understood me. A funny thing about getting a taxi is I followed the driver to the car, and he opened the right side front door. I thought he was being a gentleman, and I almost climbed in. Except he climbed in first! Singaporeans drive on the opposite side (rt side) unlike Americans and Koreans. Feeling embarrassed, I quickly ran to the other side of the car and let myself in. The palm trees and green vegetation reminded me of California. I didn't mind the heat (90F) or humidity too much because I was on an adventure. 

PictureThe National Library, place of the conference
Being at a hotel by myself was weird at first, but then I enjoyed the quietness of no kids, students, homemaking, etc... The awards ceremony was very formal with a Singaporean government official attending--the Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Education handed out awards. His Excellency, the Ambassador to Singapore from Japan was also there since Japan was the country of focus for the conference. 

The winner of the Scholastic Asian Book Award was an Indian author, whose premise I thought was really good! She's had a previous novel published as well. I was happy to receive 1st Runner Up, and the editor from Scholastic Asia wants to publish it. I look forward to hearing details from her. 

I also loved connecting with online writing friends and people whose blogs I've read or are popular in the kidlit world--Emily Lim I met in 12x12, Leonard Marcus I've heard and read about in SCBWI, Cynthia Leitich Smith who runs the Cynsations writing blog, Charlene Chua, Canadian illustrator whom I met in the SCBWI "Blueboards," and Cynthea Liu, of the popular Red Light Green Light contest.

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Parliamentary Secretary far right, Winner-3rd from the right, and me, the short one in the middle, black & white dress
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me, Leonard Marcus- historian and author, chief judge of the Scholastic Asian Book Awards
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me, Emily Lim, who I met in 12x12, Singaporean author
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me, Cynthia Leitich Smith-author of Cynsations blog and many books
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me, Charlene Chua-illustrator who I met in SCBWI "Blueboards"
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me, Cynthea Liu, author and publisher, I had won a picture book critique from her 2 yrs ago from her Red Light Green Light contest. We had a great chat!
Look for more about my experience on June 2nd at the Grog Blog!
40 Comments
Diane Tulloch link
5/28/2016 05:03:44 am

Lovely photos, Tina. So glad you had a great time in Singapore. Congratulations a well deserved win and so looking forward to this beautiful story being published. Well Done!

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Tina Cho link
5/29/2016 01:52:51 pm

Thank you, Diane!

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evelyn christensen link
5/28/2016 05:40:59 am

Tina, I'm beyond thrilled that your book got 1st Runner Up and is going to be published by Scholastic!! Yes, a wonderful dream come true, but so well deserved. I'm glad you had a fun time at the conference and got to meet some online friends in person. I really look forward to reading your book. Huge congratulations to you!

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Tina Cho link
5/29/2016 01:53:24 pm

Thank you, Ev!

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Cathy Ballou Mealey link
5/28/2016 06:20:32 am

How wonderful Tina! You must be floating on air. Thank you for sharing all the fun photos and connections that you made at the conference!

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Tina Cho link
5/29/2016 01:53:54 pm

Thank you, Cathy!

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Heather Montgomery link
5/28/2016 06:49:12 am

Thanks for sharing! What a great experience. Looking forward to reading CHASING FREEDOM!

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Tina Cho link
5/29/2016 01:54:23 pm

Thank you, Heather!

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Trine
5/28/2016 08:05:13 am

God is so good! What a thrill. Love the pics.

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Tina Cho link
5/29/2016 01:54:51 pm

Thank you, Trine!

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Mary Kay Carson link
5/28/2016 08:09:44 am

Wow!! An adventure indeed!! It really speaks to how the internet/social media has changed the way we find out about opportunities and communicate, doesn't it?

I'm so excited that CHASING FREEDOM is going to be published--and by Scholastic! Woo--hoo! You must be bursting with pride! :-)

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Tina Cho link
5/29/2016 01:55:26 pm

Yes, it does, Mary Kay. Thank you!

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Vivian Kirkfield link
5/28/2016 08:31:31 am

What an amazing experience, Tina! Thanks so much for sharing this with us. I remember mentioning the Scholastic Asia contest when I came back from the 2013 AFCC...so I'm thrilled you had the perfect story this year to enter!!! And you got to meet those incredible kid lit people...we are all jealous...but so very happy for you! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

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Tina Cho link
5/29/2016 01:56:32 pm

I'm so glad you were able to attend in 2013 and share your experience with us! Thanks, Vivian!

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Mirka Breen link
5/28/2016 08:47:19 am

It's such a joy to read about this journey, part of which I have been privileged to follow. The story you wrote will have many more years to travel and delight readers, and so will your writing.

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Tina Cho link
5/29/2016 01:57:04 pm

Thank you, Mirka, for your support!

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Claire Noland link
5/28/2016 10:22:31 am

Tina,
This post is filled with so much good news - congratulations! The conference sounds amazing and your book is one that I certainly am looking forward to reading.

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Tina Cho link
5/29/2016 01:57:35 pm

Thanks so much, Claire!

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Nancy I Sanders link
5/28/2016 11:02:46 am

Way to go Tina!!!!! What a thrilling adventure for you. And it sounds like there's more to come! Congratulations!!!!!

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Tina Cho link
5/29/2016 01:58:03 pm

Thanks, Nancy, for writing that course!

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Kathy Halsey
5/28/2016 01:54:41 pm

Thanks for the peek inside your amazing good news, Tina. You just glow in theses pics!I hope to see your book one day soon in a Scholastic Book Fair!

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Tina Cho link
5/29/2016 01:58:33 pm

Thank you, Kathy!

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Jane Heitman Healy link
5/28/2016 02:59:05 pm

How wonderful, Tina! Thank you for sharing your adventure! Congratulations and much continued success to you!!

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Tina Cho link
5/29/2016 01:59:07 pm

Thank you, Jane!

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Kaye Baillie link
5/28/2016 08:34:00 pm

Thanks for sharing your exciting news, Tina. I loved hearing about your entry and the results.

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Tina Cho link
5/29/2016 01:59:40 pm

Thank you, Kaye!

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Hannah Holt link
5/28/2016 11:03:06 pm

Thanks for sharing! I love the pictures. You look radiant. :) Can't wait to hear more!

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Tina Cho link
5/29/2016 02:00:21 pm

I'm looking forward to hearing more, too! (from the editor) Thanks, Hannah.

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Patricia A Miller
5/30/2016 04:03:56 pm

All I can say is CONGRATULATIONS, praise the Lord, and keep on!

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Tina Cho link
6/1/2016 05:57:50 am

Exactly! All because of God!

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Carrie Finison
5/31/2016 06:35:41 am

What a thrilling experience, Tina! I'm so happy for you - congratulations, again.

So funny about the little differences in Singapore, too. I remember being in Malaysia and being so happy to find an A&W restaurant (with air conditioning!) where we could order rootbeer floats. YUM! Sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference when you are far from home.

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Tina Cho link
6/1/2016 05:59:24 am

I didn't know that about you, Carrie!

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Dana Carey
6/1/2016 09:05:46 am

What a great experience, Tina! I'm so glad this opportunity came together for you. Again, congrats on this wonderful success.

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Tina Cho link
6/2/2016 03:21:11 am

Thanks so much, Dana!

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Annette Bay Pimentel link
6/1/2016 09:44:30 am

Congratulations!

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Tina Cho link
6/2/2016 03:21:39 am

Thanks, Annette!

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Jarm Del Boccio link
6/1/2016 05:27:48 pm

So thrilled for you, Tina. . . looking forward to the journey with you! I haven't been to Singapore in over 25 years. It is a beautiful place for a conference. ;-}

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Tina Cho link
6/2/2016 03:22:15 am

Maybe we can meet there at the conference sometime!

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Penny Parker Klostermann link
6/4/2016 05:56:02 am

Tina,
This is beyond exciting! Congratulations!!! I know you must be smiling very big!
So glad that you attended the conference and enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing the wonderful photos.

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Barbara Bockman link
6/13/2016 02:47:05 pm

Tina, I loved reading about your adventure. You and your book are so deserving of this honor. I thought the story was great as a pb, so it must be phenomenal as a middle grade novel.

Reply



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    Tina M. Cho, children's author

    I'm a children's author and freelance writer for the educational market. Welcome!

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