Feature in Simply Her magazine

Read about Jin Pyn and her debut writing venture in April 2008's edition of Simply Her magazine.

It was the first time she had a stylist for clothes and wore sponsored attire for a photo shoot. Great fun!

The Elephant and the Tree, and Jin Pyn continues to catch media attention even after more than a year. Whoop dee do!

Asian GEOgraphic article

Hi all

Jin Pyn has written an article on the irrawaddy dolphins of Southeast Asia for the 02/2008 issue of Asian GEOgraphic. Some sketches there by her too. It's out now in the stands.

These dolphins are ONLY found in Southeast Asia, and they number just less than 1000 in all. Divided by geography and dams, each population number only around 100. The ones in Songkhla Lake in Thailand, less than 20!

Some populations are wholly freshwater. In the whole world, there are only 3 species of freshwater dolphins. 2 are found in Asia, 1 in the Amazon.

How can we as Asians not rise to protect what is uniquely ours?

Making history

As the landmark deal for Singapore, The Elephant and the Tree's representation by Sandra Dijsktra and sale to Running Press was in Singapore's Media Development Authority's news.



Text:

Promising Endings at Frankfurt Book Fair

More Singapore works look set to enjoy an international readership, following the sucess of Lee Jin Pyn's book. The Elephant and the Tree, which has been bought by Running Press, one of the largest independent trade publishers in the US.

Neil Johnson's The Falling Raindrop and Ka Lim's Emily the Duckling Says "Humph!" both attracted keen interest at Frankfurt from the well-known Sandra Dijsktra agency.

All these writers were among the first batch of talents uncovered under MDA's First-Time Writers and Illustrators Publishing Initiative.

Overall, there was much interest and many enquiries on publishing rights and the sourcing of children's content, which was the theme for Singapore at this year's fair.

ACRES Supporter

Jin Pyn continues to support ACRES in Singapore.

Bazaar at Singapore Post Museum

Hi all

Will be holding a stall at the 1st bazaar at the Singapore Post Museum on Rowell Road this Saturday from 12-8 pm.

All The Elephant and the Tree merchandise will be available there.

See you.

Stop Street Begging for Elephants

Street begging for elephants is illegal in Thailand. This legal status has only pushed the trade underground, with mahouts and their elephants living along rubbish dumps or under expressways. Places where there is little water, and where the hungry elephants forage the dumps for food, if their tightly bound chains are long enough to extend to the dumps, that is.

Every night, the elephants are dragged long distances, often to night spots. These majestic beasts are reduced to being beggars. Often the alcohol induced clubbers make fun of the animals. One man was shoving a wooden stick into the elephant, and other blowing smoke into the elephant's trunk, and others force beer down the trunks. One even tried to burn the hair off the elephant's tails.

The city is a foreign place for the elephants. The bright lights hurt their eyes, the sensitive feet and ears get a sensory overload from the racket of the city. Constantly curious people touch and poke at the animals. Many of these are young elephants, snatched from their mothers, forced into training and a very strange world where they will suffer physical and mental re-precussions for the rest of their lives. Accidents involving the frightened animals are not uncommon.

Often these animals are rented out to the mahouts by rich elephant owners. The cycle of poverty extends its toll on the elephants.

Encourage the enforcement of the law. Let the authorities know that this practice is not tolerated. Tourism involving elephants can take into consideration of the animal's welfare and still be profitable.

Sign this petition:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/street-begging-elephants

Sponsorship of elephants

It is Jin Pyn's wish to use part of the sales proceeds to rescue an abused elephant. But elephants don't come cheap. An untrained 4-year old can cost USD5000. A young elephant, even more pricey.

Before that amount can be accumulated, part of the earnings thus far have been used to sponsor rescued elephants residing in a very well run elephant sanctuary.

The Elephant and the Tree as a Full Animation on Kids Central channel

The Elephant and the Tree is amongst a few selected children's tales from Singapore to be developed into animation shorts and picked to air on Singapore's Kids Central for the month of December, 2007.

93.8 live Talking Books

18 Oct 2007

Deejay Michelle Martin featured The Elephant and the Tree as the Book of the Week in her segment Talking Books, and in a contest, gave out 2 copies to lucky listeners.

93.8 LIVE Passion People

17 Oct

93.8 LIVE played a feature interview on Jin Pyn by Michelle Martin twice.

Jin Pyn and The Elephant and the Tree in Ubud Writers Festival

Splendid time at Ubud Writers Festival where Jin Pyn conducted a children's workshop and gave her take, as part of an international panel, on Children's literature.

The Ubud Writers Festival is quoted by Conde Nast Travellers magazine as one of the top literary events in the world

Write Stuff Frankfurt on FM93.8

Podcast:

http://www.rsi.sg/english/thewritestuff/view/20071011161840/1/.html

93.8 LIVE News 3 Oct 2007

Even after a year The Elephant and the Tree continues to be newsworthy - testament of the title's enduring quality.

This is the transcript:

Authors of nine new local children's books will get help with publicity
when their works are showcased at next week's Frankfurt Book Fair.

They're part of the over 80 publications and 60 authors that will be
highlighted by the Media Development Authority and ten other
organisations at the fair.

Taking part for the fourth time, MDA's Industry Assistant CEO Seto Lok
Yin says the presence of local publishers at the fair is bearing fruit.

More international publishers, literary agents and distributors are
beginning to appreciate Singapore-themed books, comics and magazines.

One example is the interest shown by a US independent trade publisher in
a local 44-page children's book called The Elephant and the Tree.

The publisher - Running Press, has bought over the English Language
exclusive rights to the book featured at last year's Frankfurt book
fair.

Its 32-year-old author and illustrator Lee Jin Pyn says the book about
environmental protection is scheduled for a worldwide launch that'll
coincide with Earth Day in 2009.

I think it's fantastic, other authors will be able to tag on that. I
always love to go the children's section in the book stores. I think
children's books don't only appeal to children. I believe every adult
has a child in you and there must be at least one book that the adult
will remember and that story will bring a smile to the adult's face. So
the children's book genre speaks not only to children but adults. That's
how I started illustrating as well.

Sold! Landmark deal with Running Press

The world English rights of The Elephant and the Tree has been sold to successful independent US publisher Running Press thanks to Kelly Sonnack of the high profile Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency, the same agency behind Joy Luck Club and Maxine Hong Kingston's works.

http://mrjam.typepad.com/

http://readatpeace.blogspot.com/

http://www.mda.gov.sg/wms.www/thenewsdesk.aspx?sid=832

The new edition will be out in 2009.

Now The Elephant and the Tree will travel the world!

Arts House Appearance

Hello!

It's the holidays again!

Unwind with Jin Pyn, the Elephant, and the Tree at the Arts House at the Old Parliament House, this Saturday, 8 Sep, 2pm.

See you there!

Earth Day Festivities for The Elephant and the Tree

Catch Jin Pyn telling the story of The Elephant and the Tree and watch her partly animated documentary based loosely on the book at the Botany Garden of Singapore Botanic Gardens, Sunday, 22 April 5 - 5.45 pm.

Don't mess with an elephant mummy! FM93.8

Jin Pyn's harrowing escape from being gnawed and trampled to death by a protective elephant mother.

But because she's seen both sides of the animal, she respects it even more for what it truly is - a wild, magnificent and intelligent animal.

Hear her story on FM93.8
http://www.podcast.com.sg/rsi_english/
ttales/070416_ttales_elephant.mp3

iSh, The Elephant and the Tree and Hans Christian Anderson's classics

iSh 8.1 p94-97

Special feature on Jin Pyn and The Elephant and the Tree. The Elephant and the Tree is compared to Hans Christian Anderson's classics. What an honour! Jin Pyn's philosophy is also associated with that behind the other famous classic - Winne the Pooh.

(Pardon the bad scans. The scanner is old and mouldy. Go get a copy of iSh!)























Text:

Congratulations on having your first title! No doubt the route must have been long and dusty. Tell us more about how the project started and the difficulties you met.

Thanks! I got wind of the opportunity from my cousin and a friend. The Elephant had been gestating in my mind for a while now, and so the birth of The Elephant and the Tree was quick in Cambodia, where I was staying at that time. Thank goodness for Cambodia’s hand-courier services! The manuscript would not have reached the National Book Development Council (NBDCS) in time otherwise! That was the easy part.

As this was my first publishing project, everything else was a case of swimming in murky waters. Guidebooks helped, but they were mostly for aspiring authors who want to pitch to publisher, and not about publishing. Good thing was, there were many helpful people, most of whom weren’t even my friends to begin with.



Aside from The Elephant And The Tree, Singapore Media Fusion 2005 also unearthed other children’s books. How else can the government or local institutions encourage the scene?

International publishers based here and local publishers can publish works from such schemes since the work would have already been validated. Suppliers can support the project through full or partial sponsorship. Big corporations can adopt a title/ artist by committing to buy the finished work, or a certain number of copies; better still, donate the purchases to needy children. They will also benefit from the publicity arranged for the scheme.

I must say that retailers have been largely supportive of local authors. Many give prime spots to local writers; and some, like Page One, actively promote local works.

Aside from funding, the government can help with publicity, which is extremely crucial for debut writers. On exporting the works, Media Development Authority was indispensable in exhibiting the Singapore children’s titles at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Hopefully they will do the same for the Bologna Children’s Book Fair! The non-profit National Book Development Council of Singapore has also done a tremendous job in initiating publishing schemes and publicising local authors, but perhaps more awards and website reviews in the literary scene can be set-up, such as those in the UK and USA, many of which are internationally recognised but are meant only for the respective countries’ own published titles and authors. Apart from helping to push local talent into international limelight, parents rely greatly on these reviews and awards in their selection of books for their children.



What differentiates you from other Singaporean writers and illustrators?

There isn’t much to compare. The Elephant and the Tree is a fable and a children’s picture book. A fable or a children’s picture book tends to be more universal in content, rather than being culturally specific. A great deal of content from local writers do however, centre on Singapore and their sense of identity as Singaporean.



What was the most important lesson you walked away with from your English Literature classes in National University of Singapore? How did you apply it to your writing?

That I can manage not to read my books and still get away with it? Couldn’t apply that to my writing though. Jokes aside ¬- rhythm, syntax, alliteration, imagery, and symbolism. Although a children’s picture book is written in prose, it is, in many ways, like poetry. By its nature, the story has to be succinct, carry rhythm when read out loud, and retain sensitivity in its syntax. For a good children’s picture book, that syntax also interacts with the illustrations. This means a greater thought process, more creativity and discipline! To say more by saying less is more difficult!



Tell us more about the natural history filmmaking course you were selected for. How was the selection carried out? How long was the stint? What did the stint comprise?

The course was part of Animal Planet’s original series and biggest production Unearthed, which will be aired in April 2007. Applicants had to send a short self-introduction reel. The reels were used to judge our creativity and groundings in natural history filmmaking. As this was a course, the most important criterion was passion for the subject. I have been volunteering for various animal welfare and environmental groups, such as ACRES, and WildAid Asia, even chairing one in the university.

Only six were selected from the international applications. We spent a month at the Shamwari Private Game Reserve in South Africa. It was one of the most well-run and ethical game reserves I have visited. We were taught how to put together a natural history documentary, such as budgeting, researching, pitching and camerawork. Everyday we filmed one type of animal: elephants, lions, cheetahs; and we had only a day to cut a short film for each one. It was quite a challenge! The lack of control over the natural elements and the animals’ behaviour didn’t help! We weren’t briefed in advance, so each colourful sunrise, complete with the symphony of birds, brought a new surprise.

Each of us produced, scripted, directed, filmed and edited a short documentary in a few days. The films were judged and the winning film will be shown on Animal Planet.



Pooh Bear, in Benjamin Hoff’s The Tao of Pooh, said, “If people were Superior to Animals, they’d take better care of the world.” What is your take on this?

On a philosophical level, Pooh and Benjamin did not find people to be superior, because the mind of the human separated “him from the world of reality, the world of natural laws,” and was hence “inefficient.” Even Maria Montessori describes the modern man as having “readily given up our own freedom and ended up loving our prison and passing it on to our children”. I cannot agree more. The result: the alienation of man. From an ecological standpoint, man’s claim of superiority has lead to many disasters. There are numerous examples of man interfering with nature, to the extent of wiping out entire species.

However, I am not a romanticist. I believe that we have come to a point where good management practices must be in place for humans and animals to co-exist on a mutually beneficial level.



Your writing and drawing style reveals a child-like side to you. Do you think you have a Peter Pan syndrome? (ie. You don’t wish to grow up)

Let’s see … I still love cartoons. Houses and cars have faces to me – some happy, others sad, some fat, others flat. Lollies and chocolate cakes make my day; my mug has a happy face and wears a hat, children’s books are my favourites, children’s and child-like line drawings make me smile, I like Tokidoki’s creations, and I find immense joy interacting with children. A child always finds joy in the smallest, simplest of things. That is what I wish to hold on to dearly.



“If the tree falls in the forest and no one saw it, did the tree fall?” Do you think that artists are like Tinkerbell who can only survive when recognised?

The very nature of art requires a certain level of creation – which, in essence is quite the opposite of sculpturing oneself for recognition. However, it does depend on the era one is in. In the classical and neo-classical ages, an artist would most likely have a patron. The social segregations were so entrenched that an artist could not be an artist without that recognition and patronage. Art was for the elite. You either have the money to be schooled in it or pay someone to produce it. Period. Now, everyone can indulge in artistic pursuits because the definition of art is much broader.



We hear that you spend many hours with elephants. Pray tell what you have been doing with them.

They allow me to satisfy my voyeuristic yearnings … I just watch them. They make me laugh, just by being themselves.

Did you know that even adult elephants lie on their sides to sleep – and they snore? This only happens when they feel safe. One of these safe havens is Elephant Nature Park in Chiangmai. I have been to many elephant centres. Sadly for many, their claim of elephant welfare is an empty shell – one that is filling up with money, not genuine love. In Elephant Nature Park, like other volunteers, I cleared elephants’ dung too. Elephants are very clean animals and would rather not eat around their poo.



The Elephant And The Tree has been classified as a children’s book. So is Hans Andersen’s Little Mermaid. Both books definitely look very different. How do the illustration styles and themes reflect the concern of each age?

Your choice for comparison is interesting, for I dare say that the two have similarities! Unlike most fairytales where the lead character’s bad fortune is simply reversed at the end, not all Han Christian Anderson’s stories end happily. Instead, some of his characters die with unfulfilled wishes of love and wealth. But this is often only a physical death. What survives is far greater – virtue and integrity. The Elephant and the Tree’s wasn’t an overriding happy ending either.

As a children’s illustrated storybook, The Little Mermaid’s imagery was drawn from words, rather than through illustrations. The Elephant and the Tree, as a children’s picture book, has its imagery played out by illustrations and their interaction with words. I am not sure what Hans Christian Anderson will think of the minimalist style that many have used to describe The Elephant and the Tree. I do know that he will agree to line and chalk drawings. The original illustrations for The Little Mermaid, which he commissioned, were pencil line drawings.

Yes, times have changed, but a rare few things have not.



Drawing and writing are sometimes regarded as sacred territories in their own right. Between the letter and the line, which is your preference?

I do not see the two as oppositional. A drawing is “a line taking a walk” (Paul Klee), and in that walk, the line can play with the letters.



For a tiny dot of a country, Singapore has been seeing the emergence of many writers/artists. What do you think of your peers?

We do have a lot of talented people, although most have to place their real talents aside to earn a livelihood. However I believe in art for a purpose and direction, rather than the mere “I like it, so I do it.” That stance is too egocentric for me. As thinking people we can do much more than just satisfy our own vanity and need for validation.



Who is your favourite local writer?

If playwrights count, then Kuo Pao Kun. If filmmakers count too, then Eric Khoo. If still images count too, then Norman Ng. He has documented the strength of humanity in many humanitarian and natural disasters. All three have so much to say in the works they create. But my most whimsical favourite local creative is not a published writer. Shaun is an artist and designer who has written a short story for film and created an entire clan on his Gardensilly website. His simple line drawings are kid-like and very witty, which always make me smile and laugh.

The Elephant and the Tree

Life isn’t all about ourselves, is it?

That is the premise that got Jin Pyn started on her first book The Elephant and the Tree.

Knowing full well the message she wanted to bring forth, her pen couldn’t stop. (Well, not that there was a lot to write for a children’s picture book, but hey, less is more!)

Set uniquely in black, and orchestrated with a tuneful rhythm, THE ELEPHANT AND THE TREE is about an endearing friendship between an Asian elephant and a tree, with a dose of reality and a strong conservation theme.

The unique illustrations and powerful writing touched the panel of judges who selected the manuscript for the Media Development Authority and the National Book Development Council of Singapore to groom as representational of National talent under the First Time Writers and Illustrators Publishing Initiative.

By the same token Jin Pyn was also selected out of 34,000 applicants worldwide for yet another development course, this time as a natural history filmmaker in a flagship Animal Planet production.

Till this day she staunchly believes that she has her focused altruistic intentions to thank for her good fortune, and that good fortune is bestowed for a reason – so she may be a tool through which this good will is channeled, and be a voice for the voiceless. (The publishers think that it is her creative talents and hard work.)

For this reason she has spearheaded a charitable cause for the book. Part of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be channeled into an elephant welfare fund.

This way the returns will be double, for ourselves.

For more information, visit www.elephantandtree.com

The Elephants and the Trees

A partially animated video Jin Pyn made based loosely on the book The Elephant and the Tree, for the kiddies to learn more about elephants and their relationship with trees.

Contains facts that even adults are unaware of!

Was broadcast on Asia's news tv - Channel News Asia, and also screened in Wildlife Asia. Read more about Wildlife Asia from other posting.



Most of the elephant footage shown is from this amazing place up in Chiangmai - Elephant Nature Park. The elephants were all rescued from abusive owners or they were orphans. They do not give rides and the brutal bull hooks are not allowed. Because they roam free, they are so much wilder - that I'm even a tad scared to go near them! And catch them sleeping on their sides and snoring away at night because they feel so secure!