Renowned authors speak at Book Fair

15 July 2022 – The 32^nd HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), is once again holding the popular “Eight Seminar Series”, with highlights this year including the “Renowned Writers Seminar Series”, co-organised by Ming Pao and Yazhou Zhoukan, and the “English and International Reading Series”, supported by Book Depository. This year’s Book Fair, which runs from 20 to 26 July (Wednesday to Tuesday) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) under the theme “History and City Literature”, has invited acclaimed local and foreign writers to speak at a series of virtual and in-person seminars, sharing the challenges and triumphs they face during their writing journey.

The “Renowned Writers Seminar Series” is honoured to invite Liu Zhen-yun, winner of the Mao Dun Literature Prize, and Sisy Chen, a famous Taiwanese author and television host, to be guest speakers. Mr Liu will introduce his latest work, Laughter and Tears: A Novel, while Ms Chen will analyse the direction society is taking in a seminar titled "In the 21^st Century, We Go from Civilisation to Barbarism". Other authors in the star-studded line-up include Zhou Guo-ping and Zhi An from Mainland China; Sun Sai-shing, Li Pi, Johnson Chang, Liu Heung-shing, Xu Zi-dong, Ho Fuk-yan and Nicole Huang from Hong Kong; Xie Yong-mao and Bo-Chow Lan from Taiwan; and Honda Yoshihiko from Japan.

The “English and International Reading Series” will invite a number of famous English- and foreign-language writers to speak about their fascinating writing journeys, including British author Clare Mackintosh and Sunday Times Top 10 bestselling author Gillian McAllister. Translated into more than 40 languages, Clare Mackintosh’s books have sold more than two million copies worldwide and won numerous awards. Among the other speakers are Simon Toyne, Mio Debnam, Mark O’Neill and Maisie Chan. Hong Kong’s booklovers will be able to experience different cultures and broaden their horizons through the sharings of these acclaimed authors.

Liu Zhen-yun – Laughter and Tears: A Novel

Born in Yanjin in Henan Province, Liu Zhenyun started his writing journey at Farmer's Daily after graduating from the Chinese faculty of Peking University. His style is neo-realism and he writes with a signature sense of humour, and with an emphasis on his hometown in his works. From Someone to Talk To, Ground Covered with Chicken Feathers, Remembering 1942 to I Did Not Kill My Husband, most of his books reflect the hardships people encountered in the past but in a humorous way, depicting a vivid portrayal of community life.

Mr Liu believes the underlying meaning of comedy is sharing pain. His just-published book Laughter and Tears: A Novel is a work of black humour, which he summarises as: “one should take encounters in life as jokes and laugh them off”. The book is based on the idea of "jokes", which the author sees as an effective tool to examine the nature of humanity. Many jokes connect people from different groups, areas and nations. The new book enriches the "Yanjin World" constructed in Mr Liu’s previous novels, and fans are eagerly looking forward its unveiling at the Book Fair.

Sisy Chen – from civilisation to barbarism

Sisy Chen, Jaw Shaw-kong and Li Ao form the famous triumvirate of political commentators in Taiwan. Ms Chen, well known for her multifaceted talents, is a celebrated academic, TV host, radio host, writer and art curator. These diverse experiences empower her with knowledge, wisdom and vision along with accomplished writing skills. Her works cover a wide swathe, including global finance, international politics, short essays, women and love, reflections on life and philosophical speculation. Two of Sisy Chen’s short stories, Only One Corner of Prosperity is Left and Tree is Gone, explore international politics and economics with advice for young people on how to handle adversity with fortitude. This dialogue is concluded in I'm Afraid of Success and I Believe in Failure, illuminating the way forward for the next generation.

Ms Chen encourages readers to reflect more on international society and history through her words. “Reviewing the past and looking into the future, you should think more about whether we have retrograded from civilisation to barbarism, or if we have become more civilised,” she once said. After going through the pandemic and reflecting on its impact, Ms Chen will share her insights into the post-COVID world with readers.

Clare Mackintosh – from crimefighter to crime writer

Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of five bestselling novels – I See You, I Let You Go, Let Me Lie, After the End, and Hostage – which were listed on the bestselling books list of the New York Times and USA Today and topped the Sunday Times bestseller list for 64 weeks. Her latest thriller, Hostage – a locked-room thriller set on a 20-hour flight – has just been released. Ms Mackintosh worked in the police force for 12 years and was once Thames Valley Police's operations inspector for Oxfordshire and town sergeant of Chipping Norton before becoming a full-time writer.

I Let You Go, Clare Mackintosh's top-selling book, describes a hit-and-run accident that kills a lively five-year-old boy. Police Officer Gray and her team take over the investigation and solve the case without any witnesses or clues. In the coming Book Fair seminar session, the author will share her journey from law enforcement officer to crime fiction writer.

Gillian McAllister – how to get and stay published

Rising British author Gillian McAllister was a lawyer before debuting in the book world in 2017. All her works, including Everything But the Truth, Anything You Do Say, No Further Questions, The Evidence Against You, How to Disappear, That Night, and the just-published Wrong Place Wrong Time, are bestsellers. Her debut novel, Everything But the Truth, appeared in the Sunday Times bestseller list at No. 6 in the very first week after publication. Another book, That Night, was recommended as a must-read by the well-known British TV show, Richard and Judy Book Club.

Gillian McAllister’s work has been published in 10 countries. All her novels are standalones and can be read in any order. She will be participating in the Hong Kong Book Fair for the first time, sharing the driving force behind her successful journey as an author.

For more information on the full line-up of seminars and authors at the Book Fair, please refer to the links in the profile below. Interested readers may also visit the Hong Kong Book Fair website (www.hkbookfair.com) to register for free seminars and browse through more details of the fascinating events lined up for this year’s event.

Note: media representatives who wish to interview the guest speakers should email the interview format, outline and contact information on or before July 18 to ayiu@yuantung.com.hk.

HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, HKTDC Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo and HKTDC World of Snacks

Photos of the exhibits, key speakers and other Book Fair highlights can be found at: http://bitly.ws/sJtk

Media enquiries

Hong Kong Book Fair

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:

Clementine Cheung             Tel: (852) 2584 4514           Email: clementine.hm.cheung@hktdc.org

Sunny Ng                             Tel: (852) 2584 4357           Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.org

Sam Ho                                Tel: (852) 2584 4569           Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

Yuan Tung Financial Relations:

Agnes Yiu                             Tel: (852) 3428 5690           Email: ayiu@yuantung.com.hk

Hing-Fung Wong                  Tel: (852) 3428 3122           Email: hfwong@yuantung.com.hk

Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo, World of Snacks

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:

Frankie Leung                      Tel: (852) 2584 4298           Email: frankie.cy.leung@hktdc.org

Yuan Tung Financial Relations:

Tiffany Leung                       Tel: (852) 3428 2361           Email: tleung@yuantung.com.hk

HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly SMEs, in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn