Interview with Judy Chapman. The author of "My Lover Singapore", a contemporary love story in which Singapore is the main character.
This is certainly a work of fiction, but aspects I ' have personally experienced in history, including travel martial arts living in the suites, and Singapore, of course. I wrote the first draft in three weeks ago about seven years when I was living in Singapore. It is a contemporary love story set in Singapore, the story is told primarily from a hotel room over a period of 24 hours and I certainly had my fair share of suites - in Singapore, I am the editor of the Asia Spa magazine and traveled reporting spa openings in the world it was a rewarding moment
Who are your literary influences?
I am passionate about Haruki Murakami, a beautiful contemporary Japanese writer Paulo Coelho Eleven Minutes is one of my favorites. At the moment I read a novel called Belles ruins by Jess Walters - it is beautiful. I'm in the movie, well and my biggest dream is to one of my novels to be turned into an edgy film. Well, we can only dream!
Is this your first publication?
This is my first novel, but my fifth book. My first four books were nonfiction that was a completely different journey. I knew from the age of eight I wanted to write a novel, but like all of us have been on many detours. It took a bit of concentration and determination to make this novel occur.
What is your background? Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Byron Bay, Australia, a melting pot similar to Bali in terms of being a small community of many cultures, beliefs, religions, creative types, foodies first, yogis - and both locations offer a more relaxed and free lifestyle. My education was generally alternating and consisted of trips to Bali and ashrams in India. Well, I tried my best to be "right" and wear a suit and carrying a briefcase, but never succeeded in that. I attended the University of Melbourne for a while, but ended up working for The Melbourne Herald on fashion pages, as I was eager to enter the workforce. I started my own spa brand with my ex-boyfriend when I was 23 and we opened spa stores around Australia - a very inspiring chapter in my life. After publishing my first book, everything took off, which is when I moved to South East Asia and started writing about spas.
I arrived in Bali at the end of seventy years when there was only one Western hotel. During the last decade, I have written and photographed two of my books Spa in Bali in 2012 and completed my yoga teacher training courses - if Bali was a big part of my creative life. Last year, you can find me typing on my novel of various organic cafes around Ubud, the perfect setting for any writer. I did not live here, but Bali is my home port since I was here on assignment for a magazine to do a play about Karma Resorts, and they removed me to set up their spa brand, which is what I've done for the last five years in Bali - but I did not really decide to live here and be a little reluctance in some respects. However, my day job involves a lot of travel through Southeast Asia, implementation and creation of customized treatment spas and retail concepts.
What is a Conservative Spa
This is what I call me because I do not want to be a director or consultant - it is not me at all. I resonate with conservative, because it feels more creative. I work in the wellness industry for twenty years - written on spas, creating natural products and work with architects and interior designers to imagine beautiful spa concepts. Recently, I learned about the business side of spas - so in many ways I feel now as I have a more comprehensive understanding of the spa business. It was not easy for a right brain thinker like myself, to learn about financial services, but it was a very rewarding trip. I now have a great respect for the business and the creation and understand the two can not exist without the other. Overall, I created twenty spas around the world including Australia, Europe, India, Thailand and spas right now I am developing in the Middle East is a fascinating experience (a new canvas background for another novel, perhaps?).
What are your other passions?
I'm addicted to Pilates! It is my sanctuary. I also love the martial arts I feature strongly in Singapore My Lover (the protagonist goes on a journey of learning martial arts that help to grow). I'm in a healthy life, love traveling and contemporary art galleries, but my biggest passion is film. I love Asian filmmakers Deepa Mehtaand, Wong Kar-wai, and the work of Sofia Coppola.
Do you have another book planned?
Singapore My Lover is my first novel and a modest start (hopefully examiners are nice to me). Whatever happens from here, I feel so blessed to have come this far and get a publishing contract. My next novel (I wrote first), is located in the Himalayas and is more of a mystical epic-adventure-romance with spiritual subtle tones. There is a bit of martial arts in this second novel, and this modality has personally been an important part of my own growth.
Will you readers and writers come to the festival?
Yes! Come Three Monkeys Cafe in Ubud, Sunday, October 13 to 16 hours, and all will be revealed. - A free event with drinks and refreshments provided
Thank you Judy! I look forward to seeing you readers and Writers Festival!
"My Singapore Lover" is available at Periplus Book and will be available online at Amazon and iBooks.