Books Kinokuniya welcomed James Suresh co-creator of Singapore’s comic icon, Mr. Kiasu, and local artist Syed Ismail as they came by for a Meet-The-Author & Illustrator event for their latest project, On A Street In Singapore.

James Suresh kick-started the event by explaining to both local customers and visiting tourists that On A Street In Singapore is a new and unconventional guide book filled with illustrations and humour to give a tongue-in-cheek look at life in the country. The author then worked up his salesmanship skill as he tried to suggest to the visiting tourists in the audience to pick up a copy of his book as a souvenir to bring back to their home countries as opposed to the usual tourist souvenirs such as Merlion keychains, t-shirts, trinkets and the like. This unusual suggestion certainly worked as some tourists were spotted to have picked up a copy or two of the book, and even local customers were convinced to buy the book as a souvenir for their overseas friends.

James Suresh incorporated a slideshow during the event which contained pictures from the book so as to keep customers visually entertained and to reinforce his point on the humorous aspect of the book. However, it was the sketch demonstration by illustrator Syed Ismail that captured the audience’s attention further as they were wowed by the illustrator’s swift drawing skills of the characters from the book.