About the Event
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way our local literary publishers and book stores operate. Join this engaging panel discussion to learn more about how our local literary scene is adapting to these disruptions. Panelists include Kenny Leck (Owner of BooksActually), Fong Hoe Fang (Owner of Ethos Books) and Peter Schoppert (Director of NUS Press)
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Meet the panelists
Kenny Leck
Kenny Leck is the co-founder of BooksActually, an independent literary Online Bookstore that specializes in Fiction + Literature titles. He also helms the publishing imprint Math Paper Press. As an individual that sees time travel as a great tool to read more books, he is also an artist. His
most characteristic art works are boxed assemblages created from found objects discarded by everyday people. He really prefers not to work.
Peter Schoppert
Peter Schoppert has made his career in publishing in Singapore. He was Editorial Director for illustrated book publisher Editions Didier Millet in the 1990s, commissioning landmark reference projects like the Indonesian Heritage Series and producing photography books with artists like Raghu Rai, René Burri, Gueorgui Pinkhassov and Ara Güler. He left books for digital publishing in 1996, when he helped start Pacific Internet, Singapore’s second Internet Services Provider. He later co-founded regional consumer online publisher, Asiacontent.com, where he served as SVP Business Development, and Publisher of CNET Asia. He recovered from the dotcom boom-and-bust by helping to revive the fortunes of Singapore University Press, later NUS Press, starting in 2002.
After a six year interlude with leading strategic consultancy, McKinsey & Company, and one year running his own consulting practice, he returned to NUS Press as Director in September 2012.
Peter served as President of the Singapore Book Publishers Association from 2014 to 2020.
Fong Hoe Fang
Hoe fang graduated from the University of Singapore in 1979. He spent 10 years as an administrative officer with the Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS) at the Singapore Paya Lebar and then, Changi airports.
In 1988, bored with the routine life of a well-paid, well-fed administrative officer, he left to start Pagesetters Services which he led for 30 years in advertising and communication design work. In 1997 he started the Ethos Books imprint for Pagesetters to give voice to emerging writers and to help foster a literary environment in Singapore.
Today, hoe fang has “re-tyred” from Pagesetters, but continues his quest to help writers tell compelling social stories. He hopes also to be able to ride a bike again – an activity forbidden by the family after marriage.