Visits of international authors: a greatly under-utilised educational resource An increasing number of leading international writers of both fiction and non-fiction are visiting Hong Kong. Paddyfield works with authors, publishers and schools to provide students with the unparalled opportunity to meet with writers who can inspire, encourage reading and, for older students, provide role models and leadership. Here are some the authors with whom paddyfield has recently worked. Contact Soo Jung Hyun for more information and assistance.

Elizabeth Honey is one of Australia's best-known children's writers. Her books include the award-winning 45 & 47 Stella Street and Don't Pat the Wombat. She visited Hong Kong in September 2002, visited several schools, and held an open session for teachers and local writers. Francis Spufford is the author of The Child that Books Built. Paddyfield assisted the British Council in the writer's visit to Hong Kong in September 2002 to talk to more than a half-dozen secondary schools. Gordon Chang is the author of The Coming Collapse of China, a discussion of the economic and social issues facing today's China. He visited Hong Kong schools in June 2002, where he discussed China and his trasiation from lawyer to writer with students in the final years of secondary school. Jake Needham lives in Bangkok, Thailand, and is the author of Asian thrillers, the most being Laundry Man. He visited Hong Kong secondary schools in June 2002. Hanif Kureishi is the well-known British author of such novels as Gabriel's Gift and The Buddha of Suburbia. Paddyfield coordinated the Youth Section of the Standard Chartered International Literary Festival at which the author appeared. Mr. Kureishi's visit to Hong Kong was sponsored by the British Council. Amitav Ghosh is the author of the epic novel The Glass Palace and the non-fiction In an Antique Land. Mr. Ghosh was also participating in the Youth Section of the Standard Chartered International Literary Festival, coordinated by Paddyfield.com. Mr. Ghosh's visit to Hong Kong was sponsored by Hong Kong University. Arthur Sze is a leading American poet and winner of the Lannan Literary Award for Poetry. He is the author of Archipelago and The Silk Dragon. While Mr. Sze was in Hong Kong for the Standard Chartered International Literary Festival, Paddyfield.com arranged and coordinated his visit to local schools. Mr. Sze's was sponsored by the U.S. Government.