Hong Kong singer-songwriter Khalil Fong’s dream to be a children’s author comes true
He tells STYLE how writing his imaginative stories honour a promise he made to his mother – and how children today do not have enough time to dream
Hong Kong singer-songwriter Khalil Fong can now add a new title to his creative portfolio – that of children’s author.
This month, Fong, 35, who was born in Hawaii, in the United States, launched the first three books in his bilingual series of Emi The Dream Catcher graphic novels – his first attempt at writing for youngsters.
With 330,000 Instagram followers, thanks to his successful music career, Fong launched a social media campaign to invite 30 fans to an exclusive launch party for the books – The Secret of the Golden Bricks, Saving Snowy and The Tree of Life – at the greenhouse-style vegetarian restaurant, Grassroots Pantry, in Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan.
He plans to publish three books each year, as part of the series that is expected to go on for 10 years. That’s 30 books in total.
The stories all focus on Emi, a Chinese girl who goes on adventures with whimsical creatures in her dreams.
The books see her fighting evil robots, frolicking in an organic ice cream playground and solving ancient architectural puzzles.
Fong is a vegetarian and a believer in the Baha’i faith – a religion teaching the essential worth of all religions, and the unity and equality of all people – and hopes to spread the message of moral integrity and following a green lifestyle through his words.