On 2 May, poetry and prose met haiku at the Culture Club for a night of verse and a little alcohol.
In a convivial event, four writers read poems in very different styles. Mathura is from Estonia and writes in English. I am impressed enough by those who write in a second language, but quite blown away by those who write poetry in their non-native tongue, and Mathura impressed with a lyric poem.
This was followed by Gili Haimovich, who read a piece she described as "a work in progress", but which sounded as finished as anything I've ever written (poetry or otherwise) - I guess it shows that poets set a higher standard.
We were then treated to an "introduction" by Sam (Suraj Samtani), a lovely device in which the poem was the poet's own introduction, and although not comic verse, very funny.
The last piece was commissioned by TEDEX for their recent Tedifying in Hong Kong, and you can listen to it here, which emphasised that poetry of all the written arts, is the one most intimately tied to actual performance. 
We wrapped the evening up with a haiku competition. Haiku is a Japanese style of poetry (there's a good explanation here), and we all threw a few ideas into the pot. The winners shared in common that they were all surprised to have won, and the champagne was duly shared amongst all to wrap up the evening.
-- Chris Maden, Beta Readers Group Secretary

23 May - "One Moment, Please: Before Writing a Memoir" HKWC workshop by Reena Bhojwani.
29 May - Liar's League at the Social Room, Central.

Check out the official video of the Proverse Spring Reception (filmed and edited by SCC Overton), which features several members of the HKWC as well as plenty of other Proverse authors.

12 April - Member Sam Ferrer launches his book The Last Gods of Indochine. RSVP at enquiries@bookazine.com.hk
19-20 April - Melon HK's annual Sci Fi Conference.
25 April - Member Xu Xi is at the Asia Society to discuss the Transnational Writer.
27 April - Proverse Spring Reception.
2 May - HKWC social with Proverse (location tbc)

Long-time HKWC member Jame Dibiasio has just published his new thriller, Bloody Paradise.

Tropical escape...or death trap?

Trav Mitchell lands on the Thai resort island of Koh Samui with a broken hand, a bag full of cash, and an angry Hong Kong crime boss on his tail...

In my new thriller, BLOODY PARADISE!

His attempt to lie low fails after Trav encounters Mazy, a yoga instructor with a penchant for booze and bad boyfriends.

Available now in paperback and e-book formats at Amazon.com.

Or visit my website, jamedibiasio.com, to download sample chapters for free! (You can also check out my other books.)

Xu Xi will be appearing at the Asia Society on 25 April.

Much fun was had last night (23 Feb) at the Culture Club with the Hong Kong Review of Books. Check out the photos below.