Eva Wong Nava
~ to a more open and inclusive world ~
About
Eva Wong Nava
Author & Educator
Eva Wong Nava was born on a tropical island where a heraldic animal spurts water. Her ancestors braved monsoon winds sailing from the Middle Kingdom to British Malaya to plant roots in Southeast Asia. When the winds changed, her relatives sailed again and found another home somewhere in the western hemisphere, braving snow storms and hail.
Eva has done many things in life, but writing remains her most favourite thing to do. She combines degrees in English Literature and Art History, and writes stories that explore identity, culture, and belonging by adding a dash of magic. She has written an award-winning middle-grade novel (Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, 2018) and several fiction and nonfiction picture books. And, she has forthcoming picture books to be announced. Eva has been a speaker at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content on writing diverse books and representing under-represented voices. She has spoken to parents and children in the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and Singapore.
Eva is the cofounder of Picture Book Matters, a mentoring platform for aspiring picture book creators in and from Southeast Asia. She established The Writing Essentials to offer editorial services such as sensitivity reading and author coaching. Eva is passionate about how her culture, heritage, and people are represented in books, films, and media. She has lived here, there, and everywhere, but she calls the Land of Albion home. Eva lives in London with her family, two scampering squirrels, and a regal fox.
Eva is represented by literary agent, Lydia Silver, of Darley Anderson. She writes across genres but focuses mainly on children’s picture books. If you have a writing project that you think Eva would be interested in, please contact Lydia Silver.
She is a member of the Bubble Tea Writers Network for BESEA (British East and Southeast Asian) writers, scriptwriters, illustrators and thespians.
Eva is the co-founder of KidLit S.E.A., a community for kid lit creators in Southeast Asia, where she is actively promoting and elevating children’s literature in the region.
Eva is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She is an active critique partner in her regional chapter.
She is also an official member and participant of 12 x 12, an international critique group and writing community.
As an advocate for diversity in children’s literature, Eva often gives talks on the importance of representing diversity in children’s books. She has taught at schools in England, spoken at international schools in Singapore and France, and parent groups in Australia. She is available to talk at your schools and communities. To find out more, click here. To engage her for a virtual author visit and talk, contact her here.
To understand why children need to see themselves in books, click here.
Picture Book Writing Workshops
Eva co-founded Picture Book Matters® as a platform to nurture emerging and aspiring picture book writers and illustrators in Asia. Picture Book Matters has conducted workshops for the Asian Festival of Children’s Content, organised by the Singapore Book Council.
She can help turn your short stories into picture book stories in this mentoring and coaching workshop: ‘Turning Your Short Stories into Picture Book Stories’. Find out more here. Contact Eva: enquiries@evawongnava.com.
Read this interview where Eva explains how Flash and Picture Books intersect. Read this piece of flash to hear Eva’s voice.
WORK-FOR-HIRE PROJECTS
Eva is also a ghostwriter, writing coach, and an editor at The Writing Essentials. She is happy to offer her expert eye and her creative writing skills to you. As a diversity advocate, Eva believes in the importance of being a sensitivity reader and reads for autism, special educational needs, and subjects dealing with representation of diverse needs and characters, especially of the Chinese diaspora. She has worked with several international publishing houses on projects for sensitivity or diversity reading. Engage her for a diversity read here.
Creative Writing Workshops
Eva’s expertise as an art historian gives her the opportunity to combine creative writing and art appreciation. Telling Stories with Art(e)facts is a specially curated workshop using art works as writing prompts to write flash fiction. Engage Eva to teach your students here. Find out more about the workshop here.
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