Gabe Chong was born and raised in the diverse East-West pluralism of Singapore. The proud father of two able, inspiring daughters, he lives on the Gold Coast, Queensland, with his wife, Addie, outnumbered and outfoxed by the trio. But loving it.

An architect, history devotee, and army officer in his youth, he enjoys inventive pursuits and scripts stories circling the World War II era. With his creator’s touch, he delves into the past setting, showcasing its core elements as he weaves his characters into a crafted narrative. He brings them to life by exploring their values, customs, and fares, not least their ethnic likenesses and contrasts. Quirks, too.

Creating tales that render the ambience and charm - and warts - of bygone days delights him. Where his narratives span across the seas, they remain centred on Asia, a region he holds dear, and on Australia, a land to which he feels bound. They persist in captivating him.

Books on his dad’s shelf, like John Vader’s factual Spitfire, and the classic writings of Dickens, Maugham, and Fitzgerald, were the seeds of his passion. His reading grew to embrace nonfiction, alongside war, spy, crime, and romance novels, covering such leading lights as James Clavell, Ken Follett, and Robert Harris, besides Lesley Downer and Lisa See. Likewise, Tan Twan Eng and Kate Quinn. Their evocative work helped shape his writer’s voice.

Beyond his den, he relishes travel, hikes, skiing, and capturing the souls of cities and landscapes on his DSLR, apart from prowling for authentic street food, craft coffee, and chocolate. Scrumptious, salubrious, rich and dark.

Embark on a journey with Gabe….

www.gabechong.com
Instagram & Facebook: @gabechong.author