Year: 2009

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Bumbling Through Borneo Scores Bronze Medal

Bumbling Through Borneo by Tom Schmidt ISBN 978-988-18066-5-9
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Bumbling Through Borneo wins Moonbeam bronze medal

Hong Kong, 26 September 2009 ————– Bumbling through Borneo, written and illustrated by Tom Schmidt, was announced as the Bronze Medal award winner in the Comic / Graphic Novel category of the 3rd Annual 2009 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards. Published by Kakibubu Media Limited, this first volume of the Bumbling Traveller™ Adventure Series took third place in its category in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards – a program intended to bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and to support childhood literacy and life-long reading.  The top three winners of each category were awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals respectively.  The call for entries garnered almost 1000 entries from throughout the English-speaking world.

The Moonbeam Awards ceremony will be held on October 10, 2009 as part of the 9th Annual West Virginia Book Festival in Charleston, WV, USA.  Award-winning author Tom Schmidt expressed his satisfaction by noting “we’re thrilled to have our book well regarded in the Children’s Book market and winning such a prestigious award.”  This award follows on the heels of the book receiving a silver medal in the prestigious 13th Annual 2009 Independent Publishers Book Awards earlier in the year.

With consistently positive reviews, Bumbling Through Borneo is the first volume in the Bumbling Traveller™ Adventure Series, a book series that seeks to promote environmental and cultural awareness through entertaining mysteries and adventures.  Bumbling Through Borneo is available from bookstores globally, online, and can also be ordered from the publisher, Kakibubu Media Limited (www.kakibubu.com).

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Jetopa Wins Two Billboard Song Contest Awards

“Life Goes On” by Jetopa

Hong Kong, 5 September 2009 ————– Hong Kong based Jetopa has been awarded two Honorable Mention awards in the 16th Billboard World Song Contest.  “Twin Angels” and “China Charlie” were two tracks that were ranked within the top 1,500 hit songs in this highly acclaimed annual competition that receives thousands of song entries from across the world.  The two award-winning tracks can be found on Jetopa’s latest EP entitled

Life Goes On

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Bumbling Through Borneo Scores Silver Medal in International Book Awards

Bumbling Through Borneo by Tom Schmidt ISBN 978-988-18066-5-9
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Bumbling Through Borneo wins IPPY silver medal

Hong Kong, 18 May 2009 ————– Bumbling Through Borneo, by Tom Schmidt was announced as the Silver Medal award winner for the Graphic Novel / Drawn Book (Humor) category of the 13th Annual 2009 Independent Publishers Book Awards. With over 4,000 entries from across the world, the first volume of the Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series published by Kakibubu Media Limited, took second place in its category; there were an average of 50 contenders per category.   The top three winners of each category were awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals respectively.  Award winners will be announced and recognized on the first evening of BookExpo America on Friday, 29 May 2009 at the 13th Annual IPPY Awards Ceremony and Reception to be held at Providence located at 311 W. 57th St., New York, NY, USA.  Award-winning author Tom Schmidt expressed his satisfaction by noting “we’re absolutely thrilled to have our book so highly regarded in an international event of this caliber.”

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Bumbling Through Borneo Confirmed as Semi-Finalist at IPPY Book Awards

Bumbling Through Borneo by Tom Schmidt ISBN 978-988-18066-5-9

Hong Kong, 2 May 2009 ————– Kakibubu Media Limited confirmed today that Tom Schmidt’s recent release Bumbling Through Borneo has been confirmed as a Semi-Finalist in the “Graphic Novel/Drawn Book – Humor/Cartoon” category of the prestigious 2009 Independent Publisher Books Awards.  Semi-finalists will be awarded gold, silver, or bronze medals; winners will be announced on 29 May 2009 at the 13th Annual IPPY Awards in New York on the first evening of the 2009  BookExpo America convention.

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Bumbling Through Borneo Debuts in Malaysia

Bumbling Through Borneo by Tom Schmidt ISBN 978-988-18066-5-9

Hong Kong, 17 April 2009 ————– It was announced today that Bumbling Through Borneo, the first volume in the Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series, will be distributed byMPH Distributors Sdn Bhd in the Malaysia and Singapore markets.  MPH Distributors Sdn Bhd (MDM) is the market leader in the book import and distribution as well as magazine distribution industry in Malaysia. 

Author Tom Schmidt commented, “We are thrilled to be working with such a reputable distributor in such key markets for our book.”  Bumbling Through Borneo will be included on MPH’s roster of titles at the upcoming Kuala Lumpur International Book Fairfrom 17 – 26 April 2009, and will be distributed to book retailers across Malaysia and Singapore.

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Bumbling Through Borneo: Hong Kong Book Launch

Bumbling Through Borneo by Tom Schmidt ISBN 978-988-18066-5-9

Hong Kong, 16 April 2009 ————– The first volume of the Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series – Bumbling Through Borneo — was launched last night at Hong Kong’s Fringe Club Gallery.  Over one hundred people were in attendance, including representatives from various media organizations, members of the book trade, and travel industry professionals.

Author Tom Schmidt noted, “This absolutely exceeded my expectations, and I am overwhelmed by the level of support from friends, family, the publishing industry, and the community.”  The event was generously sponsored by ProTrek, Nikko Sports, Teva, and Guinness Beer; sponsor donated gifts were distributed to book launch attendees via lucky draw.

For those who missed this exciting book launch, two very popular promotional videos were screened during the event:

Tom Schmidt Inteview by Rock Legend Nigel Q

Bumbling Through Borneo reviewed on “DD’s Book Review”

Click here for more information and photos

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Jetopa Selected to Perform at South Park Music Tour

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“Desert Flight” by Jetopa

Hong Kong, 9 April 2009 ————– Hong Kong’s quirkiest band, Jetopa, has been selected to perform at the critically acclaimed SOUTH PARK MUSIC TOUR in Colorado, USA 25 – 28 June 2009.  Located in historic South Park, Colorado, at 14,000 ft above sea level, this “Highest Independent Music Tour in the World” presents over 70 bands on 10 showcase stages over four days to over 5,000 music fans per day.

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Schmidt Promotes New Travel Book on Hong Kong Radio

Bumbling Through Borneo by Tom Schmidt ISBN 978-988-18066-5-9
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Author Tom Schmidt promotes Bumbling Through Borneo on RTHK’s “Morning Brew”

Hong Kong, 9 April 2009 ————– Bumbling Through Borneo author Tom Schmidt appeared on Hong Kong’s RTHK3 “Morning Brew” today at 12:10 pm, hosted by Phil Whelan.  Heard by over 250,000 listeners per week, RTHK3 interviewed Schmidt, as he discussed his inspiration behind the creation of the educational illustrated travelogue, as well as the upcoming book launch and future plans for the Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series.

Listen to an archive of this broadcast at RTHK website

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Bumbling Through Borneo Debuts in International Book Fairs

Bumbling Through Borneo by Tom Schmidt ISBN 978-988-18066-5-9

Hong Kong, 3 April 2009 ————– Kakibubu Media Limited announced today that the first volume of the Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series, entitled Bumbling Through Borneo will be represented at four major international book fairs in 2009 through the Jenkins Group Combined Book Exhibit.  

Author Tom Schmidt noted “These shows are the best ways to get the attention of buyers, librarians, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, other publishers, foreign rights agents, and countless other publishing professionals.”

LONDON BOOK FAIR: 20-22 APRIL 2009

BOOK EXPO AMERICA: 29 – 31 MAY 2009

FRANKFURT BOOK FAIR: 14 – 18 OCT 2009

BEIJING BOOK FAIR: 30 OCT – 2 NOV 2009

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Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series Launch Announced

Bumbling Through Borneo by Tom Schmidt ISBN 978-988-18066-5-9

Hong Kong, 1 April 2009 ————– Kakibubu Media Limited announced today the official Hong Kong book launch for Tom Schmidt’s new book Bumbling Through Borneo — the first volume in the much anticipated Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series.

DATE:  Wednesday, 15 April 2009

TIME:  19:00 – 22:00

VENUE:  Fringe Club Gallery, 2 Lower Albert Road

Cash bar; light refreshments provided; lucky draw

The upcoming event will be generously sponsored by various travel and outdoor equipment suppliers including Pro-Trek, Nikko, and Teva.

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Hong Kong Book Distribution

Hong Kong, 5 March 2009 ————– Kakibubu Media Limited announced today that Hong Kong-based Foreign Press Distributors have been awarded the distribution rights in Hong Kong and China for the upcoming Bumbling Traveller Adventure Book Series, written and illustrated by Tom Schmidt.

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Launch of Bumbling Through Borneo Announced

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Bumbling Through Borneo by Tom Schmidt ISBN 978-988-18066-5-9

Hong Kong, 1 February 2009 ————– In the time it takes you to read this media release, an estimated 13 hectares of the world’s forests will be lost, according to WWF-Malaysia.

“Borneo is one of the most important and fascinating places on the planet right now,” asserts architect Tom Schmidt, author of the new book Bumbling Through Borneo. “In today’s era of climate change, the destruction of ancient rainforests around the world is a very serious issue — and Borneo is a case in point.”

Bumbling Through Borneo, an educational yet comical trek through Borneo’s hinterland, takes the reader on an entertaining journey of discovery by following the misadventures of a fictitious cast of bumbling characters as they stumble across the natural treasures and indigenous cultures of the Malaysian state of Sarawak — including the environmental challenges they currently face.  With over 180 beautifully hand-drawn illustrations, the book’s day-by-day account of the bumbling travellers’ journey through Sarawak seeks to instill the reader with an environmental and cultural awareness of the island’s rapidly changing situation.  WWF-Malaysia calls the book “Interesting!  Recommended reading for backpackers to Borneo.”

Schmidt contends that the unique graphic format of the book appeals to both young adults, already accustomed to comic book formats, as well as more mature audiences in helping to create environmental awareness.

Bumbling Through Borneo is the first volume in the Bumbling Traveller™ Adventure Series, a book series that seeks to promote environmental and cultural awareness through entertaining mysteries and adventures.  Bumbling Through Borneo will be launched in Hong Kong on April 15th, 2009.