Eclectic crime fiction & informed, irreverent non-fiction from Asia & beyond
I was recently commissioned by a Thai English language magazine to write a short satirical piece abut Democracy in SE Asia. After much back and forth, the publication decided not to go ahead with the article, apparently due to the current political climate in Thailand. In the West – by which I generally mean the […]
Continue ReadingSacred Skin – Thailand’s Spirit Tattoos, photographed by Aroon Thaewchatturat, gets a couple new plugs/ reviews. The Apsara Diaries write “The book ‘Scared Skin’ focuses on Thai devotees and the Wai Khru; a once a year gathering of tattooed devotes. The book gives you a clear, in-depth understanding of Yantra and its magic.” Over at […]
Continue ReadingMy novel The Man with the Golden Mind, out later this month with Exhibit A Books, gets a great review at Looking For A Good Book. The second Maier Mystery takes the German detective to Laos and back in time to the CIA’s secret war in Indochina in the 1960s and 70s. “This novel is […]
Continue ReadingCheck out the book trailer for Burmese Light, my new non fiction book with photographer Hans Kemp, published by Visionary World this month. Reviews: “Whether you are planning a visit or have recently traveled to Myanmar, Hans Kemp’s magnificent photographs combined with Tom Vater’s illuminating text create an unforgettable portrait of a truly remarkable country […]
Continue ReadingIn 1999, I first visited the Moken sea nomads/sea gypsies in Ko Surin Marine National Park in Thailand. I had been recording indigenous music around Asia for the British Library for some years. Thailand had not been on my usual routes, I spent most of my time in India, Pakistan and Nepal in the 90s. […]
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