April 2005
EDITOR’S
NOTE
Welcome readers to the April 2005 issue of e-WordNEWS.
On the home front, we would like to extend a warm welcome to Mr R Ramachandran who joined the Book Council as Chief Executive on 1 April 2005. Mr Ramachandran was Deputy Chief Executive of the National Library Board and more recently, Secretary General of IFLA. He has been very actively involved in Council work since its inception. With Mr Ramachandran's leadership, the Council is confident to continue serving the publishing and literary arts community effectively.
Also to note, we have shifted our website to http://www.bookcouncil.sg. We trust you would continue using our website as a reference and resource for all things publishing and literary arts in Singapore.
Do read on for the latest news on the publishing and literary arts scene.
Enjoy!
From the NEWS desktop of...
Anita Paul, Editor
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BOOK COUNCIL EVENTS
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Centre for Literary Arts and Publishing (CLAP)
An update on the training programme available for April 2005 is listed below. For details please visit www.bookcoucil.sg/clap.htm Members of the Publishers Association (Singapore), Singapore Book Publishers Association of Singapore and the Library Association of Singapore are entitled to a 10% discount on all CLAP courses. Please inform us of your membership when you sign up for our workshops.
Discover The Power Of Storytelling
The Storytellers’ Course is designed for those who work with children and youth. It is great for expanding their knowledge and skills in storytelling. However, it would also be useful for anyone who would like to take his or her first steps in storytelling. A team of professionals, specially selected for their expertise and experience, will conduct this 33-hour course. The course will include both theory and practical hands-on experiences with a focus on Asian tales. Participants will be required to tell a story to their course mates.
For Enquiries, please
contact:
Sheila Wee 6352 2009 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Kiran Shah 6447 3320 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Anita Paul, CLAP 6848 8294 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Literary Arts
Creative Writing
- Intermediate by Felix Cheong (NEW)
Wednesday, 27 April 2005: 9.00am –
5.00pm
Understanding Young
People’s Literature by Felix Cheong (NEW)
Wednesday, 20 April 2005: 9.00am –
5.00pm
Editorial
Book Production
for Editors by Christopher Yaw
Thursday, 29 April 2005: 9.00am –
5.00pm
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BOOK LAUNCH REVIEWS
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The Life of Cheong Wing
by Lillian Ng
I read the email sent by the Editorial Assistant from Rank Books. Dr. Richard Hu was to grace the launch of their new book, The Life of Cheong Wing. But, who was Cheong Wing? I had never heard the name before. This man passed away in March 2003 and the launch of this book was to commemorate his second death anniversary.
On the day of the launch, beautiful bouquets on decorated stands adorned the entrance to the library. There were a few cameramen from the press. The average age of the audience was about sixty to seventy years – obviously friends and family of the late Mr. Cheong. The audience rose to its feet to welcome Dr Richard Hu as he entered the event hall.
Dr. Hu was invited up on stage and he spoke of Cheong Wing as an avid golfer and a cheerful giver towards the community. Lillian Ng, the author spoke of Mr. Cheong fondly and she amused the audience with her sense of humour. Finally, Mrs. Cheong was invited to speak impromptu. Very poised and graceful, she thanked everyone who was responsible for the book and it was then I realised that Lillian Ng was Mrs. Cheong’s sister.
Review
This book was written after the death of Mr. Cheong and it took sixteen months to complete. The story is interwoven with many strands of narratives. You read about ‘Old Singapore” with its diverse cultures, dialects and other common sights like hawkers and wet street markets. You also get a glimpse of the Post War era of the Japanese Occupation, the political and economic development of Singapore. Cheong Wing was right in the middle of all this – an entrepreneur, business msn, social worker, philanthropist, prolific fund raiser, grassroots leader and community leader. He was a man who believed that the common citizen should play a major role in helping the less privileged and the aged.
Monkey
by David Seow and Illustrated by Lak Khee Tay-Audouard
Eu Tong Sen Street is a harmless road which runs through Chinatown. Ask me to drive anywhere near it and I get worried as I got lost tying to get to the Padang from Eu Tong Sen once and got lost in Chinatown another time. I try not to enter Chinatown at any given time. However, there was to be a book launch by Periplus at 37 the bar, Keong Siak Road. I had no excuse not to go. Dreading it, I went anyway.
We got there at 7.00pm and I did not want to leave. The launch started at 6.30pm. I missed the speeches but walked into a mega party. It was a ‘wow’ launch - Lights! Camera! Action! I was right in the middle of a Hollywood like set. The book’s characters come to life. The actors were in traditional Chinese styled costumes as Xuan Zang aka Tripitaka, Pigsy, Sandy and Monkey. It was a magnificent sight. The pub was packed to the brim and people were spilling out onto the street. The actors were now busy posing for the camera and with those at the pub. I looked in, saw many familiar faces and decided to brave it and go in. Assorted cheese platters, pastries, sandwiches and cocktails, wine, champagne and were served. It looked like a high profile launch. Then I noticed Eunice Olsen and wondered what her connection to the launch was. I asked around, but no one knew. That was when I met two of my friends, one whom I had not seen in two years, who was now one of partners of the pub and the other, an editor, whom I had not met since September last year. I was so thrilled. I took the opportunity to ask my pub owner friend to get Ms Olsen’s attention. My editor friend and I managed to have a picture taken with Eunice. I’m famous now! We had a chat as well and Eunice mentioned that she was a personal friend of the author. Despite being a local celebrity, Eunice Olsen is a warm, kind and friendly person.
The rest of the evening was spent talking to some of the other guests. As I was driving that evening, I abstained from alcohol until I saw a cocktail glass with a pink fuzzy drink being served to one of the guests. Once I heard it was delicious I gave in to sin and drank a glass. I don’t know what the name of the drink is, but I vouch for its ‘yummy-ness’. It was 8.30pm by the time I left. What a party I would have missed had I an excuse not to go.
Thanks to Periplus for
organising such an amazing launch and my fear of Eu Tong Sen Street
and Chinatown has finally been conquered…for now.
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ABOUT TOWN
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Discussion on Multi-Cultural Books for Four to Ten Year Olds
Sunday, 17 April
2005
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is organising a discussion on the various aspects of books for children aged between four to ten years. Those who would like to search for books and read up before the discussion can come in from 2.00 pm onwards.
Venue: Woodlands Regional Library
Time: 3.00pm
Please visit http://www.scbwi.org for more details. RSVP: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Arts Night Out!
Monday, 25 April
2005
Arts Night Out! Is an initiative by The Arts House for friends in the arts community to interact and share their experiences and views on trends which will impact the arts industry. The first session involves a sharing session on experiences in Intellectual Property and Branding.
For RSVP and details, please email Ms Christina Raman at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call her at tel. 633269127
Poetry Slam Cabaret
Tuesday, 26 April
2005
Poetry slam Cabaret, organised by Word Forward, is held every last Tuesday of the month.
Venue: Velvet Underground (Zouk Club, 17
Jiak Kim Street, Singapore 169429).
Time: 7.30pm
Entrance fee: S$10
For more info, visit http://www.wordforward.org
or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Golden Point Award
To aspiring and established writers, Singapore’s national writing competition is back. The Golden Point Award 2005 is seeking unpublished short stories and poems in English, Chinese, Malay or Tamil. This competition is organised by the National Arts Council and jointly sponsored by the Press Foundation of Singapore and Singapore Press Holdings. It is open to Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents only. The winner will receive S$10,000 in cash and educational grants. There will be prizes awarded to the second and third place winners as well. The closing date for all entries is 23 May 2005. For details, please visit http://www.swf.sg
Elephant & Coral 9th Anniversary Writing Competition
Elephant & Coral, a pen boutique located at Wheelock Place, is commemorating the upcoming launch of its 9th anniversary pen by sponsoring a writing competition that is organised by Singapore publisher Firstfruits (check one or two words) Publications. Specially crafted by Pilot for Elephant & Coral, the pen is named "Oshiharu" and will be sold as a limited edition of 100 pieces worldwide, of which 50 pieces will be in black and the other 50 pieces in vermillion red. "Oshiharu" is a Japanese phrase meaning "pining for spring" - also encompassing emotions associated with cherishing and feeling sorry for (with a sense of unwillingness to part with) the passing spring.
The competition guidelines are as follows:
1. The competition is open
to all Singapore citizens or PRs currently residing in Singapore.
2. The entry can be in poetry or
prose, as long as each entry is limited to 80 words.
3. Each entry needs to be typed or
computer-printed on an A4 page. Each participant can
submit up to three entries to be sent together with a cover letter not later than to this
address:
Elephant & Coral 9th Anniversary
Writing Competition
c/o Firstfruits Publications
Woodlands Central Branch Post Office
PO Box 192
Singapore 917310
Only the participant's NRIC No (without the participant's name) should appear on each entry, with the cover letter indicating the participant's full name, mailing address, contact telephone number, email address, NRIC, and titles of each entry submitted.
4. The entries will be judged by Herman Chan (Elephant & Coral), Enoch Ng (publisher, Firstfruits Publications) and Singapore poet Yong Shu Hoong. The criteria of judging will be based on the merit of writing and how well the text relates to the themes evoked by the name of the pen.
5. The 1st prize ($500 Elephant & Coral gift voucher), 2nd prize ($300 Elephant & Coral gift voucher) and 3rd prize ($100 Elephant & Coral gift voucher) will be awarded based on the judges’ selection whose decision shall be final. If no suitable winners can be identified, the judges reserve the right of not awarding any of the aforementioned prizes.
6. The first prize winner agrees to allow Elephant & Coral to use the winning entry for publication in the inlaid booklet within the pen packaging, certificates or advertising media like magazines and newspapers, with no further entitlement to royalties. All rights revert back to the author after the pen's launch and promotional activities.
The deadline for this competition is 31 May 2005. For further enquiries on the competition, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). For more information on Elephant & Coral, please visit their website.
Shiva Naipaul Memorial Prize
The Shiva Naipaul Memorial Prize will be awarded to the writer best able to describe a visit to a foreign place or people. The award is not for travel writing in the conventional sense, but for the most acute and profound observation of a culture alien to the writer. Such a culture might be found as easily within the writer's native country as outside it.
Shiva Naipaul was one of the most gifted and accomplished writers of our time. After his death in 1985, at the age of 40, The Spectator established an annual prize in his memory.
The winner will receive a cash prize of 3,000 pounds. The winning entry will be published in The Spectator.
Rules:
1. The award is open to English language
writers of any nationality under the age of 35
2. Submissions should not previously
have been published and should be not more than 3,000 words
3. Entries will not be returned and
no correspondence concerning entries can be entered into
4. In all matters concerning the
competition the decision of the Editor is final
5. Entries must reach The Spectator
by 31 May 2005
The judges this year are the Editor of The Spectator Boris Johnson, the Assistant Editor of The Spectator Mary Wakefield, the Literary Editor of The Spectator Mark Amory, and the writer Hilary Mantel. For more information please visit The Spectator website.
2005 NUS Literary Society Creative Writing Competition
The competition is open to full-time students from pre-university (e.g. junior colleges, polytechnics, centralised institutions) and tertiary institutions. Students who are studying in overseas universities and wish to participate must be stationed in or have a permanent address in Singapore at least for the next one year. Each entrant can send in a maximum of 5 poems and 2 short stories. Short stories should not be more than 3000 words in length. Each poem/short story MUST be submitted with a $2.00 fee.
The judges are CYRIL WONG for poetry and GWEE LI SUI for short stories. To attain a registration form and for full competition information, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The closing date for all entries is 30 October 2005. Winners will be notified via email or phone. Late entries will be disqualified.
UNESCO-Aschberg Bursaries
The UNESCO-Aschberg Bursaries for Artists programme was established in 1994 to open new career prospects for young artists and provide them with the possibility of further training in specialised institutions. Bursaries are offered to anyone who whishes to pursue a career as an artist.
The deadline for bursary application is 30 April 2005. For further information, please visit http://www.literaturetraining.com/scipts/WebObjects.exe/literaturetraining
Writers Festival – Ubud, Bali
The next writers’ festival will be held in Ubud, Bali from 6 – 11 October 2005. This inaugural festival had been a huge success previously and the organisers are hoping to draw an even wider audience this year. Writers from Singapore are invited to participate in this festival. Writers should seek their own funding and the organisers will provide accommodation.
For details, please email Janet de Neefe, Festival Director at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or you may you may write to her to the following address: Janet de Neefe, Honeymoon Guesthouse, Jalan Bisma. Ubud – Bali 80571. Phone / Fax: (0361) 973282
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) - Membership
SCBWI invites writers, illustrators, editors, publishers and book designers in the field of children’s book publishing to become members.
Full Membership is available to those whose work for children (books, illustrations or photographs, films, electronic media available for purchase, articles, poems or stories) has been published or produced.
Associate Membership is available to those with an interest in children's literature or media, whether or not they have been published or produced. Writers or illustrators who have been published in markets other than children's literature (but not in children's literature) would be considered Associate Members.
Benefits
- International and Local Conferences
- The Bulletin – a bi-monthly newsletter
- Online fortnightly newsletter
- Awards and grants·
- Free publications on writing and publishing
- Manuscript Exchange / Critique groups
- Local support structure with writers and illustrators
- Discounted Web Hosting plans
Become a member by filling up the on-line form at http://www.scbwi.org/members/join.htm and inform Chitra Soundar at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for a special gift.
