October 2004
EDITOR’S
NOTE
Welcome to October’s edition of e-WordNEWS. The Book Council is
pleased to announce the short-listed works for the Singapore Literature
Prize (SLP) 2004. It is also the time of year to register for the Asian
Congress of Storytellers and the Asian Children’s Writers and
Illustrators Conference. And if you are looking for quality holiday
entertainment for the family, you won’t go wrong with the Storytellers
Showcase. Poetry buffs, you may want to check out ‘Little Bali’
this month for an exotic evening of poetic expressions.
Enjoy!
From the NEWS desktop of...
Anita Paul, Editor
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NBDCS EVENTS
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Conferences – November 2004
Asian Congress
of Storytellers 2004
25 – 26 November 2004
Listening, Learning, Telling...
The Asian Congress of Storytellers (ACS) is an annual gathering of professional
storytellers from countries near and far, telling stories for entertainment,
healing, teaching and more. ACS has established itself as the storytelling
event in Asia, a not-to-be missed chance to learn from the storytelling
gurus. This year’s line-up includes Diane Ferlatte, Linda Fang
and Richard Martin.
This year, two new programmes have been added to ACS: a Storytelling Clinic for participants and a mini Storytelling Showcase to give participants a taste of the varied stories and storytelling styles.
Time: 8.00am – 5.30pm
Venue: Furama River Front Singapore, 405 Havelock Road (former Novotel
Apollo Hotel)
To register, please visit http://www.nbdcs.org.sg/acs2004.htm
Asian Children’s Writers and Illustrators Conference
22 – 23 November 2004
The Asian Children’s Writers and Illustrators Conference (ACWIC)
2004 is back again for the fourth time. We are proud to present an exceptionally
strong ensemble of speakers this year, comprising experienced publishers,
leading writers and an award-winning illustrator.
For writers and illustrators, ACWIC provides an opportunity to learn from some of the best in these fields and a platform for networking with peers. For librarians, teachers and parents, ACWIC is where you can gain insights on children’s literature, especially Asian and multi-cultural books. Come update your knowledge of such material, and sharpen your instincts when making selections, whether for library users, students or children at home.
We are also proud to launch at ACWIC ‘An Annotated Bibliography of Singapore Children’s Books’ compiled by Dr Sandra Williams. So see you at ACWIC!
Time: 8.30am – 5.30pm
Venue: Furama River Front Singapore, 405 Havelock Road (former Novotel
Apollo Hotel)
To register, please visit http://www.nbdcs.org.sg/acwic2004.htm
Storytellers’ Showcase
29 – 30 November 2004
The Storytellers’ Showcase is about showcasing the best of storytelling.
Storytelling is a tradition and an art. This art takes on different
styles and flavours when interpreted by different people from different
cultures.
Storytellers’ Showcase 2004 promises you an enchanted evening of tales... so come hear.
Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Venue: Ngee Ann Auditorium, Asian Civilisations Museum (Empress Place)
To register, please visit http://www.nbdcs.org.sg/sc2004.htm
Centre for Literary Arts and Publishing (CLAP)
Book Publishing
• The Book Publishing Business: An Overview by Christopher
Yaw
8 October 2004: 9.00am to 5.00pm
• Getting Your
Book Published: A View from the Inside by Christopher Yaw
19 November 2004: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Literary Arts
• Rhyme and Rhythm: Poetry for you? by Felix Cheong
18 November 2004: 9.00am – 5.00pm
• Tamil Storytelling
by Jeeva Ragunath
23 and 24 November 2004: 9.00am to 5.00pm
• Course in Children’s
Literature by Dr. Ruth Wong
29 and 30 November 2004: 9.00am to 5.00pm
CLAP is offering Kinokuniya
Privilege Card holders a 10% discount on all courses!
For registration & queries please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) / call
(65) 68488290 / fax (65) 67429466
Website http://www.nbdcs.org.sg/clap.htm
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SINGAPORE LITERATURE PRIZE 2004
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Singapore Literature Prize (SLP) 2004 Shortlist
The National Book Development Council of Singapore (NBDCS) is pleased
to announce the short-listed works for the SLP 2004.
This prestigious writing award carries a cash prize of S$10,000 for the winner and is given to outstanding published works in all four languages – Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil. Four awards will be given in total.
This biennial competition is open to Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents and is awarded for published works of fiction (novels and short stories) and poetry published from January 2001 to December 2003.
Organised by the National Book Development Council, the SLP is supported by the National Arts Council and aims to achieve two objectives:
• to promote the
development of Singapore literary talent by giving due recognition to
outstanding published works by Singapore authors in any of the four
official languages: Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil
• to stimulate public interest and support for creative writing
in Singapore
The winners of the SLP will be announced on 25 November 2004 during the Book Industry Night, an annual dinner organised by the Book Council for the literary and publishing community.
A Merit Prize of $5,000 or a Commendation Prize of $1,000 may be awarded in the event there is no winner for the SLP. Congratulations to the short-listed candidates.
The short-listed books in all four languages are listed below.
Singapore Literature
Prize 2004 Shortlist – English Books
The short-listed titles, listed in no order of merit:
A Bit of Earth Suchen
by Christine Lim
A History of Amnesia by Alfian bin Sa’at
Broken by the Rain by Felix Cheong
Mammon Inc by Tan Hwee Hwee
The Gunpowder Trail & Other Stories by Claire Tham
Singapore Literature
Prize 2004 Shortlist – Chinese Books
The short-listed titles, listed in no order of merit:
Qi shi di xia de cheng
shi by Guan Ming
Qing xing mo yi by Xi Ni Er
Sao dong by Ying Pei An
Singapore Literature
Prize 2004 Shortlist – Malay Books
The short-listed titles, listed in no order of merit:
Kiswah by Isa
Kamari
Anugerah Buat Syamsiah by Rohani Din
Ombak Terbang Tinggi by Abdul Ghani Hamid
Suasana Senja by Masuri SN
Bagiku Sepilah Sudah by Mohamed Latiff Mohamed
Tuhan Masih Sayang by A Wahab HJ Hamzah
Singapore Literature
Prize 2004 Shortlist – Tamil Books
The shortlisted titles, listed in no order of merit:
Kaakitha Vaasam
by K T M Iqbal
Thoondil Meen by Ma Elangkannan (M Balakrishnan)
Uyirril Kalantha Urrave by Subraa (Palanisamy Subramanian)
Thee Velli by Krishnasamy Iyer Kanagalatha
Agrinai Uyarthinai by S Uthuman Ghani
Thaembavai by Murugathasan
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BOOK REVIEW
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Tigers in Paradise: The Collected Works of Philip Jeyaratnam
by Philip Jeyaratnam
A collection of essays and two novels by critically acclaimed Singaporean
writer Philip Jeyaratnam. This anthology includes the two novels Raffles
Place Ragtime, Abraham’s Promise, his collection of short stories
(First Loves, with two new stories), essays and a Foreword by Peter
Wicks.
Source: Times Academic
Press, Times Editions
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ABOUT TOWN
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subTEXT Reading
7 October 2004
This month’s subTEXT features local writers David Fuhrmann-Lim
and David Thian, as well as expat writer Sion Scott-Wilson. There will
also be a soft launch and Q & A for the Firstfruits anthology of
essays on poetry writing, Ideal to Ideal (edited by Felix Cheong), plus
promotion and readings from the recently launched book, Eye e City,
which features new poems by Madeleine Lee and Yong Shu Hoong. Come to
this regular series and catch the buzz.
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Book Café, Martin Road
For details, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Dome Readings: Guns and / or Roses
8 October 2004
The stark division into hard and soft aspects – the Yin and the
Yang of life - will be reflected in the selection of writings offered
for the October Readings. Guns - the focus on the military, the macho
rebel, the individual take on social norms and varied disaffections
is juxtaposed against Roses - the coming together of love, the persuasions
of womankind, the issues that pertain to gender and the invisible bonds
that truly bind. Works read by writers from the poetry, fiction and
drama circles will open new perspectives behind the vibrant symbolism
implied in a similar phrase that a rock group has adopted as its name.
Writers participating are Tan Tarn How, Leong Liew Geok, Roger Jenkins,
Koh Beng Liang, Verena Tay and Woo Keng Thye.
Time: 1.00pm
Venue: Dome Café, University Cultural Centre
Admission: Free
Launch of fiftythree/zerothree
10 October 2004
Madeleine Lee launches her new book of poems, fiftythree/zerothree.
Also featured is an episode of performed literature based on a selection
from the book performed by leading Singapore actors, directed by Krishen
Jit.
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: My Secret Garden Bistro, Sculpture Square (Waterloo Street /
Middle Road)
RSVP by 7 October 2004: email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
or call Ling at tel. (65) 64796079
Commune with Nature: Poetry Night at Little Bali
21 October 2004
Step into Little Bali and experience the spirit of individual expression
at its first ever poetry night, jointly brought to you by rOCKERpOET
and Villa Frangipani.
Entitled "Commune with Nature: Poetry Night at Little Bali",
this event promises to bring out the best in various poetic expressions
amidst the natural setting of Little Bali. Whether you are an established
or closet writer, simply immerse yourself in this informal session and
interact with fellow poets. Bring your poems along and express yourself
over the open mike. Experience the connection of the heart, soul and
nature over drinks.
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: 'Little Bali', 9a Lock Road (along Alexandra Road, next to St
Andrew's Junior College)
Admission: Free
Happy Hour: 4.00pm – 9.00pm for all house pours at 2 for the price
of 1
Interested poets please call Kelvin at tel. (65) 9791 5615 / email:
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or
Yeow Tong at tel. (65) 9851 1638 / email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Website: http://www.littlebali.com/events.htm
Please call before 8 October 2004
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ACROSS THE MILES
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Polar Publishing is pleased to announce the publication
of Quest for a Phantom Strait by David E. Yelverton. It is a specialist
subject and would be good for anyone interested in the Antarctic or
likely to travel there.
Polar Publishing Ltd, a
newly formed venture whose purpose is to stimulate interest in the Polar
Regions, publishes Polar Worlds.
In addition to this web project, Polar Publishing also offers an Editorial
Management Service including hard copy or on-screen editing, production
of CRC, project management, troubleshooting, training and consultancy.
For enquiries please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Highlights on Publishing Titles
Several books on professional publishing are available from Taylor &
Francis Asia Pacific at a 15% discount and there is a free-delivery
service within Singapore. Those who are interested in purchasing them
please contact Alfred, Marketing Executive at tel. (65) 67415166 or
fax. (65) 67429356
Writer Needed
A software company is inviting a writer to write a one to two page white
paper on Computerised Facility Managements Systems (CFMS). The content
of the whiter paper should comprise the features and benefits of CFMS.
The writer should have some knowledge of the IT industry.
For details, please contact Ms Dewi Tungka at tel. (65) 63207169
Island of Residencies
Programme
The Tasmanian Writers’ Centre invite Australian and international
writers to apply to the Island of Residencies programme, for a Writers’
Residency in 2005. The 2005 Residencies programme is presented with
the support of the Minister for the Arts through Arts Tasmania, and
the City of Hobart. International writers can apply for the Writers’
Residency for FOUR weeks in Tasmania.
Applications for 2005 close on Tuesday 30 November 2004.
For more details, please visit http://tasmaniawriters.org and click on ‘Residencies’
Call for Submissions
MW Enterprises is a ‘reality-based’ publisher. They publish
a book series called ‘A Generation Defining Itself: In Our Own
Words’ from which a generation (born 1960 to 1982) is speaking
out about its realities, dispelling the narrow, simplified stereotypes
created by the mass media and commercial marketing. Volume 5 of this
book series is out and it includes local poet Cyril Wong. MW Enterprises
is now accepting submissions for Volume 6 and they are seeking more
Asian voices for this volume.
The submissions period
is to the end of March 2005. No submissions will be accepted after this
period closes.
For details, please visit http://www.evenstar.net/mwe/
2004 Noma Concours
for Picture Book Illustrations
Noma Concours invites new talents! The 14th Concours invites highly
motivated illustrators and artists to participate in this renowned event
to contribute to the improvement of the quality of picture book illustration
for children. The closing date is 31 December 2004.
For more details, please visit http://www.accu.or.jp/noma
